The camera on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most popular modules, but sometimes it starts to “glutch”: it does not open, it emits an error “I failed to connect to the camera”, freezes or shows a black screen. 80% of the time the problem is solved by simply restarting the camera, but few people know how to do it correctly. In this article, 5 proven ways to restart the camera on any Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO device, including models with MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS.
We'll look at both software methods (through settings and apps) and hard-core options, such as forced camera shutdowns or cache resets. Separately, we'll look at common mistakes users make when rebooting, and explain why sometimes the camera fails even after a few attempts. If you encounter a problem for the first time, start with the first method. If the camera doesn't respond at all, move on to radical measures from the last sections.
All instructions are tested on current Xiaomi firmware (as of 2026) and are suitable for flagships (Xiaomi 14, 13T Pro), budget lines (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5) and even older models on MIUI 11. Important: if after restarting the camera, the problem persists for more than a day - this may indicate a hardware failure (for example, a plume dump or damage to the module).
1. Quick reboot through the Camera app
The easiest way to do this is to close and reopen the camera app, but many people do it wrong by just swiping it into the multitasking menu, so it can stay active in the background.
- Open the Camera app (if it doesn’t open, skip this step).
- Click the Home button (or swipe up to exit the app menu).
- Open Recent Apps (Swipe Up with a Lag or Button «□»).
- Find the Camera card and swipe it up to force it to close.
- Wait 10-15 seconds, which is enough time for the system to free up resources.
- Reset the camera.
If the camera still doesn't work, try restarting your smartphone, which helps in 30% of cases where the problem is caused by a temporary MIUI or HyperOS failure, but don't rush to make a full reboot - check the other ways in this article first.
Close all background applications
Check the space available (less than 1 GB can block the camera)
Disable VPN (sometimes interferes with camera operation)
Make sure there are no active calls (the camera may be busy with another process)-->
2. Forced stopping of the camera process through settings
If the camera is getting stuck or it's not responding, it might be getting stuck in the system, and then you'll need to force it to stop through the app menu.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- In the search bar, type “Camera” and select the system application (usually called “Camera” or “Mi Camera”).
- Click on “Forced Stop” (or “Stop” in English firmware).
- Confirm the action in the dialog window.
- Return to the main screen and start the camera again.
This method works even if the camera app doesn't open at all, but be careful not to press Clear Data (this will delete all camera settings, including shooting modes and filters). If the camera doesn't work again after stopping, move on to the next method.
If the "Forced Stop" button is inactive (in gray), it means that the camera process has already been stopped or blocked by the system, in which case only a smartphone reset or cache reset (see section 4) will help).--> 3.Rebooting the camera through Safe Mode If the camera is not working due to a conflict with other applications (for example, after installing a third-party launcher or Magisk module), Safe Mode will help. It disables all third-party programs, and you can check whether the software is to blame. How to run Safe Mode on Xiaomi
4. Clearing the cache and camera data (without resetting the settings)
Cache cache or corrupted temporary files are a common cause of camera failures, and cleaning the cache won't delete your photos or settings, but it can bring the camera back to life.
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the camera in the list and open its settings.
- Click on Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data!).
- If there is a button “Clear all data”, do not press it – it will reset the camera settings to factory.
- Reboot your smartphone and check the camera.
If cleaning the cache didn't work, try removing the Media Storage app, which is the system app that controls access to the camera and gallery.
- In the same App Management menu, look for Media Storage (or Media Storage).
- Click on “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data”.
- Reboot the phone.
⚠️ Note: After the data is cleaned, the Media Storage Gallery may temporarily not show photos. Don’t panic – in 5-10 minutes, the files will appear again (the system will re-index the media).
| Cleaning method | What's removed | Should I reboot? | Risk to data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearing the camera cache | Temporary files (previews, thumbnails) | Not necessarily. | No. |
| Clearing the camera data | Settings (modes, filters, HDR) | Desired. | Resetting settings |
| Cleaning up the Media Storage | Media file index | Required. | Temporary loss of access to the gallery |
5. Resetting camera settings to factory
If the previous methods didn't work, the last software method is to reset the camera settings, which will bring all the settings back to the factory settings, but it won't affect your photos or videos.
- Open the Camera app.
- Touch the gear badge (⚙️) or swipe left to the settings menu.
- Scroll down and find the “Reset settings” item.
- Confirm the reset.
After that:
- 🔄 HDR, night-time AI-The shooting will return to default values.
- 🔄 Video resolution settings (4K, 1080p) throw off.
- 🔄 Custom filters and manual settings (ISO, shutter.
If the camera still doesn't work after the reset, the problem may be the firmware or hardware, and check if you've recently updated your model, and sometimes the camera bugs are patched in newer versions of MIUI.
💡
Before resetting your camera settings, take screenshots of current settings (such as video resolutions and frame rates) so you can quickly restore your favorite settings after resetting.
6. Hardware reboot: when nothing helps
If the software methods do not work, the problem may be related to:
- 🔌 The dumping of the camera plume (often after falls or repairs).
- 🔋 Failure of the module (for example, after moisture is ingested).
- 🔄 Camera Controller Failure (solved only in the service center).
Before carrying your phone for repair, try a hardware reboot:
- Turn off your smartphone.
- Extract. SIM-card and memory card (if any).
- Press the power button + increase the volume for 10-15 seconds (before vibration).
- Release the buttons and wait for the load.
- Put it in. SIM-The card back and check the camera.
This method helps in 10-15% of cases when the problem is associated with a freeze of the power controller or a conflict with the communication module. If this does not help, contact the Xiaomi service center. The cost of diagnosing the camera in the official SC starts from 500 rubles, repair (replacement of a plume or module) - from 1,500 to 5 000 rubles depending on the model.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to disassemble the smartphone yourself - on most Xiaomi models, the camera is glued to the body and connected with a fragile plume.
💡
If the camera stopped working after falling, getting moisture or disassembling yourself, do not waste time on software methods.