Xiaomi smartphones are among the most popular devices on the market due to their combination of price, performance and functionality, POCO Or Mi hides dozens of additional settings that you can activate without root rights, which allow you to fine-tune white balance, enable professional shooting modes, change processing parameters. HDR or even unlock support RAW-budgetary model format.
In this article, we will reveal all the ways to access hidden camera settings on Xiaomi – from standard secret codes to working with engineering menus and other features. ADB-You'll learn how to turn on the commands. Camera2 API For third-party applications, to activate manual focusing, or even to change the video limits by bitrate. MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 (including HyperOS) and are suitable for most models released after 2020.
1. Standard hidden camera functions in MIUI: What can be enabled without superuser rights
Even without the technical tricks, the standard Xiaomi Camera app has a few useful features hidden, activated through gesture combinations, long presses or special modes.
- 🔍 Ultra-Night mode for front camera: Default is disabled on most models, but it can be enabled through the shooting profile settings.
- 🎥 Advanced video settings: bitrate selection, stabilization and even manual setup ISO/Exposures in Pro Video mode.
- 📸 Secret mode "Documents": optimized for shooting text with automatic perspective correction (hidden in the menu More → Special regimes).
- 🔄 Quick switching between cameras: double-clicking on the screen in shooting mode (does not work on all models).
To open these functions, just pinch the empty space on the camera screen with your finger. 2-3 In a second, you'll see a context menu with additional options on some devices (e.g. Xiaomi). 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) There is also a switch for activating the logarithmic profile (for subsequent color correction in Adobe Premiere or Final Cut).
⚠️ Note: On models with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 10C or POCO M5) Some of the functions can be blocked at the firmware level. Camera2 API Manual Camera Compatibility from Google Play.
Another little-known trick is activating the Supermoon mode to shoot the moon with an increase to 100x. It's hidden in the menu. → Telephoto and appears only when the moon is detected in the frame (works on Mi 11 Ultra, 12S To force it to turn on, point the camera at a bright light source (for example, a lamp) and hold your finger on the screen for 5 seconds.
2. Engineered Camera Menu: How to Open and What Can Be Changed
The Engineering Mode is a service section that stores low-level camera settings that are not available in the normal interface.
- 🔧 Change autofocus settings (speed, search areas, sensitivity).
- 📊 Customize white balance for different scenarios (including custom presets).
- 🎯 Disable sharpness software that spoils photos.
- 🔋 Optimize the energy consumption of the camera (useful for long timelapses).
To open the engineering menu, follow the following steps:
Open the phone app and enter the code ##4636##
Go to the tab Phone Information
Click 5 times in a row on the item Version MIUI (A message will appear: You have become a developer")
Return to the main screen and open the camera app.
Swipe left 3 times, then press and hold the Settings button for 10 seconds.
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After that, a menu with tabs Camera, Sensor and ISP. Be careful: changing parameters without understanding their purpose can lead to loss of image quality or even hardware failures (for example, overheating of the matrix).
| Tab | Parameter | Recommended value | What makes change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera | AF Mode | Continuous | Smooth autofocus for video (elimines "twitching" when shooting) |
| Sensor | Exposure Time | Auto or 1/30s | Shutter speed control for night shooting (reduces noise) |
| ISP | Sharpness | 50-60% | Reduces artificial sharpness (photos look more natural) |
| Camera | Video Bitrate | 50 Mbps (max.) | Increases video detail (but increases file size) |
⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X5 Pro, Redmi K50) Change of parameters in the engineering menu is reset after restarting. To fix the settings, after applying them, go to Settings. → Annexes → Camera. → Storage and click Clear Cache.
3. ADB-commands to unlock hidden camera functions
If standard methods do not give enough freedom, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — A debugging tool that allows you to change system settings without root rights:
- 🔓 Unlock. Camera2 API Fully support manual settings in third-party apps (e.g. Google Camera).
- 📹 Enable video in the video 4K@60fps or 8K In models where this is limited by software.
- 📷 Activate the saving of photos in format RAW (even on budget smartphones).
- 🔄 Disable forced processing of AI photos (for “clean” image).
To work with ADB, you will need:
- Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.
- Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
- Original. USB-cable (not all cables support data transmission).
The main commands for unlocking the camera:
Enable Camera2 API (full support)
adb shell setprop persist.camera.HAL3.enabled 1
Unlocking RAW (if hardware supported)
adb shell setprop persist.vendor.camera.raw.enabled 1
Enable 4K@60fps (for Snapdragon 8xx processors)
adb shell setprop persist.vendor.camera.4k60.enable 1
Disabling AI photo processing
adb shell setprop persist.vendor.camera.ai_scene.disable 1After you enter each command, restart your smartphone so that the changes will persist after the update. MIUI, You need to write them in the build.prop file (requires Magisk or custom recovery).
