How to permanently disable the camera on Xiaomi: safe and radical methods

Front and main cameras on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are often a source of concern for privacy-conscious users. Even when you’re not using the Camera app, modules can be activated by background processes, from system checks to malware. In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to turn cameras off, from software restrictions to physical lockdowns, including little-known MIUI features and commands for power users.

It is important to understand that completely disabling the camera can affect the operation of certain functions – for example, unlocking the face, AR-effects in messengers or scanning QR-We'll show you which methods are reversible and which will require resetting or flashing, and if your goal is to just prevent espionage, partial restrictions will suffice, and if you want to guarantee that you block access to the camera at the kernel level, radical measures will be required.

1. disable the camera via MIUI settings (no root)

The easiest way to restrict access to the camera is to use the built-in MIUI tools. This method does not disable the hardware module completely, but blocks its use for most applications, including system ones.

Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Application Permissions. In the list, find the Camera and tap it. Here you will see all the programs that requested access to the camera. To block access for a particular application (such as Facebook or TikTok), move the slider to the “Disable” position.

🔒 Pros: does not require superuser rights, reversibly, does not affect the stability of the system.
⚠️ Cons: System processes (e.g., com.miui.securitycenter) can bypass limitations.
📱 Suitable for: All models on MIUI 12/13/14 (including Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5).

To completely turn off the camera through settings, take the additional step: go back to Settings → Applications, find the Camera app (com.android.camera) and click Disable. This will remove the camera icon from the home screen and block its launch, but will not disable the hardware module – other programs will still be able to activate it via the API.

💡

If the scanners stopped working after the camera was turned off QR-codes in banking applications, allow access to the camera only for a specific application (for example, SberBank Online) in the permission settings.

2.Camera locking through ADB (for advanced)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) allows you to turn off the camera at the system level without root rights. This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones with an unlocked bootloader and enabled debugging over USB.

First, turn on Developer Mode (go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times). Then activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → Developer. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers, and execute on the command line:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.camera


adb shell pm revoke com.miui.securitycenter android.permission.CAMERA




adb shell pm revoke com.android.systemui android.permission.CAMERA

These teams:

🚫 Disable the standard Camera app.
🔐 Prohibiting access to the camera for the Security Center MIUI (responsible for unlocking the face).
🛡️ Block system interface (SystemUI) from using the camera (e.g. for screenshots from the front camera).

Install Android SDK Platform Tools on PC| Enable USB debugging on Xiaomi| Connect phone on original cable | Check communication with adb devices-->

⚠️ Note: After these commands are executed, face unlock and some functions will stop working. MIUI, For example, live wallpaper with paralax effect. To get it back, use the command adb shell pm enable com.android.camera.

Physical shutdown of the camera (radical method)

If you don't like the software, you can physically turn off the camera -- for example, by cutting a plume or sealing the lens with an opaque material -- a method that is guaranteed to block any access to the module, but has obvious disadvantages: loss of warranty, risk of damage to other components, and irreversibility (if you don't use removable stickers).

For models with a removable back cover (such as the Redmi 9A or POCO M3), you can gently disconnect the camera plume from the motherboard.

🔧 Plastic blade (metal tools can damage the body).
🔥 Hair dryer for softening glue (if the cover is glued).
📸 Disassembly scheme for your model (find on YouTube or iFixit).

For models with a non-removable lid (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11 Pro+), it is easier to paste the lens with a light-tight sticker.

🏷️ Black tape (leaves no trace of glue).
🖼️ Special camera stickers (sold on AliExpress).
🎨 Nail polish (applied in a thin layer on the lens and removed by acetone).

Method	Difficulty	Reversibility	Impact on the guarantee
Unplugging the plume	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Yeah (with care)	Breaking.
Lens sticker	⭐	Yes.	Not infringing.
Cutting the plume	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	No.	Breaking.
Lacquer on the lens	⭐⭐	Yeah (with solvent)	Not infringing.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra), the camera is integrated into the screen module, and trying to turn it off physically can damage the display or fingerprint sensor.

Yes, if it guarantees confidentiality.|Unless the phone is already secure.|No, it is better to use software methods.|I don't have a camera on my phone.-->

4. disable the camera via TWRP and Magisk (for root users)

If your Xiaomi has custom recaps installed (TWRP) and root rights obtained, you can completely remove the camera drivers or lock them through Magisk modules.This method is suitable for users who are willing to sacrifice the warranty for maximum privacy.

