Have you ever tried to take a group photo on Xiaomi and ran to the camera just before you hit the button? Or wanted to capture the nightscape, but the shaking of your hands was messing up the shot? The camera timer solves these problems — it gives you 3 to 10 seconds to prepare, and the smartphone will take the picture automatically. But how do you turn it on different Redmi models, POCO or Mi? And why is this feature sometimes hidden in non-obvious menus?
In this article, we will explore all the ways to activate a timer, from standard self-start to latent burst modes, how to adjust latency on the main and front cameras, why the timer may not work in some modes (for example, in Pro or Night Mode), and how to circumvent these limitations, and also life hacks for ideal shots, from stabilization to synchronization with external flashes.
Whether you have a Xiaomi 13 Ultra with professional optics or a budget Redmi Note 12, the instructions will work for all devices on MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese firmware versions). Ready to make your photos clearer and more professional? Let's start with the basic settings!
Where is the timer in the standard camera app
On most Xiaomi smartphones, the timer button is hidden behind an icon in the form of a clock or stopwatch, but its location depends on the version of the MIUI and the device model.
- 📱 MIUI 14 (2023–2026): The timer moved to the top toolbar (near the camera switch).Click on the icon ⏱ — The choice of delay will appear: 3c, 5c or 10c.
- 📱 MIUI 12–13: The timer icon can be in the bottom panel (right of the down button) or in the side menu (swipe left to right).
- 📱 Old models (Redmi) 5/6/7): timer hidden in camera settings → General. → Timer.
If you don’t see the icon, check:
- Is Photo Mode Active (Timer may not be in Video or Portrait)
- Is Pro-mode turned on - in it the timer turns off automatically?
- Is the camera firmware updated (go to Settings → About Phone → Software Update).
Important! On some devices (such as the Xiaomi Civi 3), the timer only works with the main camera. For a selfie camera, you will have to use workarounds, which we will discuss in the section on hidden features.
How to turn on the timer: step-by-step instructions
Let’s take a look at the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, and the steps may be slightly different on other models, but the logic remains the same.
Open the Camera app
Switch to Photo Mode (not Video or Portrait)
Make sure the main camera is on (if you need a timer for a selfie – see the section below)
Click on the icon. ⏱ top-panel-->
After activating the timer:
- Select the latency: 3c (for fast frames), 5c (standard) or 10c (for group photos).
- Point the camera at the object and press the descent button, and the countdown will appear on the screen.
- 1 second before shooting the smartphone will emit an audio signal (you can turn off in the camera settings).
- The photo will be saved in the gallery in the Camera folder.
On models with an Ultra Wide camera (such as the Xiaomi 12S Ultra), the timer only works when shooting on the main module. If you choose wide-angle mode, the timer icon will be inactive.
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To avoid camera jitter when shooting with a timer, put your smartphone on a stable surface or use a mini-station. Even a small vibration can spoil the frame with prolonged exposure.
Timer for selfie camera: why it is not and how to turn it on
Many Xiaomi users have a problem: the timer is for the main camera, but disappears when you switch to the front one. It's not a bug, it's a feature of the firmware. The fact is that the selfie processing algorithms are optimized for fast shooting, and delay can interfere.
How do you get around this limitation?
- 🔄 Use the camera switching gesture: double-touch the screen with both fingers to swap the cameras. Sometimes the timer stays active.
- 📲 Install third-party software: Apps like Open Camera or Google Camera (GCam) support a timer on any camera.
- 🔧 Activate Hidden Mode: On Some Models (POCO F4, Redmi K50) Selfie timer appears after resetting camera settings (Settings) → Restore the default settings).
If nothing helps, try this trick:
- Turn on the timer on the main camera.
- Press the down button, but don't let go of your finger.
- Switch to the front camera (without releasing the button!).
- Release your finger and the countdown will start on the selfie camera.
Why Xiaomi limits the timer for selfies?
Timer in Pro, Night and Other Modes: Compatibility Table
Not all shooting modes support a timer, such as in Pro mode or Documents, this feature is disabled by default, and below is the compatibility table for MIUI 14 (relevant to most models from 2022-2026):
| Mode of shooting. | Timer 3s. | Timer 5c/10c | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo (primary camera) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | It works on all models. |
| Photo (selfie camera) | ❌ No* | ❌ No* | Excluded: Xiaomi 13 Lite, POCO X5 Pro |
| Pro-mode | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | Use third-party apps |
| Night Mode | ✅ Yes** | ❌ No. | Only 3c, on some models, is turned off when manually setting ISO |
| Portrait | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | Timer works, but can throw off focus |
* On some firmware, a timer for selfies appears after the update via MIUI bootloader.
**In night mode, the timer can increase exposure time – this is normal.
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If you need a timer in Pro mode, use the Google Camera (GCam) app with LibPatch, which supports shooting delays even when manually setting ISO and shutter speeds.
Hidden Timer Functions: Serial Shooting and Voice Control
Few people know, but the Xiaomi camera has hidden timer features that are not listed in the official documentation.
- 📸 Delayed serial shooting: activate the timer, then hold the down button, and the smartphone will take a series of 5-10 frames after counting down. This is useful for dynamic scenes (for example, jumping or traffic).
- 🎤 Voice timer: say “Photo in 5 seconds” (only works on Chinese firmware with Xiao enabled) AI).
- 🔄 Cyclic timer: in Panorama or Motion, the timer is triggered automatically every 3 seconds (useful for timelapses).
To enable a serial timer shot:
- Activate the timer on 10c.
- Press and hold the down button before the countdown begins.
- After the timer is triggered, the smartphone will make a series of frames.
Attention! Serial shooting with a timer can overheat the camera on budget models (Redmi 9A, POCO M3). If the smartphone gets hot, take a break for 2-3 minutes.
How to make a timelapse with a timer?
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even when set up correctly, the timer can malfunction, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
- ❌ Timer is not working: check if the mode is turned on HDR or AI-camera -- they can block the delay. Turn them off in the settings.
- ❌ So the photos are blurry: if you're late (10c), you get energy savings, and autofocus goes off. So, before you shoot, tap the screen to capture your focus.
- ❌ Timer disappeared after update: reset camera settings (Settings) → Restore settings) or reinstall the camera app via MIUI Lab.
If the timer doesn’t appear in the interface at all, try:
- Clear the Camera app cache (Settings → Apps → Camera → Clear the cache).
- Install Google Camera (GCam) with Xiaomi support (see the version for your model on the 4PDA forum).
- Reverse to the previous firmware version if the problem occurs after the update.
⚠️ Attention! On some models, Xiaomi Mi A3, POCO X3 NFC) The timer may conflict with the function of Improve night scenes. If the photos are dark, turn it off in the camera settings.
Life hacks for perfect photos with a timer
The timer is not only a way to get into the shot, it's also a tool for professional photography. Here are some of the techniques that photographers use:
- 🌃 Night shooting with manual shutter speed: turn on Night Mode, activate the timer at 3s and manually set the shutter speed to 2-4s.
- 👥 Group photos with external flash: connect Xiaomi LED-flash over Bluetooth, set the timer to 10c and synchronize the flash with the shutter.
- 🎨 Double exposure: Take the first frame with a timer, then in Professional mode, overlay the second shot with the same delay.
To capture moving objects (such as a waterfall or starry sky), use this algorithm:
- Install your smartphone on a tripod or stable surface.
- Turn on Pro mode and manually adjust ISO 100, shutter speed 1/4s.
- Activate the timer at 5c (this will give you time to stabilize the camera).
- Make a series of 3-5 frames and combine them into Snapseed or Lightroom.
Pro tip: if you shoot in RAW format, the timer will help you avoid artifacts from clicking on the screen. Turn it on even when shooting static objects!
⚠️ Attention, when shooting in format RAW Files take up 3-5 times more space with a timer. Check the free space on the device before the session (at least 1-2 GB).