How to turn off photos on Xiaomi: camera, gallery and autoload

Why users want to turn off photo functions on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones are known for their rich camera functionality, but not all users need photos in the gallery. Some want to save space on the internal drive, others are concerned about privacy, and still others simply do not use the camera at all. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable photo functions, from deactivating the camera to completely removing the gallery and blocking autoboot to the cloud.

It's important to understand that not all models can completely shut down the camera at the system level, some limitations are imposed by the manufacturer, but even in such cases, you can minimize the impact on the device. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12, the camera can not be completely removed, but you can block its launch and hide the icon from the menu.

If you want to free up memory, you can clear the gallery cache and turn off autoboot in the Mi Cloud. If you are concerned about security, you will need to have a deeper setup of application rights. Next, we will consider each method in detail, taking into account the features of different versions of MIUI (12 to 14).

📊 Why do you want to turn off photos on Xiaomi?

I'll save a seat on my phone.

I'm worried about privacy.

I don't use a camera.

Other

Method 1: Disconnect the camera through application settings

The easiest way to restrict access to the camera is to block it through the app menu. This won't physically remove the camera module, but will prevent it from accidentally starting, POCO and black shark on MIUI 12–14:

Open the Settings → Applications.
Select Application Management.
Find the Camera (or Camera on some firmware) in the list.
Tap on Disable (or Remove Updates if the Disable button is inactive).
Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

After that, the camera icon will disappear from the menu, and the attempt to launch through third-party applications (for example, Instagram or VK) will be blocked by the system. Note: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T), this method only works until the first reboot - after restarting, the camera can become active again.

☑️ Preparation for camera shutdown

Backup of important photosClose all applications that use the cameraCheck the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phoneDisable autoboot in Mi Cloud

Done: 0 / 4

⚠️ Note: On devices with corporate firmware (for example, on some POCO F4 GT) If the "disable" button is inactive, try the methods in the following sections.

Method 2: Remove the Gallery app (without root)

The Gallery app (or Mi Gallery) takes up space in memory and constantly indexes photos, even if you don't use them, and can be removed without superuser rights, but with some reservations:

📱 On most Xiaomi models, the gallery is a system application and is not removed by standard methods.
🔧 However, it can be turned off or hidden through ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
📁 Alternatively, use a third-party gallery (like Google Photos) and disable sync with Mi Cloud.

To disable the gallery via ADB:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.gallery

This command hides the app from the user, but doesn't physically remove it. To bring the gallery back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.gallery

💡

If you are not familiar with ADB, use the App Inspector utility from Google Play. It allows you to disable system applications in several taps without a command line.

Method 3: Block autoload photos in Mi Cloud

One of the biggest memory eaters on Xiaomi is the automatic upload of photos to the Mi Cloud, which even if you don't take pictures, the system can save screenshots, screen recordings and other media files to disable this feature:

Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
Choose a gallery (or photo).
Turn off the photo sync slider.
In the same menu, tap your Sync Settings and uncheck all file types (including screenshots and screen recordings).

If you want to remove the photos from the cloud:

🗑️ Open Mi Cloud in your browser (i.mi.com).
📂 Go to the Gallery section → Allocate all files → press Delete.
🔄 Clean the Recycle Bin (files are stored there for 30 days before final deletion).

What happens if you don’t turn off the Mi Cloud?

The cloud continues to upload photos in the background even if you don’t open the Camera app, which consumes up to 500MB of traffic per month and clogs the device’s memory with thumbnails.

Method 4: Limiting access rights for the camera (MIUI 13–14)

Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi has added advanced privacy settings to allow you to flexibly manage your camera access, which is useful if you want to lock your camera for specific programs (like social media), but keep it working for the main Camera app.

How to restrict access:

Open Settings → Privacy → Application permissions.
Pick a camera.
In the list of applications, disable access for unnecessary programs (for example, TikTok, Viber, AliExpress).
To completely block, tap the System Applications and disable access for the Camera and Gallery.

On the POCO F5 and other models with MIUI 14, there is an option to disable background camera access, which blocks hidden camera use by applications (for example, for analytics or advertising) to activate it:

Settings → Privacy → Additional → Background access to the camera

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g., Redmi) 10C global MIUI) After blocking access, the camera may stop working even in the main application, in which case you will need to reset permissions through Settings. → Annexes → Resetting permits.

If previous methods have failed, you can try to turn off the camera at the hardware level through an engineering menu, which is suitable for experienced users and requires caution - incorrect actions can lead to malfunctions of the device.

Instructions for most Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 11, POCO X4 Pro):

Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
In the menu that appears, select Hardware Testing (or Hardware Testing).
Go to the Camera (or Camera) section.
Click Disable (or Disable)
Confirm the action and restart the device.

On some devices (such as the Xiaomi 12 Lite), the engineering menu may be missing or require additional rights, in which case the alternative would be to use ADB to disable the camera services:

adb shell pm disable com.android.camera


adb shell pm disable com.miui.camera

Xiaomi model	Does it support shutdown through the engineering menu?	Need a reboot?
Redmi Note 10 Pro	Yes.	Yes.
POCO X3 Pro	Yes (primary camera only)	No.
Xiaomi 11T	No (only via ADB)	Yes.
Black Shark 5	Yes (in game mode)	No.

💡

Turning the camera off through the engineering menu doesn't physically remove it, it just blocks the system's access, and after resetting or updating the firmware, the camera can re-energize.

Additional measures: how to free up space after disabling photos

Even after the camera and gallery are turned off, hidden media files can still be stored on the device to delete them:

🧹 Use the built-in Cleanup utility (Settings) → Cleaning) and select Deep Cleaning.
📂 Manually check the folders: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM (photo) /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots (screenshot) /storage/emulated/0/Movies (video)
🔍 Install Files by Google or SD Maid to search for junk files.

If you want to completely remove the cache of the galleries and thumbnails, do:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery

On some devices (such as the Xiaomi Pad 5), the gallery cache can weigh up to 1-2 GB due to thumbnails and previews. Cleaning it will free up space, but can slow down the first photo upload after the gallery is re-enabled.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling photos on Xiaomi

Can I physically remove the camera from Xiaomi without rooting?

No, you can't completely remove the camera without a superuser license (root) because it's embedded in the firmware. However, it can be turned off via application settings or ADB, as described above. On some models (for example, the POCO M4 Pro), the camera can be activated again after the system update.

Why does she reappear after the camera is turned off?

This is due to automatic system applications recovery after a MIUI update or setting reset. To avoid this, use ADB to permanently disable: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.camera This command removes the camera for the current user, but does not affect system files.

How to turn off the camera shutter sound?

On most Xiaomi models, the shutter sound cannot be turned off through settings (this is a requirement of some countries' legislation). A workaround: Install a third-party camera app (for example, Open Camera). Or turn off all system sounds in Settings → Sounds and Vibration → No Sound Mode. On Redmi with global firmware, the shutter sound may disappear after switching the region to India (but this will also turn off other features).

Will the fingerprint/face scanner work after the camera is turned off?

Yes, the fingerprint scanner works independently of the camera, because it uses a separate sensor, but the Face Unlock will stop working because it's based on the front camera. If you turn off the camera, you'll have to use the unlocker to unlock it. PIN-code, pattern lock or print.

Can I turn off the camera for certain applications only?

Yeah, in MIUI 13-14 This is done through Settings → Confidentiality → Application authorizations → Camera. There you can manually deny access to the camera for each app (like Instagram or Snapchat). MIUI This functionality may not be available.