First, install the Disable Camera module for Magisk (available in the Magisk Module Repo repository). Once installed and rebooted, the camera will be turned off at the kernel level, no application will be able to activate it.

Install Root Explorer or another file manager with root support.
Go to /system/vendor/lib/hw/ or /system/lib/hw/ (the path depends on the model).
Find files with camera.* names (e.g. camera.default.so) and rename them by adding the.bak extension.
Reboot the phone.

To restore the camera, return the original names to the files or delete the Magisk module. Please note: on some firmware (for example, MIUI EU) This method can lead to loss of functionality. IR-a blaster or fingerprint scanner if they use common drivers.

What to do if after removing the camera drivers, the phone does not turn on? If after manipulating the system files, Xiaomi leaves for bootloop (cyclic reboot), boot in the camera. TWRP and restore the backup copy of the section /system. If there is no backup, reflash your phone via Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool.--> 5. Hidden functions MIUI camera-bound MIUI contains several hidden settings that allow you to limit the operation of the camera without using ADB These features are not documented, but work on most firmware devices. MIUI 12+. The first way is to turn off the camera for guest mode.

Go to Settings. → System and device → Additionally. → Guest session. Activate guest mode and set the restrictions. Go back to the main profile and turn off camera access via Settings. → Annexes → Permissions management. Now, when you go to guest mode, the camera will be locked, and the main profile will remain available. MIUI 14): 🔍 Activate the mode in Settings → Confidentiality → Incognito mode. 📵 In this mode, all applications lose access to the camera, microphone and geolocation. 🔄 To return access, just turn off the incognito mode. 6. Check whether the camera is actually turned off After using any of the methods, it is important to make sure that the camera is indeed locked: 📱 Test app: Install Camera Test from Google Play and try to take a picture. If the camera is disabled, the app will give an error "Can't connect to the camera". 🔍 Process monitoring: C Settings → Annexes → Check whether the processes are active com.android.camera or media.camera. 🛡️ Permissions verification: C Settings → Confidentiality → Permissions Manager make sure that no application has access to the camera. For a deep diagnosis, connect the phone to your PC and follow the command: adb shell dumpsys media.camera If you see "state" in the output: CLOSED" All cameras, the modules are successfully disabled: ACTIVE", So, some application or system process is still using the camera. 7 Alternative ways to protect privacy If you don't want to shut down the camera completely, consider alternative measures: 🔒 Data Encryption: Enable phone encryption in Settings → Lockdown and protection → Encryption. This does not block the camera, but protects the photos from unauthorized access. 🚪 Application Blocking: Use App Lock in MIUI, to pass over access to the Camera app. 🌐 VPN Traffic filtering: Install NetGuard or TrackerControl to block camera data from being transmitted over the network. 📵 Airplane mode: In extreme cases, disable all wireless modules, which will prevent the camera from transmitting data over the network. 9T or Redmi K20 Pro) mechanical locking is particularly effective: just don't push the camera when you don't need it. FAQ: Frequent questions about switching off the camera on Xiaomi Can you turn off only the front camera, leaving the main one? Yes, but the method depends on the model. On most Xiaomi devices, you can turn off the front camera through ADB, Blocking access only for it: adb shell pm revoke com.android.camera android.permission.CAMERA However, this does not guarantee 100% blocking - some applications (for example, Zoom) can use the app. API To get to a particular camera, you'll need to physically shut down the front-facing module's plume to lock it completely. Will Face Unlock work after the camera is turned off? No. Face unlock in the face. MIUI It's completely dependent on the front camera, and once it's disabled, either programmatically or physically, this unlocking method will stop working. PIN, Is it possible to turn off the camera on Xiaomi without losing warranty? Yes, using software methods: Restricting permissions through settings MIUI. Disabling the Camera application in the application menu. Use of lens stickers (does not violate warranty) Any manipulation of the lens ADB, TWRP Or physically disabling the plume voids the warranty. ADB? Follow the command: adb shell pm enable com.android.camera adb shell pm grant com.miui.securitycenter android.permission.CAMERA adb shell pm grant com.android.systemui android.permission.CAMERA If the camera doesn't work, restart the phone. In rare cases, you may need to reset to factory settings.Are there a risk that the camera will turn on itself after the update? MIUI? Yeah, after major updates. MIUI (For example, from version 13 to version 14, all permission settings are reset and access to the camera can be restored. To avoid this: Before upgrading, block the automatic installation of updates in Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Auto-update. Use Magisk modules (such as Disable Camera) that save settings after updates.