Shooting in RAW|4K@60fps video|Manual focusing|Disabling AI processing|Other-->
4. Secret codes for camera diagnostics and testing
Smartphone manufacturers, including Xiaomi, are implementing service codes to test hardware, some of which allow you to run a camera diagnostic, check autofocus, a matrix, or even turn on hidden shooting modes.
| Code. | Description | Application |
|---|---|---|
| ##6484## | Camera equipment test | Checking matrix, autofocus, flash (indicates error report) |
| ##64663## | Information about the camera module | Shows the matrix model, firmware version ISP and supported regimes |
| ##4636## | Android Service Menu | Tab Phone Information → camera and sensor data |
| ##36446337## | Factory calibration mode | Reset the camera settings to factory (caution: resets all settings!) |
For example, code ##6484## runs a test where you can:
- 🔦 Check the operation of the flash (on for 5 seconds).
- 📷 Test autofocus at different distances (5 cm to infinity).
- 🎯 View the current frame histogram (useful for setting up exposure).
⚠️ Note: Code ##36446337## resets all camera settings, including custom profiles and white balance calibration. Use it only if you notice artifacts in photos (such as a permanent green hue or blur at the edges).
On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi) K60 Pro code ##64663## displays an additional tab "Leica Settings" where you can customize the color profile in the style of legendary Leica lenses (available only on Chinese firmware).
5. How to activate professional shooting modes (Log, ProRES, Anamorphic)
Xiaomi flagship smartphones (such as Mi 11 Ultra, 12S Ultra, 13 Pro) support professional video formats, but they are often hidden or blocked:
🎬 Logarithmic profile (Log)
It allows you to record video with extended dynamic range for subsequent color correction.
- Open the engineering menu (see section 2).
- Go to the Camera tab. → Video Profile.
- Choose Log Mode and set the Xiaomi Log value or HLG.
- Save the settings and restart the Camera app.
📼 ProRES (on Snapdragon) 8 Gen 1/2)
Apple's format, which provides minimal quality loss during installation.
adb shell setprop persist.vendor.camera.prores.enable 1After the reboot in the video settings will appear the option ProRES 10-bit (available only when filming in 4K@30fps).
🎥 Anamorphic regime (2.39:1)
It simulates a movie with black stripes on the sides, and it's turned on through a hidden menu.
- Open the camera and go to Video Mode.
- Swipe up from the cog icon (hidden gesture).
- Choose Aspect Ratio → 2.39:1.
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For shooting in the Log profile, use the Filmic Pro application - it supports Xiaomi Log and allows you to monitor the histogram and waveform of the signal in real time.
6 Risks and Limitations When Working with Hidden Settings
While unlocking hidden camera features opens up new possibilities, it comes with risks:
- 🔥 Overheating of the matrix: increase in the bitrate of the video or long shooting in RAW It can cause overheating (especially on budget models with MediaTek Helio).
- 📉 Decreased stability: Incorrect settings in the engineering menu can cause lags or crashes of the Camera app.
- 🚫 Loss of warranty: changing system files (e.g., through ADB) It may be considered a hack that voids the warranty.
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption: activation of ProRES or Log profile increases the load on the processor, which reduces battery life on the computer. 20-30%.
To minimize the risks, follow these rules:
- Before experimenting, back up your camera settings (via Settings) → Google → Backup).
- Do not change the parameters, the purpose of which you do not understand (especially in the section). ISP engineering menu).
- After application ADB-Check the temperature of the smartphone using the application AIDA64.
- If the camera starts to "glut", reset its settings using the code # # #36446337##.
What if the camera stopped working after the changes?
7. Alternative applications for extended shooting
If the standard Xiaomi camera doesn’t suit you even after unlocking, consider third-party apps that support hidden hardware capabilities:
| Annex | Advantages | Deficiencies | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Camera (GCam) | Better processing HDR, night mode, astrophotography | Requires manual configuration of configs, can slow down | All models with Camera2 API |
| Filmora | Professional color correction, support Log | Paid subscription for export to 4K | Snapdragon 8xx, Dimensity 9000+ |
| Open Camera | RAW support, manual settings, no advertising | Minimalist interface, weak HDR | All models. |
| ProCam X | Anamorphic mode, timelapse with post-processing | Difficult for beginners | Flagships with Snapdragon 8xx |
Google Camera will require:
- Download the current version APK (from the developer, for example. BSG Shamim).
- Install a config for your model (.xml file, downloaded to folder) GCam/Configs).
- Turn on Camera2 API through ADB (see section 3).
The best configs for GCam by models:
- Xiaomi 13 Pro: BSG_Mi_13_Pro_V10.xml (Optimized for Leica lenses).
- Redmi Note 12 Pro+: Shamim_Note12ProPlus_V8.7.xml (night-time).
- POCO F5 Pro: Wichaya_F5Pro_V9.2.xml (support 8K video).
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When using GCam, turn off optimization MIUI in the developer settings (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers → Turn off optimization MIUI). It'll reduce the lags when you're shooting.