Why to mirror photos on your smartphone and when it will be useful
Mirroring photos on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is a useful feature that many users do not even know about, and it is most often demanded in three situations: when you need to correct the wrong orientation of the text in the picture (for example, a reflection in the mirror), create a symmetrical collage or prepare the image for printing on T-shirts / circles. Unlike computer editors, on a smartphone, this operation takes literally 10-20 seconds if you know the right tools.
Itโs worth noting that the Redmi Note 9 Pro runs on MIUIโs proprietary shell, which offers both built-in mirroring capabilities and integration with Google Photos and Xiaomi Gallery apps. However, not all methods are equally convenient: some retain original quality, others compress the image. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including the hidden MIUI 12+ feature for panoramic shots, which is not even written in the official documentation.
It's important to understand the difference between horizontal and vertical reflection, the former being used more often to correct mirror selfies (when the text on the T-shirt is displayed backwards), and the latter to create artistic effects. On the Redmi Note 9 Pro, both options are available, but the paths to them are different.
Method 1: Standard editor in the Gallery appendix
The most obvious and quick method is to use the built-in editor of the Xiaomi Gallery, which requires no additional software installation and saves the original resolution of the image (if you have the right settings).
- Open the Gallery app** on the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
โ ๏ธ Note: If you choose Save instead of Save as a copy, the original photo will be irrevocably overwritten and can only be restored from the Mi Cloud backup if it was enabled in advance.
Check the free space on the device (minimum 100 MB)
Close background applications for smooth operation
Connect the charger at the battery level < 20%
Backup important photos in Mi Cloud-->
The advantage of this method is the preservation of EXIF-Data (meta-information about the image: date, camera model, shooting settings) but it has a limitation: some versions MIUI 12.5+ The reflection buttons can be hidden behind an extra menu. If you don't see them right away, try it:
- In the editor, click on three dots. โฎ top-right.
- Select Additional โ Reflection.
Method 2: Google Photos is a universal tool
Google Photos offers more flexible editing tools than the standard Xiaomi Gallery, which automatically syncs photos to the cloud (if enabled) and allows you to mirror photos even on older versions of MIUI.
- Install Google Photos from Play Market if it is not already installed.
- Open the application and find the desired photo.
- Slip it, then click Edit (the slider icon).
- Go to the Tools tab โ Pruning.
- In the lower menu, select Reflect (the icon with two arrows).
- Confirm the changes and keep a copy.
โ ๏ธ Note: Google Photos by default compresses images when editing if they exceed 16 MP:
- Before editing, go to Settings โ Backup and Synchronization.
- Choose High Quality over Original (if it is important to keep maximum resolution).
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If the image is dim after mirroring in Google Photos, try manually increasing the Brightness (+10%) and Contrast (+5%) settings in the Correction tab.
The main advantage of this is cross-platform, and mirror image will be immediately available on all devices associated with your Google account, but there is a downside: if you have slow Internet, sync can take several minutes.
Method 3: Secret MIUI feature for panoramic shots
Few people know, but the Redmi Note 9 Pro has a hidden feature that mirrors panoramic photos that is not available through a standard editor, which works only for panorama shots, but allows them to be reflected without loss of quality.
- Take a panoramic shot in the Camera app (select Panorama mode and follow the on-screen prompts).
- Open the photo in the Xiaomi Gallery.
- Hold your finger on the screen for 2 seconds until the context menu appears.
- Choose Edit Panorama (this item only appears for panoramic shots!).
- In the top menu, tap on the Reflect icon (mirror with arrow).
- Confirm the changes and save the result.
This is unique in that it only allows you to mirror panoramas, but without compression and with all the details, and is especially useful for wide urban landscapes or group photos, where symmetry is important.
Why is the function hidden?
Method 4: Third-Party Applications for Advanced Editing
If the built-in Redmi Note tools 9 You don't like the Pro, you can use third-party editors. 5 popular applications and selected the top-3 in the ratio of functionality and convenience:
| Annex | Support for MIUI | Max, permission. | Additional functions | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapseed | Yes (optimized) | Not limited. | Selective correction, masks, HDR | A complex interface for beginners |
| PicsArt | Yes. | 4K | Collages, stickers, effects | Advertising in the free version |
| Photo Mirror | Yes. | Full HD | Automatic alignment, patterns | Paid filters |
For mirroring in Snapseed (recommended for professionals):
- Open the photo in the app.
- Put it on the Tools. โ Transform.
- Choose Reflect and specify the axis (horizontal/vertical).
- Save the project without losing quality.
โ ๏ธ Note: Apps like PicsArt often request access to Contacts and Locations. Refuse these permissions because they are not needed for basic photo editing.
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The side of the app is useful if you need to not only mirror the photo, but also apply additional effects (for example, add a frame or text), but for a one-time task it is easier to use the built-in MIUI tools.
Comparison of methods: what way to choose
To help you determine, we have compiled a comparative table on the key criteria:
| Criteria | Xiaomi Gallery | Google Photo | Panoramic editor | Third-party annexes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | โญโญโญโญโญ | โญโญโญโญ | โญโญโญ | โญโญ |
| Quality. | No loss. | Compression at >16 MP | No loss. | Depends on the app. |
| Additional functions | Basic | Cloud synchronization | Only for panoramas. | Extended. |
| Suitable for | Quick edits | Cross-platform use | Panoramic images | Advanced editing |
For most Redmi Note 9 Pro users, the best solution is the built-in Gallery, which does not require any additional software installation and maintains the original quality. If you need synchronization between devices, choose Google Photos. For panoramic shots, be sure to try the hidden MIUI feature, which gives a better result than third-party editors.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When mirroring photos on the Redmi Note 9 Pro, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:
- ๐ Photo is saved in low quality: Check the compression settings in Google Photos or disable storage optimization in Settings โ Memory.
- ๐ฑ No Reflect button in Gallery: Update Gallery app via Play Market or clear its cache in Settings โ Annexes.
- ๐ Distorted proportions after reflection: Before saving, check that the editor has disabled the Auto-Pruning option.
- ๐ Changes to Google Photos are not synced: Make sure backup is enabled in Settings โ Backup.
Another common mistake is trying to mirror. RAW-Photo (.dng format) Built-in tools MIUI not support editing RAW, This means that you will need to use Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile.
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If the color is gone after mirroring, try resetting the white balance settings to Auto in the editor, which often solves the problem of unnatural shades.