Disable the auto-start camera power button on Xiaomi: all ways

Double-pressing the power button on Xiaomi smartphones is a convenient feature for quickly launching the camera, but not everyone likes it. Random positives when carrying the phone in your pocket, an uncomfortable positioning of the button or just a desire to free up the gesture for other tasks cause users to look for a way to turn off this option. Depending on the version of MIUI and the device model, the process can be different: somewhere the setting is on the surface, and somewhere hidden in the system parameters.

In this article, we will analyze all current methods - from standard settings in the menu to use. ADB-You will also learn which Xiaomi models support this feature, and what to do if the option suddenly disappears after a firmware update. Importantly, some ways require superuser rights, but we will also specify alternatives without risk to guarantee.

Why the camera is started by the power button and who is it bothering

The dual-press power button camera’s quick start feature was introduced in MIUI 7 and has since become standard on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, the idea being to speed up access to the shoot — instead of unlocking the screen and finding the camera icon, the user could take a snapshot instantly.

• 📸 Random shots: In a pocket or bag, the power button can clamp, activating the camera and wasting battery power.
• 🔋 Battery consumption: Background activation of the camera module (even without shooting) increases power consumption.
• 🔒 Privacy: If the phone is unlocked, strangers may accidentally see the last photo in preview.
• 🎮 Conflict with games: In some games, double pressing the power button is interpreted as an output, which interferes with gameplay.

According to surveys among Xiaomi users, about 40% turn off this feature in the first months of using a smartphone, while in the latest versions of MIUI 13/14, the setting became less noticeable, it was moved from the main menu to the section “Special features”, which caused a wave of questions on the forums.

Standard method: disabling through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in system settings, which works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 10 and later.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Special Opportunities section (in some versions – Additional → Special Opportunities).
3. Select Power button or button gestures (name depends on MIUI version).
4. Find the option Double press the power button and tap it.
5. In the menu that opens, select Disable or No Action.

If you don’t have Special Opportunities on your menu, try an alternative route:

Settings → System and device → Gestures and buttons → Power button

Make sure you have the latest version of MIUI|

Close all background applications |

Check the battery charge (minimum 20%) |

Make a backup copy of the settings (optional)-->

Important: Some models (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi Note 11 Pro+) may need to reboot the device after the feature is disabled to make the changes take effect. If the option is not saved, check if there are third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher) that can conflict with system gestures.

Alternative methods for hidden versions of MIUI

In some regional firmware or MIUI beta versions, the standard customization path can be changed or hidden. If you didn't find the option in the Special Options menu, try these options:

Method 1: Through the Gestures menu

On devices with MIUI 12.5+, the setting is sometimes moved to the gesture section:

Settings → Display → Gestures → Power button → Double press

Method 2: Search by settings

Use the built-in search bar in Settings:

1. Open the Settings and tap on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner.
2. Enter the request: double press the power button or button power double press (in English).
3. The system must give a direct transition to the desired option.

Method 3: Resetting gesture settings

If the setting is not available or is not saved, try resetting the gestures to the factory:

Settings → System and device → Resetting settings → Resetting gesture settings

⚠️ Note: This method will reset all user gestures, including swipes to return or launch applications. Use it only if other methods have not helped.

Disconnection through ADB (no root)

If the standard settings don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — This is a tool for debugging Android devices, which doesn't require superuser rights, but it requires a computer and a computer. USB-The instructions are suitable for MIUI 11–14:

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install. ADB-PC drivers (Windows/macOS/Linux).
• 📱 On the phone, activate Developer Mode: go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI and tap 7 times on this item.
• 🔌 Turn on Debugging. USB Settings menu → Additionally. → For developers.

Step 2: Connect and Commands

Connect the phone to the PC and execute the following commands in the terminal (command line):

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed. If not, check the drivers and allow debugging on your phone.)

adb shell settings put global camera_double_click_power_key 0

Step 3: Checking

Reboot the device. If the camera is still running, try an alternative command:

adb shell settings put secure camera_double_press_power 0

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) 10T) after ADB-Teams can be protected MIUI, Resetting the settings the next time you update the system. To fix the changes, repeat the procedure after the update.

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If ADB doesn’t recognize the device, try switching USB connectivity mode to File Transfer (MTP) in the phone’s notification curtain.

Xiaomi models where the function works differently

Not all Xiaomi smartphones handle the dual press of the power button the same way, and the table below shows the features of popular models:

On smartphones with a physical camera button (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra or Mi 10S), double-pressing the power button can conflict with hardware gestures. In this case, disabling through the settings does not always work - you need to edit the build.prop file (for root users only).

What to do if the function is lost after the update

After major MIUI updates (e.g., 12.5 to 13), users often find that gesture settings are reset or disappear.

Option 1: Resetting the system cache

This is a secure method that does not affect user data:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points (menu) → Show system → Settings → Storage → Clear cache

Option 2: Manual editing of the configuration file

For advanced users with root access:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to: /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
3. Open the database and find the global table.
4. Remove or change the line with the parameter camera_double_click_power_key.

Option 3: Firmware rollback

If the problem occurs after the update, you can temporarily return to the previous version of MIUI via Fastboot or Recovery. However, this method is risky - it can lead to data loss or lock the bootloader.

⚠️ Attention: Before rolling back the firmware, be sure to make a backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup: On devices with a locked bootloader (most official firmware), rollback is possible only within one branch. MIUI (13.0.5 to 13.0.4, but not 12.5).

Additional settings for the camera on Xiaomi

Besides disabling the power button, MIUI has other useful camera control options that are worth configuring:

• 🔒 Locking Camera Access: Limit Camera Launch for Individual Applications via Settings → Confidentiality → Application authorizations → Camera.
• 📱 Quick Start from Lock Screen: Enable or disable camera access from the swipe over the lock screen in Settings → Lock screen → Labels.
• 🔋 Power Optimization: Turn off background camera application activity in Settings → Battery → Choice of applications.
• 🎥 Video gestures: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) can be assigned to double-press the power button to start the video instead of the photo.

If you use the camera frequently but want to avoid accidental launches, consider alternative ways to access quickly:

• Add the camera widget to the main screen.
• Set up voice launch via Google Assistant (OK Google, Open the Camera).
• Use the swipe gesture down the lock screen (configured in Settings → Lock screen).

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Disabling the camera’s start-up with the power button does not affect other device features, but can free up the gesture for third-party applications (for example, to trigger a flashlight or voice assistant).

FAQ: Frequent questions