How to unlock the hidden camera capabilities on Xiaomi: 7 working ways for all models

Xiaomi smartphones have long been famous for their excellent price-performance cameras, but most users are unaware that their devices are capable of much more. The manufacturer often hides professional features in the standard interface of the Camera application, leaving them for “advanced” users or testing. These hidden features can include advanced manual settings, support for RAW formats, alternative image processing algorithms and even undocumented shooting modes.

In this article, we’ll cover all the legal ways to unlock hidden camera features on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, from simple tweaks with settings to working with engineering menus. You’ll learn how to activate full Pro mode with shutter speed control up to 32 seconds, enable DNG shooting on non-flagship models, and even how to get around manufacturer restrictions on the resolution of the main module. All methods are tested on current versions MIUI 14/15 and do not require superuser rights (root).

1. Activation of Pro mode: manual settings as on flagships

Even Xiaomi’s budget models have hardware support for manual camera settings, but the manufacturer often hides them behind a simplified interface.

• 📸 Shutter speed (from 1/4000 to 32 seconds)
• 🔍 Focal distance (in mm, in 0.1)
• 🎛 White balance (temperature from 2000K to 10000K)
• 📊 ISO (50 to 32,000 units)

To unlock it:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Scroll through the shooting modes to the left until the end.
3. Press three points (⋮) top-right.
4. Select additional → Camera settings → Pro mode.
5. Activate the Show Pro mode switch.

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If your model doesn’t have Pro Mode in the settings, try changing the system region to India (via Settings → Additional → Region).

On some devices (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ or POCO F4), the Pro mode appears only after the first shooting in RAW format.

1. Turn on any shooting mode.
2. Tap the RAW icon in the top panel (if not, see the next section).
3. Take 1 photo and restart the app.

2. Enable shooting in RAW (DNG) format on any models

RAW (or.DNG) format saves raw data from the camera matrix, which provides incredible post-processing capabilities. Officially, Xiaomi only allows RAW on flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3), but on most devices this feature can be enabled through hidden settings.

Method 1: Through the camera's engineering menu (works on 80% of models):

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Twice click on the empty space to the right of the downhill button (where the preview is usually shown).
3. Enter the code ##36246633#
4. Select RAW Settings → Enable RAW Capture.
5. Restart the camera – in the settings will appear the switch Save RAW.

Method 2: Through ADB- commands (100% performance, but requires a PC):

1. Connect your phone to your computer with USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – 7 times press to activate the developer mode).
2. Enter in command line: adb shell settings put global camera_raw_support 1
3. Reset the device.

3 Unlock Full Resolution of the Main Module (48/64/108 MP)

Many Xiaomi smartphones use pixel binning technology, where multiple physical pixels are combined into one to improve quality in low light. For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro has a 108 MP matrix, but by default shoots at 12 MP.

For models with a Samsung ISOCELL matrix (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the full resolution is blocked at the software level.

1. Install alternative camera software, such as GCam (BSG or Wichaya versions are optimized for Xiaomi).
2. In GCam settings, select the rear camera and activate the Use Full Sensor Resolution option.

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Full resolution photography requires more light and stabilization, and use a tripod or stable surface for exposures longer than 1/30 of a second.

4. Hidden modes: Night Pro, Documents, Clone

In addition to the standard modes, Xiaomi firmware has specialized shooting algorithms that can be activated through the codes of the engineering menu or third-party applications.

• 🌙 Night mode Pro: An improved version of night mode with manual shutter speed settings of up to 10 seconds. Activated by the code: ##6484## Once entered in the camera settings, a new Night Pro mode will appear.
• 📄 Mode Documents: Optimized for shooting text with automatic perspective alignment. Included via: adb shell settings put global camera_doc_mode 1
• 👥 Dual Video: Simultaneous shooting from the main and front cameras. Powered by Xiaomi 11T Pro, 12 Pro. Code: ##2586###
• 🎥 Film Mode (Cinematic): Simulated filming with color logging.Available on Xiaomi 13 Ultra via hidden menu: ##346633###

Make sure the battery is charged. >50%|Make a backup of photos|Disable battery optimization for the Camera app|Check the vacant space (>5GB for RAW)-->

On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processor (such as Xiaomi 12S Ultra), hidden 8K HDR mode is available.

1. Go to Camera Settings → Additional → Video Formats.
2. Hold your finger at 4K for 5 seconds.
3. In the window that appears, select 8K HDR (Experimental).

5. Configure hidden parameters of image processing

Xiaomi uses its own image-processing algorithms (Xiaomi Image Brain), but many settings are hidden from the user and can be configured through configuration files or engineering menus.

Method 1: Editing a camera_config.xml file (requires root or ADB):

1. Connect your phone to your PC and type in: adb pull /system/etc/camera/camera_config.xml
2. Open the file in the text editor and find the lines: <Sharpness>0.5</Sharpness> <Saturation>1.0</Saturation> <Contrast>1.1</Contrast>
3. Change the values (e.g. Saturation="1.3" for more juicy colors).
4. Save the file and download it back: adb push camera_config.xml /system/etc/camera/

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Before editing configuration files, back them up! syntax errors can cause the camera app to crash.

Method 2: Through the Engineering Menu (without root):

1. Enter the code ##36446337##
2. Go to the Image Tuning section.
3. Adjust the settings: 🎨 Saturation 🔆 Brightness 🔍 Sharpness 🌈 Hue (hue)

Save the settings and restart the camera.

6.Use of alternative camera applications

If the standard Xiaomi Camera app limits functionality, you can use third-party solutions that reveal the full potential of the iron part:

• 📷 Google Camera (GCam): Best choice for shooting in RAW, HDR+ and night scenes. Recommended versions: BSG GCam for Wichaya GCam Snapdragon devices — for MediaTek Shamim GCam — for older models (Redmi Note 8 Pro)
• 🎬 Open Camera: Open source software with manual settings, scripts and external microphones, allowing you to shoot videos in the LOG- profile for professional color correction.
• 🔧 Manual Camera: An application for full control over shooting parameters, including focal length, exposure, and white increments balance 1K.

To install GCam on Xiaomi:

1. Download the APK- file from celsoazevedo.com (select the version for your processor).
2. Before installation, enable Installation from unknown sources in the security settings.
3. Once installed, open GCam and select the configuration file (.xml) for your model (see 4PDA or XDA forums).
4. Download the config via double-pressing the black area next to the down button.

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The GCam may not support all camera modules (e.g. telephoto or macro).Please check each lens manually before using.

7 Dangerous Methods: What Not to Do

In pursuit of hidden features, users often resort to risky methods that can lead to loss of warranty or camera inoperability.

• ⚠️ Camera firmware from another model: Even if the arrays are identical (e.g., Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and POCO X4 Pro), the firmware contains calibration data that is incompatible with your device.
• ⚠️ Camera change IMEI: Some "gurus" advise swapping module identifiers to unlock features, which results in the serial number being blocked in Xiaomi's database.
• ⚠️ Removal of the camera system library (libarcamera, libmiicamera): Without them, the standard application will stop running, and recovery will require complete flashing.

If you are still willing to experiment, at least follow these rules:

⚠️ Warning: Before any manipulation of the camera system files, create a full backup via TWRP or Mi Flash Tool. If you fail, you will need to flash the original vendor section that contains the camera drivers.

For models with MediaTek (Redmi 10C, POCO M4 Pro), editing files in /vendor/etc/camera/ is particularly dangerous. These devices use a proprietary.tuning calibration format, and even a small change can result in artifacts in all photos (green/purple spots).

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden camera features Xiaomi