How to turn off mirror display on the front camera Xiaomi: all ways

Xiaomi’s mirror image on the front camera is one of the most annoying features for users who want to take natural selfies or stream. By default, many smartphones mirror the image in preview mode so that it matches your reflection in the mirror. However, at the output (when saving the photo / video), the picture often remains inverted, which spoils the composition of the frames, especially if they have text, gestures or asymmetrical details.

The problem is compounded by the fact that in different models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO These settings may be hidden in non-obvious menus or not in the standard interface. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to turn off the mirror, from basic camera settings to hidden developer and third-party options. MIUI 14/15 Android 13/14, and specific models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5).

Why does Xiaomi’s front camera mirror the image?

The mirroring (or flipping horizontally) on the frontal is not a bug, but a feature of most smartphones, and manufacturers explain this for two reasons:

• 🔄 Psychological comfort: Previewing the user sees himself as he or she is used to in the mirror reduces cognitive dissonance when taking selfies.
• 📱 Hardware limitations: Some front-facing camera modules physically flip the image, and software mirroring compensates for this.
• 🤳 Social media: Platforms like TikTok or Instagram often mirror video when downloading, so manufacturers adjust to their algorithms in advance.

In practice, however, this leads to:

• 📸 Photos with text (for example, the inscriptions on the T-shirt) are saved backwards.
• 🎥 In video gestures (such as “class” or “winning”) look unnatural.
• 🔄 When streaming in Zoom or Discord, viewers see you “not the way you used to.

Interestingly, on some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi K50), mirroring only works in preview, while the stored photo/video remains normal. On others (e.g. POCO X5), the picture is mirrored in the final file, depending on the version of MIUI and firmware.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with Android 14 and MIUI 15 (2026) Some ways to turn off the mirror may not work due to changes in security policy. ADB-commands or third-party applications.

Method 1: Xiaomi's standard camera settings (MIUI 14/15)

The easiest way is to use the built-in Camera app options, but there are some nuances:

1. Open the Camera app and switch to the front camera (swipe down or tap on the switch icon).
2. Touch the gears. ⚙️ in the upper right corner to open the camera settings.
3. Scroll down to the Front Camera section (or Selfies in some firmware).
4. Look for the Mirror Display option (may be called Mirror Display, Horizon Flip or Mirror Selfie). Switch the switch to the off position.

If you don’t have this option, try:

• 🔍 Go to Additional Settings → Video settings (for recordings).
• 📲 Update the Camera app via Google Play (sometimes newer versions add hidden features).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes settings are reset after updates.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for the European region) mirroring option can be blocked, in which case it will help to change the firmware region to China or India via Fastboot.

Method 2: Disconnecting the mirror through the developer mode

If you don’t have a default option, you can try activating hidden options through the developer menu, which works on most devices with MIUI 12-15:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times until you become a developer!
3. Return to the main Settings menu and open a new Developer section (may be in Additional).
4. Scroll down to Debugging or Hardware Rendering Acceleration.
5. Look for options related to the camera: Disable camera mirroring Force GPU rendering (sometimes affecting the display) Camera HAL (switch to HAL3 if available)

If you don’t have the right option, try:

• 🔍 Enter the search for the settings of the mirror or camera flip.
• 📱 Reboot the phone after changes – some settings apply only after reboot.
• 🔧 Reset the camera settings to factory (Settings) → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data).

Activate Developer Mode (7 taps according to MIUI)

Make a backup of camera settings

Check the battery (minimum 50%)

Do not change other parameters without needing-->

On some models (e.g. Redmi K60) the developer menu has a separate Camera section with Mirror Front Camera option, and if it is not available, the firmware does not support software disabling the mirror at the system level.

Method 3: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a low-level system setup tool that works for Xiaomi on Android 11-14 and requires a computer.

Important: Incorrect use of ADB can cause camera malfunctions. Follow the instructions carefully.

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. Activate USB Debugging in the Developer menu (see previous section).
3. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) in the adb folder.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
6. Execute the command to disable mirroring: adb shell settings put global camera_hal_mirror_front 0 Use it to turn it back on 1 instead 0.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell am start -n com.android.camera/.Camera --ez mirror_front false

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 15 and Android 14, some of them ADB-commands may be blocked by Xiaomi's security policy, which requires bootloader unlock, which voids the warranty.

Method 4: Third-Party Camera Applications

If the built-in techniques didn’t work, you can use Google Play’s alternative cameras, which often offer more customization, including control over mirroring.

The best apps for Xiaomi:

• 📸 Open Camera (free, open source) – allows you to disable mirroring in the settings Viewfinder.
• 🎥 Footage (for video) – supports manual horizontal/vertical flip control.
• 🤳 Camera MX — It has a separate Mirror Front Camera switch in advanced settings.
• 📷 ProCam X (paid) – professional application with support RAW and manual display settings.

How to set up in Open Camera:

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Switch to the front camera.
3. Put it on the gear. ⚙️ → Viewfinder settings.
4. Find the mirror option for the front camera and turn it off.
5. Save the settings and check the result.

Important: When using third-party cameras, the quality of the photo/video may differ from the standard application due to different processing algorithms.

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Before installing an alternative camera, check its compatibility with your Xiaomi model on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums. Some apps may not support multi-module front-facing cameras (e.g., on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

Method 5: Editing Configuration Files (for experienced)

On some Xiaomi firmware, mirroring is managed by system configuration files. To change them, root access or TWRP is required. This method is risky and only suitable for advanced users.

Instructions for root devices:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /system/vendor/build.prop or /system/system/build.prop
3. Find the line: persist.camera.front.mirror=true and replace true with false.
4. Save the file and restart the device.

If there is no build.prop file or no string, try changing the settings to:

/system/vendor/etc/camera/camera_config.xml

Look for tags like <MirrorFront>1</MirrorFront> and change the value to 0.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can result in bootloop (a looped reboot) or loss of camera functionality. TWRP or Xiaomi Backup.

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Changing configuration files is an extreme method. If you are not sure about your actions, you should use ADB or third-party applications.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after disabling mirroring, Xiaomi users face a number of problems.

• 🔄 Mirror returns after update: Reset camera settings (Settings) → Annexes → Camera. → Clear the data) or reconfigure through ADB.
• 📸 Photos are fine, but the preview is mirrored: This is a feature of the firmware. Try using Open Camera or GCam with the preview turned off.
• 🎥 Video mirrors and photo doesn't: Set up mirroring separately for video in camera settings or via ADB-Adb shell settings put global camera_hal_mirror_front_video 0
• 🔧 No option in the developer menu: Update your firmware to the latest version or install MIUI EU (unofficial firmware with extended settings).

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📱 Firmware region: On MIUI China is often more customized than Global.
• 🔄 Reset to factory: Sometimes a full reset helps (but don't forget to back up!).
• 🛠️ LineageOS or Pixel Experience often solves the problem of mirroring.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions