How to Open Hidden Camera Settings on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Secret Modes

Introduction: Why you need hidden camera settings on Xiaomi

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are no longer just selfie cameras, but powerful tools with dozens of hidden features. The manufacturer restricts access to a range of settings in the standard interface, leaving them to enthusiasts and professionals. But what if you want to manually control white balance, customize color profiles, or activate experimental modes like RAW12?

In this article, we will not only show you how to open additional camera settings, but also explain what options are available on different models (from Xiaomi 13 Ultra to the budget Redmi Note 12), you will learn about hidden codes of the engineering menu, modified firmware and even legal ways to unlock through the MIUI Camera, and why some functions can automatically turn off after the MIUI update and how to fix it.

We warn you that not all modes are equally useful, for example, manually adjusting noise reduction in night mode can both improve detail and make the images grainy, so we will not only give instructions, but also explain when and why to use each parameter.

Official Ways: What to Include Without Risk

Before you climb the engineering menu or install custom firmware, check what hidden features are already available in the standard Camera app. Xiaomi often hides useful options behind long holdouts or gestures - their activation does not require root rights and does not violate the warranty.

Here's what you can do without risk:

• 🔍 Pro Mode: Hold your finger on the screen in the main shooting mode until the exposure slider appears. In some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T Pro), this will open an extended menu with manual settings ISO, shutter speed and focus.
• 🎯 Hidden filters: In Portrait or Video mode swipe left/right on the filter icon – sometimes there are experimental presets hidden there (for example, Cinematic or Neon).
• 📱 Additional resolutions: In the camera settings (⚙️ → Resolution), try selecting MAX instead of AI – this will turn off automatic megapixel reduction in some scenes.
• 🔄 Reset camera settings: If features are missing after the update, go to Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear data. This will return factory profiles (but delete user settings!).

On Leica-optics models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), hidden settings are often hidden behind a long tap on the Leica logo in the camera interface, which will open up menus with color reproduction profiles (Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant), which are by default inactive.

⚠️ Warning: On some devices (e.g., POCO F5), the 50MP mode may disappear after resetting the camera settings. To return it, restart the smartphone and again select the maximum resolution manually.

Camera Engineering Menu: Secret Codes and Risks

If the official methods are not enough, the next level is the engineering menu (also known as the MTK Engineering Mode or Qualcomm Diag), which allows you to fine-tune the camera settings, but requires caution: improper changes can lead to loss of image quality or even hardware failures (for example, on modules with autofocus).

Here's how to get there:

1. Open the Phone app and type in the code: ##4636## This is the universal code for most Xiaomi on Qualcomm Snapdragon. For devices on MediaTek (like Redmi 10C) try: ##36446337###
2. In the menu that opens, select Hardware Testing → Camera (the name may be different).
3. Here you will see a list of camera modules (e.g. Main Camera, Ultrawide, Telephoto).

The engineering menu has options that are not available in the standard interface:

⚠️ Warning: Changes to the engineering menu are not saved after rebooting on most devices. To fix the settings, you will need modified firmware (e.g., MIUI EU) or root access.

ADB- Commands: Extended Control without Root

If the engineering menu seems too limited, the next step is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a technique that allows you to activate hidden camera features without getting root rights, but requires you to connect your smartphone to your computer.

Here’s what you can do with ADB:

• 📸 Enable RAW12 (available on flagships like the Xiaomi 13 Pro):
• 🔦 Activate night mode for all modules (including telephoto and frontal):
• 🎥 Unlock the bitrate of a video (e.g., to shoot 4K@60fps on models where this is limited by default):

To make the changes effective, after each command is entered, you need to restart the smartphone. Check the result in the Camera app - new options should appear in the Additional or Pro section.

To reverse the changes, use:

adb shell setprop persist.camera.raw.support 0

⚠️ Warning: Some ADB- teams may conflict with the MIUI updates. Once you update the system, the settings will reset and you'll have to re-enter them. To avoid this, create a batch file with all the commands and run it after each update.

