How to turn off mirror reflection on the front camera Xiaomi

Xiaomi's selfie camera is often seen as a crooked mirror that distorts the image. When you take a picture, you see yourself the way you used to see yourself in the mirror, but after the shutter clicks, the image turns over, becoming unusual and sometimes even frightening. This is the default behavior laid down by developers, but it is far from popular, especially those who are used to controlling every pixel in their photo.

Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have a flexible setup to make the camera save the images exactly as you see them on the screen when you shoot, which will save you from having to edit the images in the gallery to return the face to the usual asymmetry.

In this article, we will go into detail where to find hidden camera settings, how they work on different versions of the operating system and why sometimes the desired switch can disappear. RAW-formats and third-party apps so you have full control over your image.

Why Xiaomi’s camera mirrors the default image

The logic of the front camera is based on the psychological comfort of the user. When you look at the screen of your smartphone before you shoot, you see yourself in a mirror image. This is how you used to see yourself every morning in the bathroom or when you shave. If the camera showed a "real" image (as other people see you), you would have an extremely difficult time framing the picture and posing, because the movements of the hands and head would seem inverted.

But once you press the down button, the software algorithm automatically turns the photo horizontally, so that the text on the clothes reads correctly and the world around them looks natural, and the problem arises when the facial asymmetry is noticeable: the familiar "mirror" face seems correct, and the "real" (inverted) - strange, which is why many people are looking for a way to turn off the DSLR.

Technically, the image processing takes place in the background immediately after the image is captured by the matrix. The system uses a transformation filter that changes the pixel coordinates from left to right. In older firmware versions, this process was irreversible within the standard application, but modern updates give the user a choice.

⚠️ Note: Disabling mirror image changes only the final file. Viewfinder (screen before shooting) can continue to show a mirror image for your convenience, even if the save setting is changed.

Setting up selfie saving in the standard Camera app

The easiest and most reliable way to change the behavior of the camera is to use the built-in settings of the application. In current versions of the Xiaomi shell, this option is put into a separate menu, available directly from the shooting interface.

To start, open the Camera app and switch to the front module. Click on the menu (usually three horizontal bars or a gear in the corner of the screen). In the list that opens, find the item associated with mirror reflection. Depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, it may be called differently, but the essence is one - image orientation management.

Once activated, try to take a test shot. Check the result in the gallery. If the image is still upside down, it's possible that your firmware version has a hidden bug or uses an alternative processing algorithm that requires additional actions, described below.

It's important to note that changing this setting does not affect video recording in some scenarios. If you're shooting a video, the system may ignore the photo mode setting. Always check the result in the specific shooting mode you plan to use.

Step-by-step instructions for different versions of MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi's camera interface has changed many times, and the path to customization may vary. Smartphone owners with different versions of firmware may encounter different menu item names. Let's take a look at the basic scenarios.

In the new versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the algorithm is as follows:

1. Launch the camera and select Photo mode.

2. Switch to the front camera.

3.Push the three stripes in the upper right corner.

4. Select the Settings (cogs).

5. Find the "Save viewfinder" or "Mirror reflection" switch.

6 Activate it if you want the photo to remain the same as on the screen.

In older versions, such as MIUI 12 or 11, the logic can be inverted. There's often a "Reflect Photo" option that you have to turn off to get the desired result, sometimes hidden inside the "Additional Settings" or "Extended Settings" submenu.

If you upgrade to HyperOS and your settings are gone, it may be due to a change in the architecture of the camera app, in which case it’s worth checking the app itself through GetApps or Google Play, as Xiaomi often releases patches for the camera separately from system updates.

Using Google Camera (GCam) to control reflection

If Xiaomi’s standard camera app seems too stripped down or buggy to you, a great alternative would be Google Camera (GCam).This is a ported version of the app from Pixel smartphones that often works even better on Xiaomi than its native one, especially in night shooting and dynamic range.

In GCam, mirror management is more flexible. Once you install and configure the config file (xml) for your model, you get access to the detailed settings, you can customize the behavior of the viewfinder and the final file separately, and you can apply a geometry fix to the lens.

Installation of GCam on Xiaomi often requires permission to install from unknown sources. APK-files only from trusted resources such as CelsoAzevedo to avoid malware. Once installed, go to GCam settings, search for the Front Camera section, and look for the Mirror Front Camera or Selfie Mirror option".

• 📸 GCam Benefits: Improved HDR+, Better noise making, more accurate color reproduction.
• 🔧 Flexibility: the ability to fine-tune sensor parameters not available in the drain.
• 🔄 Stability: The app is often updated by bug fixers faster than Xiaomi.

It’s worth remembering that the GCam may not support all native camera modes, such as “Cinema Effect” or some types of portrait photography with Xiaomi’s artificial intelligence, a trade-off that is made for the sake of picture quality and mirror control.

Editing of finished pictures and batch processing

What if you've already taken a hundred selfies with the wrong reflection and it's too late to change the settings? Don't despair, modern galleries and editors can fix it in a couple of seconds. Xiaomi's built-in editor (MI Gallery) knows how to do it, but there are nuances.

Open a photo in a gallery, click Change, and select the framing/rotation tool. There's usually a two-triangle button that shows horizontal reflection. You click on it, you'll instantly get the right orientation. But doing that for each photo manually is tedious.

For batch processing, it's better to use third-party applications like Photo & Picture Resizer or Bulk Image Resize, which let you select a selfie folder and apply "Flip Horizontal" to all images at once, which will save you hours of time.

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Use cloud services like Google Photos to make quick edits. Open your photo on your computer in your browser, click Edit -> Turn. On the big screen, it's faster, and the changes sync on your phone.

There are also specialized camera apps that don't have a gallery of their own, but open the system one right away, and they often have a "Always save mirrored" setting that forcibly ignores system preferences.

Table: Comparison of settings in different versions of firmware

To make it easier for you to navigate the variety of interfaces, we have prepared a summary table that will help you quickly find the right menu item depending on the version of your operating system.

Please note that in some custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu), item names may be translated differently or placed in a separate Camera menu in the main settings of the phone, rather than in the app itself.

If your smartphone is in the budget segment (Redmi A or POCO C series), the interface can be simplified. In such cases, look for a button with an inverted emoji or two triangles right on the toolbar in selfie mode.

Problems with RAW and professional regimes

If you're shooting in format RAW or using a professional mode (Pro), the logic of the camera may differ. RAW-files are often saved "as is" from the matrix, without the use of JPEG-This means that the mirror setting can be ignored.

Processing RAW-You'll have to manually apply the transformation to your files in Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed, and this is done specifically for professionals who want to have full control of the source material. Automatic reflection could spoil the metadata or the geometry of the frame for further retouching.

In Pro mode, you can sometimes have a separate preview saving setting. Check the save format settings. If you're shooting in a bundle. RAW+JPEG, piece JPEG-The file can be displayed according to the settings, and RAW — No, it's normal behavior in the system.

⚠️ Note: When shooting in format RAW Make sure you don't mix up the sides when retouching. RAW-The file will look like you are seen by others, which can be confusing after the habit of mirror selfies.

For video bloggers using professional recording modes, there is a separate problem: many applications do not allow you to change orientation on the fly when writing in 4K 60fps due to the high load on the processor, in which case only post-processing remains.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Controlling mirror imagery is a matter of personal preference. There is no "right" way, there is only one that you like and makes your photos comfortable to perceive.