How to set up a camera on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: a complete guide with the secrets of professional shooting

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is equipped with a quadrocamera with a main module at 48 MP, but even this powerful "iron" does not guarantee perfect shots without the right settings. Many users complain of blurry photos in low light, over-lit frames during the day or unsatisfactory detailing - all this is solved by competent calibration of camera parameters. In this article, we will analyze all the hidden settings that the manufacturer does not advertise, but which will dramatically improve your photos.

Redmi Note 9 is powered by MediaTek Helio processor G85, And its image processing algorithms are different from Xiaomi’s flagship smartphones on Snapdragon, which means that standard camera setup tips (like the Mi 11) won’t work here. We tested all shooting modes in different conditions – from night streets to studio lights – and identified the optimal parameters for each scenario.

If you have never looked into the Additional camera settings or used only automatic mode, after reading this article, your photos will no longer differ from the frames from professional DSLRs only by resolution. And for those who have already tried manual settings, we will reveal a unique bug with white balance in firmware. MIUI 12.5-14, which spoils colors for 30% of shots – and show how to get around it without root rights.

1. Basic camera settings: what to turn on immediately after purchase

The first thing you need to do is reset the camera to factory settings, even if the phone is new, and during the transportation and storage of the smartphone, parameters may be lost (for example, due to temperature changes).

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the gears. ⚙️ top-right.
3. Scroll down and select Restore Default Settings.
4. Confirm the action.

Now we're going to optimize, and let's start with the parameters that affect 90 percent of all photos.

• 📸 Photo resolution: set 48 MP (in settings) → Yes, the files will weigh more, but the detail will increase by 2-3 times.
• 🔄 Aspect ratio: Choose 4:3 is the native sensor format, and 16:9 or 1:1 simply cut the edges of the frame, losing detail.
• 🌙 Night mode: activate the option of the car (AI) It's in the night settings, unlike manually switching on, AI It analyzes lighting and applies the algorithm only when it is needed.
• 🎯 Focus: Turn off the car-HDR (This mode often over-lights the frames, and manually activates HDR gives you better control.

⚠️ Warning: If the camera starts to "brake" when it starts after resetting, check if Professional is the default mode, which consumes 40% more CPU resources than Photo.

Shut down the car.-HDR|Permits to be established 48 MPP|Selecting an aspect ratio 4:3|Activate AI night-time|Reset the settings to factory-->

2. Secret settings in Additional settings: what is hidden Xiaomi

Few people know, but the Redmi Note 9 has a hidden menu with advanced camera options that don't show up in the standard interface.

1. Open the camera and go to the settings (⚙️).
2. 10 times quickly tap the version of the camera firmware (the line at the bottom of the screen).
3. A new Engineering Mode menu will appear (if not, repeat the taps more slowly).

You can set up the following menu:

Beware of changing the Awb (white balance) settings and AE (Auto exposure) – this can lead to irreversible camera failure if the wrong values are set.

Another hidden trick: if you install in Professional mode ISO on 100 And the exposure 1/1000, And then you take a picture in bright light, and you get the "over-lit film" effect, which is a trend in photographers right now. 9 Due to the processing features of MediaTek.

3. Optimization for different shooting scenarios

There are no universal settings, you have to adjust the settings to specific conditions, and here are the tried-and-true configurations for the most common situations.

🌅 Landscapes and architecture

• 📏 Mode: Photo (not Profi!).
• 🔍 Focus: Touch the screen at the point on 1/3 from the lower edge (rule of thirds).
• 🌈 HDR: On. (manual, not car!).
• 📱 Stabilization: Use Breathhold (press the downhill button for 2 seconds to stabilize).

👤 Portraits and selfies

• 😊 Mode: Portrait with effect Studio lighting.
• 🔄 Blurring background: set to 70% (more - looks unnatural).
• 👁️ Focus: Touch the model’s eyes, not the face.
• 🎨 Color profile: Choose Live colors in the settings (for natural skin).

🌃 Night photography

• 🌙 Mode: Night with manual exposure 3-5 seconds.
• 📱 Stabilization: Use a tripod or put your phone on a stable surface.
• 🔋 ISO: No more than 1600 (otherwise colored noise will appear).
• 💡 Light: If possible, illuminate the object with warm light (3000–4000K).

Portrait|Landscape.|Night photography|Video|Documents/scans-->

To capture documents or text, turn on Scanner Mode (in some firmware it is hidden – to activate it, hold your finger on the screen in Photo 3 seconds), which automatically adjusts perspective and increases text contrast.

4. How to fix common camera problems

Even after you set it up correctly, Redmi Note 9 users are faced with typical bugs.

📉 The camera is slowing down or focusing for a long time

• 🛠️ Clear the Camera app cache in the phone settings (Applications) → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 🔄 Turn off object tracking in camera settings (it consumes a lot of resources).
• 📱 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button) → Safe Mode. If the camera is working normally, the problem is with third-party software.