Modified firmware: MIUI EU, Pixel Experience and more

If you don't like the limitations of standard MIUI, you can install an alternative firmware with advanced camera settings.

• 🌍 MIUI EU: An unofficial firmware version from European developers, including hidden camera modes (e.g., 8K video on Xiaomi 12T) and removing regional restrictions.

Installation of custom firmware requires unlocking the bootloader and can lead to loss of warranty. Here is a brief instruction for MIUI EU:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Download the MIUI EU firmware for your model from xiaomi.eu.
3. Install it through TWRP (Castom Recovery).
4. After installation in the camera settings, new items will appear, for example: Ultra Resolution (ultra high resolution for telephoto), Dual Video (simultaneous shooting from the main and front cameras), Audio Zoom (amplification of sound when zooming)

On the POCO F4 GT and Xiaomi 12 Pro, after installing MIUI EU, a hidden Director’s Mode mode appears, allowing you to shoot video from multiple cameras at the same time (for example, the main + ultra-wide angle).

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+), custom firmware may disable hardware video stabilization. Before installing, check user reviews of your model on the 4PDA or XDA forums.

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Before installing custom firmware, backup your data via TWRP or Mi Mover. It is especially important to save the DCIM/Camera folder - some firmware resets color profile settings, and your user presets will disappear.

Third-party applications: alternatives to a standard camera

If you don’t want to risk firmware or ADB, you can use third-party apps that unlock the potential of a Xiaomi camera without root.

To install GCam on Xiaomi:

1. Download. APK-a file from a verified source (e.g., Celso Azevedo).
2. Install the file by allowing installation from unknown sources.
3. Run GCam and import XML- config for your model (for example, for Xiaomi 13 Ultra, a BSG config will suit).
4. In GCam settings, activate: HDR+ Enhanced (for better detail), Night Sight (for shooting in the dark), Auxiliary Cameras (for working with ultra-wide and telephoto modules)

On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, the GCam allows you to shoot 4K@60fps video even if the standard camera is limited to 30fps. However, beware: long-term shooting in high resolution can lead to overheating.

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Camera sidelines (such as GCam) may provide better quality than standard software, but often lack optimizations for specific Xiaomi modules, such as some devices may not run autofocus in macro mode or will not support telephoto.

Guide to fine-tuning: what and when to adjust

Let's say you've opened up all the hidden settings, but how do you use them? Here's a practical guide for different scenarios:

📸 Shooting in RAW

The RAW (or DNG) format stores raw data from the sensor, which gives more post-processing options.

• 🔹 Use RAW only in good lighting - files will be too noisy in the dark.
• 🔹 On Xiaomi 13 Pro and later available RAW12 (12-bit RAW), which gives more dynamic range than the standard RAW10.
• 🔹 For processing RAW, use Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed.

🌙 Night photography

In the engineering menu or GCam, you can configure:

• 🔹 Night Mode Exposure Time: Increase to 4-7 seconds for static scenes (e.g. landscapes).
• 🔹 Night Mode ISO: Limit the value to 3200-6400 to avoid noise.
• 🔹 Astrophotography (in GCam): works only on a tripod and in complete darkness.

🎥 Videotape.

For professional video, set up:

• 🔹 Bitrate: The minimum value for Full HD is 25 Mbps, for 4K is 50–60 Mbps.
• 🔹 Stabilization: Hybrid stabilization (EIS + OIS is available on Xiaomi 12S Ultra), but it sprinkles the frame.
• 🔹 Audio Source: Choose a Camcorder for better sound (on some models, this disables noise cancellation).

On the POCO F4 GT and Redmi K50 Gaming, you can activate Game Video mode in the engineering menu, which reduces bitrate, but reduces heat during long recordings.

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To shoot videos in the LOG- profile (for subsequent grading), use the Footage app with the Flat or CineLike D settings. This will allow you to get more details in shadows and lights during editing.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions