How to set up shutter speed on Xiaomi: from basic modes to professional tricks

Shutter speed is a key parameter of photography that determines how much light will hit the camera matrix. On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO And Mi, shutter speed settings are available in both the standard camera app and third-party programs, but not all users know where to look for these options and how to use them correctly. In this article, we will analyze all the ways - from a simple "Long Shutter" mode for night shooting to manual settings in Pro-mode for creative personnel.

It is important to understand that shutter speed control options depend on the device model and version. MIUI. For example, flagships like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi K70 Pro offers advanced settings, while budget models (e.g, POCO M6) We will look at the universal methods that work on most devices, and also point out the features of specific lines of.

If you've never used a manual camera setting, don't worry, we'll explain it in simple language, without the technical jargon, and for experienced photographers, we've prepared life hacks to capture glowing tracks, starry skies and other complex scenes.

What is shutter speed and why set it up on Xiaomi

Shutter speed (or exposure time) is the length of time that the camera shutter stays open, allowing light to be transmitted to the sensor. The longer the shutter speed, the more light will hit the matrix, but the greater the risk of getting a blurred frame due to the trembling of the hands or movement of objects.

On Xiaomi smartphones, shutter speed is regulated in three main scenarios:

• 🌃 Night shooting – automatic mode with long exposure for photos in the dark.
• ⚙️ Pro-mode - manual shutter speed setting (from 1/4000 before 32 seconds on some models).
• ⏱️ Timelapse – a series of frames with fixed shutter speed to create a video of accelerated shooting.

Short exposure (e.g, 1/1000(c) Freezes movement - ideal for sporting events or flying birds, 2(c) creates a blurring effect, useful for shooting waterfalls, light trails or stars (OIS) You can use longer shutter speeds without a tripod, but it is still recommended to fix the smartphone.

Where is the shutter speed in the standard Xiaomi camera app

In most of the Xiaomi smartphones (starting with the MIUI 12) The shutter speed option is hidden in Pro mode (aka "Professional" or "Manual") to find it:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Scroll down the shooting modes to the right (or click on three dots). ⋯ top-right).
3. Choose Pro or M (on some models – Manual).

In Pro mode, you will see a slider or digital shutter speed (designated as S or S). 1/50). On models with Leica optics (for example, Xiaomi) 13 Ultra) the interface may be different – there the shutter speed is configured via a separate wheel of parameters.

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If your camera app doesn’t have Pro mode, update. MIUI Up to the latest version or install an alternative camera (e.g. GCam).

On budget devices (for example, Redmi) 12C or POCO C55) manual shutter speed settings may be limited by range 1/4000s – 1/4C. Flagships like Xiaomi 14 allow you to display the exposure to 32c, but this will require a tripod or a stable surface.

How to adjust the shutter speed manually: step-by-step instructions

Let’s take a look at the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, but the steps are relevant for other models with Pro-mode:

1. Open the chamber. → Go to Pro mode.
2. Tap the S icon in the bottom panel, and you'll see a scale with the values from the bottom panel. 1/4000 before 30" (seconds).
3. Move the slider to the left for short exposure (freeze motion) or to the right for long exposure (blurrage, night shooting).
4. Press the screen to focus, then tap the shutter button.

Use a tripod or a stable surface

Turn off digital zoom (it degrades quality)

Remove the cover if it closes the lens

Check the battery power (long exposure consumes energy)

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In some models (for example, POCO F5) long-exposure 1/4You can use your smartphone to go to Long Shutter Mode, which is a simplified option for night photography without manual settings. If you need more control, stay in Pro mode.

⚠️ Note: When shooting with a shutter speed longer 1/10c even a slight tremor of the hands will lead to a blurred frame. Use a tripod or a support, and also turn on the shutter timer (2 or 10 seconds) to avoid vibrations when pressed on the screen.

Long exposure mode – automatic night shooting

If manual settings seem complicated, use the built-in Long Shutter Mode (or Night Mode on global firmware) to automatically select the optimal settings for shooting in the dark, combining multiple frames to reduce noise.

How to turn on:

1. Open the chamber. → Select the Long Shutter Mode (Icon) 🌙).
2. Point the camera at the object. A timer will appear on the screen (usually 1 to 5 seconds).
3. Hold your smartphone still until the signal is heard about the end of the shooting.

This mode works well for:

• 🌉 City landscapes at night (lit buildings, bridges).
• 🎆 Fireworks or luminous objects.
• 🌌 Starry sky (on flagships with large matrices).

Limitation: Long exposure mode can't manually set exposure times, it's all calculated by the algorithm. For creative control, it's better to use Pro mode.

Shooting light trails and stars: life hacks for Xiaomi

One of the most popular long exposure creative techniques is to take pictures of light trails from cars or star tracks. Here's how to do it on Xiaomi:

For light trails (cars, bicycles):

1. Go to Pro-mode and set the shutter speed of 2-10c.
2. Fix the smartphone on a tripod or put on a flat surface (for example, the parapet of the bridge).
3. Point the camera at the road with moving cars, better to shoot at dusk or at night.
4. Use the shutter timer (2c) to avoid shaking when pressed.

For the stars:

• 📱 Select Pro mode and set shutter speed 15-30s (on flagships).
• 🌌 Use a wide-angle lens (if any) and maximum aperture opening (low value) f/).
• 🔋 Turn off autofocus and set the focus manually to “infinity” (icon) 🏔️).
• 📴 Take a few shots and combine them in a program (for example, StarStaX to create star tracks).

On Xiaomi smartphones with a telephoto lens (for example, Xiaomi) 13 Ultra) for shooting the moon is better to use shutter speed 1/200s–1/500c ISO 100–200, avoid the light.

Fixed shutter speed: how to speed up time

Xiaomi's Timelapse mode allows you to create videos from a series of fixed-space photos, and shutter speed plays a key role here: too short, the video will be dark, too long, blurred.

How to set up:

1. Open the chamber. → Select Timelapse (Icon) ⏱️).
2. Press on. ⚙️ Settings → Select Manual Mode (if available).
3. Set shutter speed depending on the scenario: 🌅 Sunset/dawn: 1/50s–1/2c, interval 5–10s. ☁️ Clouds: 1/100s–1/4c, interval 3–5s. 🚗 Traffic traffic: 1/200c, interval 1–2s.

Recording.

To process timelapse, use the built-in Xiaomi editor or third-party applications like Lapse It. The optimal duration of the final video is 10–30 seconds (when shooting 30-60 minutes of source material).

⚠️ Warning: When shooting timelapse in hot weather, watch for overheating of your smartphone.°C, the camera can automatically shut down. Use an external battery for long sessions.

Exposure problems at Xiaomi and how to solve them

Even on top Xiaomi models, long exposure can be difficult to handle.

If your Xiaomi model does not have manual shutter speed settings, try:

• 📲 Install an alternative camera (e.g. Google Camera with Night Sight support).
• 🔧 Enable Developer Mode and activate the option Camera2 API (Allows third-party applications to take full advantage of the camera’s capabilities).
• 📷 Connect an external camera through USB-C (supportive flagship OTG).

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On Xiaomi smartphones with Leica optics (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) for shooting in the format RAW Up to 32 seconds of shutter speed, but files are available ~50MB each.

FAQ: Frequent questions about exposure on Xiaomi