🎨 Colors in the photo are unnatural (greenish or reddish hue)

This is a manifestation of a bug with white autobalance in firmware MIUI Decisions:

• 🔧 Manually set white balance in Professional mode: 5200K. Indoors: 3800K. Outside at night: 4500K.
• 📲 Install alternative camera software like GCam (but requires manual setup) XML-helio-configuration G85).

📸 Photo blurred at zoom

Redmi Note 9 has only a digital zoom (no optical), so any zoom above the top of the top of the top of the top of the top of the list. 1x It's a quality problem, to minimize the loss:

• 🔍 Use zoom only until the end. 2x.
• 📏 Shoot at 48 MP, then crop the photo in the editor (so you save more details).
• 🎯 For remote objects, it is better to approach closer or use Macro mode (if the object is closer than 10 cm).

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI the camera stopped starting at all, check if the camera module is disabled in the application resolution settings (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → This bug occurs after the "over the air" updates».

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If the camera fails to connect, try rolling back the Camera app via APKMirror. Download version 6.1.014 (stable for the camera). MIUI 12.5-14) and install manually, pre-deleting the updates.

5. Video Setup: How to Shoot Professional Videos on Redmi Note 9

Video footage on the Redmi Note 9 often suffers from frame jitter and poor stabilization, but this can be fixed:

• 🎥 Resolution: Shoot in Full HD (1080p) 30 fps. 4K available, but due to a weak processor, the video will "break" when moving.
• 🔄 Stabilization: activate Ultrastabilization in video settings (uses software stabilization) + gyroscope).
• 🎤 Sound: For clean sound, connect an external microphone through USB-C (Like Boya. BY-M1). The built-in microphone makes a lot of noise.
• 🌡️ White balance: Auto is better in the video, but if the colors are floating, fix the value manually (e.g., the car is better in the video, 5000K daylight).

For slow-motion (slow-motion) video:

• Select Slow Mode for Slow Motion.
• Set 120 fps (maximum for this model).
• Shoot in bright light – in the dark, the video will be too noisy.
• Use a tripod: At 120 fps, the slightest shaking of the hand is noticeable.

If you need to shoot a video for YouTube or TikTok, export it in permission. 1920×1080 bitrate 15 To do this, use the CapCut or KineMaster application for rendering after shooting.

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For videos longer than 5 minutes, be sure to turn off Autofocus in the settings. During long shooting, it begins to “breathe” (constantly adjust), which spoils the frame.

6. Alternative Camera Apps: When the Standard Fails

Xiaomi's stock camera app is limited in features.If you need manual settings, RAW-shooting or advanced post-processing, consider these options:

To install GCam on Redmi Note 9:

1. Download version of GCam 8.1 from BSG (optimized for MediaTek).
2. Download. XML-configuration G85 (for example, MGC_8.1.101_A9_GV1j.xml).
3. Place it. XML-file GCam/Configs phone-on.
4. In the GCam app, tap twice on the black area next to the down button and select the downloaded config.

After setting up the GCam, you will notice that:

• 🌄 Nighttime pictures are 40% brighter without losing detail.
• 🎨 Colors are more natural (without a greenish hue).
• 🔍 Focus works faster with Google’s optimized algorithms.

⚠️ Warning: Some versions of GCam may cause Helio processor to overheat G85 If the phone gets hot, close the app and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.

7 Post-processing: how to save even damaged photos

Even with perfect camera settings, sometimes you get bad shots, and these tools and techniques can help you fix them.

📱 Mobile processing applications

• 🎨 Adobe Lightroom Mobile: the best balance between power and convenience. Use Portra 400 presets for natural colors.
• 🖼️ Snapseed: free and simple. Selective correction tool allows you to fix the lights in certain areas.
• 🤖 Google Photos: Automatic Improvement (Edit) → Tools → Improves often saves blurry or dark photos.

💻 Processing on PC

If the photo is critical (for example, for printing), transfer it to your computer and use:

• 🖥️ Adobe Photoshop: Camera Raw Tool for Working with RAW-file.
• 📊 Darktable: free analogue of Lightroom with support for color profiles.
• 🎯 Topaz Gigapixel AI: Increases photo resolution without loss of quality (useful for 12 MP frames).

To correct the blur:

1. Open the photo in Photoshop.
2. Duplicate the layer (Ctrl+J).
3. Use the Smart Sharp filter (Filter) → Sharpness → Smart sharpness).
4. Set the radius: 1.5 px, contrast: 120%.
5. Add a layer mask and invert it (Ctrl)+I).
6. With a white brush, paint the areas that need to be made clearer.

If the photo is overbroadcast, try the Lightroom:

1. Reduce the exposure to -1.0.
2. Raise the Shadows to +50.
3. Lower the Lights to -30.
4. Add Dehazing (+15) to restore contrast.

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To capture documents or text, use Scanner mode in a standard camera, and then process the photo in Adobe Scan. This application automatically straightens perspective and improves the clarity of the text.

8.Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 9 camera