To make a mirror image or expand the picture on Xiaomi Redmi 9 can be as standard means MIUI, But not all users know that the built-in gallery hides some of the editing features — they need to be activated through additional gestures or settings. And some methods (like turning through Google Photos) work differently than other Android devices because of the features of Xiaomi’s firmware.
In this article, you will find 5 proven methods, from basic to advanced, including solving typical problems like “no modified photo is saved” or “quality disappears after a turn”, and we will also compare which method is faster for one-time editing and which is suitable for batch processing of dozens of pictures.
If you just need to turn the photo on 90° (For example, if the camera is in the wrong orientation, you'll need a standard gallery, but for horizontal/vertical mirroring or for precise angle correction, you'll need to use Mi Photo Editor or third-party tools. 9 s MIUI 12/13 Some of the functions can be hidden behind a long press – this is what many users do not know.
Before you start, check the firmware version: go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. Nana MIUI 14+ The rotation algorithm has changed – now when saving photos are automatically optimized for social networks (this can be turned off in the settings of the gallery).
1. Turn photo through the standard Xiaomi gallery
The fastest way is to use the built-in Mi Gallery, which supports turning at 90.° Left/right, but can't mirror pictures (you need an editor for that). The gallery interface on Redmi 9 is different from pure Android, so watch for hints:
1. Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
2. Find the right photo and tap it to open.
3.In the bottom panel, click on the "Edit" icon (pencil).
4. In the tool menu, select "Turn" (round arrow).
5. Each tap on the icon turns the photo 90.° To turn counterclockwise, hold the icon for 2 seconds, and you'll see an extra menu.
⚠️ Note: If the photo “moved” around the edges after turning, this means that the Redmi 9 camera saved the picture with a non-standard aspect ratio (for example, 18:9 instead of 16:9). In this case, before turning, cut the photo with the “Cadration” tool (frame icon).
Check that the photo is not blocked (long tap) → «Information» → lock off)
Update the gallery in Google Play (on some firmware the old version is buggy)
Reboot your phone – sometimes the editing service will “hang” in the background
Try to open a photo through Google Photos (see Method 3)
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After turning, click Save in the upper right corner, and the system will offer two options:
- "Save" - re-write the original (quality is not lost).
“Save a copy” – Create a new file marked edited in the name.
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If you need to rotate several photos in a row, use packet mode: in the gallery, hold your finger on the first picture, then tap on the rest. → «Edit» → «Turn».
2. mirror reflection (reflect photo) in Mi Photo Editor
The standard gallery can not mirror pictures, but in firmware MIUI There is a hidden editor, Mi Photo Editor, which is preinstalled on all Redmi 9s, but many users are unaware of its existence because the icon is hidden in the Tools menu (or Tools in the global version).
How to find and use:
1. Open the Gallery, select a photo and tap "More" (three dots) → «Open with help» → «Photo Editor».
2. In the bottom menu, select "Effects" (the icon with the magic wand).
3. Scroll down to the Mirror section.
4. Select the type of reflection:
"Horizontal" (left to right) for selfies.
Vertical (top down) for landscapes or documents.
⚠️ Attention: After using the mirror effect, photo quality is reduced by 10-15% due to pixel counting. To avoid losses, copy the original to the cloud or on a PC before editing.
If Mi Photo Editor is not listed as "Open with Help", it can be installed separately from Google Play (free).The alternative is to use Snapseed (see Method 5), where mirroring does not spoil quality.
Where else is Mi Photo Editor hiding?
3. Turn through Google Photos: pros and cons
Google Photos is often offered as a universal solution, but on Xiaomi Redmi 9 it works with reservations. The main difference from the standard gallery is that you can rotate the photo at an arbitrary angle (not only 90).°), But when you save it, compression can spoil the details.
Step-by-step:
1. Install Google Photos from the Play Market (if deleted).
2. Open the application and find the desired picture.
3.Slip the photo. → «Edit" (icon with sliders).
4. Select "Pruning and turning" (the icon with frame and arrow).
5.At the bottom there will be a turning scale - move the slider or use gestures:
With two fingers, turn the photo to any corner.
- Click on "Turn on 90."°» (round-arrow) for fixed step.
6. For mirror reflection, tap "More" (three dots) → «Mirror».
⚠️ Attention: Google Photos by default saves edited photos in reduced quality (up to 16 MP even if the original is 48 MP:
- Before editing, open the settings of Google Photos → «Retention of copies» → Choose “Original Quality».
Or use the option “Save copy” instead of “Save” (rewrites the original).
| Function | Standard gallery | Google Photo | Mi Photo Editor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turn 90.° | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| Arbitrary angle of rotation | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
| Mirror reflection | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| Loss-free preservation | ✅ Yes. | ❌ Only when manually adjusted | ❌ Compression ~10% |
| Package processing | ✅ Up to 20 photos | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
Xiaomi Standard Gallery
Google Photo
Third-party editors (Snapseed, Lightroom)
Photoshop on PC
In other ways.
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4.Turn through the file manager: a little-known life hack
If the gallery or editor refuses to save the changes, you can rotate the photo directly in the file manager. MIUI. This method works even for protected images (for example, from a folder). DCIM/.thumbnails), but requires care.
Instructions:
1. Open Files (an icon with a yellow folder).
2. Move into the Inner Memory → DCIM → Camera (or another folder with a photo).
3. Long tap on file → «Open with help» → «Gallery (if it does not open, select "More» → «Always»).
4.The photo will now open in a standard editor where you can rotate it (see method 1).
⚠️ Note: If the photo is in format.HEIC (If you use Redmi 9 for "High Quality," the file manager may not show you a thumbnail, so convert the file to "High Quality" first.JPG through the gallery: open the photo → «More» → «Export» → select the format JPEG.
The advantage of this method is that it bypasses the cache of the gallery, which is useful if:
The photo was “hang” during editing.
Changes are not saved due to the error com.miui.gallery.
- You need to rotate the picture copied from another device (for example, from a camera).
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File Manager is the only way to edit photos in folders hidden from the gallery (for example, screenshots from protected applications or files marked.nomedia).
5. Third-party editors: Snapseed, Lightroom and others
If the built-in tools don't work, use professional editors. Xiaomi Redmi 9 works best:
- Snapseed (from Google) – supports rotation with an accuracy of 0.1°, mirroring without loss of quality, and has the function "Fix perspective" for curved horizons.
Adobe Lightroom is suitable for batch processing (you can rotate 50 photos with the same parameters at once).
PicsArt is convenient for selfies thanks to the automatic face alignment.
Example for Snapseed:
1. Install the app from the Play Market.
2. Open the photo and tap "Tools» → «Turn».
3. Move the slider to fine-tune the angle or click on the Mirror icon (two arrows).
4.Save the changes in original quality ("Export» → «Save" not "Share»).
⚠️ Attention: Redmi 9s MIUI 12–14 some editors (e.g, VSCO) may not EXIF-Data (date meta-information, camera model, etc.) If it is critical, use Snapseed with the option to Save Metadata (includes in settings).
For a packet turn in Lightroom:
1. Import photos to the application (folder syncs with the cloud).
2. Select a few pictures → «Edit» → «Pruning».
3. Set the angle of rotation for the first photo, then click "Copy Settings" and apply to all the others.
4.Export with the settings "Original size", "Quality 100%".
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If you have blurred your photo after you turn in the third-party editor, check the compression settings. In Snapseed, select Export» → «Settings» → «Quality: 100% and disable “Optimize for the Web».
6. Problem Solving: No Preservation, Loss of Quality, Errors
Even after a successful turnaround, Redmi 9 users face typical problems.
Problem 1: The photo is not saved after editing.
- Reason: Lack of permission to write to the folder DCIM or the defense worked MIUI.
- Decision:
- Go to Settings. → Annexes → Permits → Warehouse and give the gallery all rights.
Try saving the photo to another folder (for example, Download).
- Clear the gallery cache: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
Problem 2: After the turn, the quality deteriorated.
- Reason: Automatic compression in Google Photos or Mi Photo Editor.
- Decision:
In Google Photos, turn off Traffic Savings in the settings.
- In Mi Photo Editor, before saving, tap "More» → «Quality: Original».
Use Snapseed with manual export settings.
Problem 3: The photo turns, but the framing moves.
Reason: Non-standard aspect ratio (e.g. 18.5:9 on Redmi 9).
- Decision:
- Before turning, cut the photo to 16:9 or 4:3.
In Snapseed, use the Frame tool to manually correct the boundaries.
Problem 4: The gallery turns after the update doesn't work MIUI.
Cause: A failure in the com.miui.gallery service.
- Decision:
- Remove Gallery Updates: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Three points. → Remove updates.
Reinstall the gallery through the Play Market (if available).
- Reset Gallery settings: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Delete the data (photos will not be deleted).