How to rotate a photo on your Xiaomi phone and save: all the ways

Did you take a great shot on Xiaomi, but it flipped the wrong way? Or downloaded a photo from the Internet and it shows sideways? The problem with the orientation of images is familiar to many smartphone users. Fortunately, you can fix this on Redmi, POCO or Mi devices in just a few seconds — without installing additional programs.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to deploy a photo on Xiaomi and keep it in the right position. We will look at the built-in gallery tools, Google Photos features, and specialized applications for those who work with a large number of images.

Why are the photos not turning as they should?

Before we get to the instructions, it’s important to understand why photos on Xiaomi can even be displayed in the wrong orientation, and there are several reasons, and they depend on how the photo got to your phone:

  • 📸 The orientation mark in EXIF. Each photo contains hidden data (metadata) EXIF), If the camera or the program has not recorded this setting correctly, the gallery can ignore the actual position of the image.
  • 🔄 Auto-turn screen. On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3) The orientation sensor is turned on, which automatically rotates the photo when viewing - but not always correctly.
  • 📱 Photos copied from iPhones, old digital cameras, or downloaded from social media often contain conflicting turnaround marks.
  • 🖼️ Editing in third-party apps. If you previously edited a picture in Lightroom, Snapseed or VSCO, The program could have saved it with an error of orientation.

Interesting fact: on Xiaomi with firmware MIUI 12 and newer problem of improper display of photos is less common due to improved processing EXIF-However, on budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) Turning bugs are still relevant.

⚠️ Note: If the photo is only rotated in a particular app (like WhatsApp or Telegram), the problem may be in the messenger itself. Try opening the picture in the standard gallery - if it displays correctly, then the error is not in the phone.

The fastest way to expand a picture is to use the built-in gallery editor, which is available on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi. 13C, POCO F5 and Mi 11. Instructions are suitable for firmware MIUI 11–14:

  1. Open the Gallery app (a flower or film icon).
  2. Find the right photo and tap it to open in full screen mode.
  3. In the bottom panel, click on the Edit icon** (pencil or three stripes).
  4. In the editing menu, select the “Turn” tool** (round arrow). ⤻).
  5. Tap the turn icon once or twice to expand the photo 90° or 180°.
  6. Press "Save"** (check or button in the upper right corner).

Important: After saving the gallery, Xiaomi defaults to overwrite the original. If you need to save both versions (original and rotated), first make a copy of the photo:

☑️ How to save both versions of a photo

Done: 0 / 4

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On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T), the photo may be reset again after you rotate, in which case try saving it to.png instead of.jpg – select Save as in the save menu.

If the “Turn” button** is missing, update the Gallery app via the Play Store or check the display settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Gallery → Storage → Clear cache

Method 2: Using Google Photos to Turn

Google Photos offers more flexible image tools than the standard Xiaomi gallery.

  • 🔄 Automatic backup of rotated photos to the cloud.
  • 📁 Saving the original when editing (can be reversed).
  • 🎨 Additional functions: cropping, color correction, adding filters.

Turning instructions:

  1. Open Google Photos and find the right photo.
  2. Slip the photo, then click on the Edit icon** (bottom of the screen).
  3. Select the Tools tab** (the icon with three bars).
  4. Click Turn and expand the photo 90° or counterclockwise.
  5. Tap "Done" → "Save a copy" (so you don't lose the original).

Google Photos automatically syncs the edited photos to the cloud if backup is enabled, which means that the rotated version will be available on all your devices (PC, tablet) under the same account.

⚠️ Note: If you edit a photo uploaded to Google Photos in Traffic Saving mode, the quality of the rotated copy may deteriorate. To avoid this, upload the originals to Original Quality (Settings) → backup).

📊 Which gallery do you use more often?
Xiaomi Standard Gallery
Google Photo
Other appendix
I don't know.

Method 3: Rotate through the file manager (for power users)

If the photo is not correct due to errors in EXIF-This method is suitable for users who work with a large number of images (for example, photographers or bloggers).

You'll need:

  • 📂 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
  • 🔧 Editing annex EXIF (for example, EXIF Editor or Photo Exif Editor).

Step-by-step:

  1. Open the file manager and find the photo folder (usually DCIM → Camera).
  2. Long click on the photo → “Properties” or “Details”.
Parameter EXIFMeaningWhat does it mean?
Orientation1Normal position (0°)
Orientation6Turned 90° clockwise.
Orientation8Turned 90° counterclockwise.
SoftwareMIUI CameraPhoto taken with a standard Xiaomi camera

What if EXIF Editor does not save the changes?
If the photo doesn’t turn correctly after editing EXIF, try converting it to.png format via any online converter (like Convertio). The PNG format ignores orientation tags and the image will appear as you see it.

Method 4: Third-party applications for turning photos

If Xiaomi's built-in tools don't work, you can use specialized applications. We tested 5 popular programs and selected the best ones:

AnnexPlusesCons
Photo Rotate & FlipSimple interface, turns the packageAdvertising, no Russian language
Rotate Image FixCorrects. EXIF-Errors, maintain qualityPaid version for batch processing
PicsArtLots of editing toolsDifficult for beginners
SnapseedProfessional settings, preserves the historyNo batch rotation function

Recommendation: Photo Rotate & Flip is good for a one-time turn, and if you often work with photos, install Snapseed (from Google).

  1. Open the photo in the app.
  2. Select the Transform tool** (the icon with two arrows).
  3. Click "Turn"** and expand the picture to the desired angle.
  4. Tap “Export” and select “Save” (or “Save a copy”**).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps, check the permissions they request. For example, PicsArt may require access to contacts or location - this is not necessary for rotating photos.

Method 5: Turning photos on Xiaomi via PC

If the phone doesn't work, you can deploy the photo through your computer, which is true for Xiaomi owners, who often transfer the pictures to their PC for editing.

  • 🖥️ Windows Explorer: Open the photo → Click "Turn"** in the top panel.
  • 📷 Windows Photos: Editor with Basic Rotation and Cutting Features.
  • 🌐 Online services: Canva, Fotor or Img2Go (installation).

Instructions for Windows Explorer:

  1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB (select File Transfer mode).
  2. Open the DCIM → Camera folder on your phone.
  3. Find the right photo, right-click on it → “Open with” → “Photos”**.
  4. In the top panel, press "Turn"** (round arrow).
  5. Save the changes (Ctrl + S).

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When you turn over your PC, make sure that your phone doesn't turn off while you're transferring data. On Xiaomi with MIUI 13+, you can automatically turn off USB to save charge. To avoid this, activate the "Do not turn off when you recharge" mode in the developer settings.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after turning, the photo may be displayed incorrectly again.

Problem.Reason.Decision
Photos are turned back after savingConflict EXIF-markerSave your photo in.png or use Rotate Image Fix
The "Turn" button is inactive in the galleryPhoto protected from editingRemove protection in the file properties or copy the picture
The picture is losing qualityConservation compressionIn the editor settings, select "Save in original quality"

Another common mistake is to turn live photos (made in Live Photo mode on Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note 12) that consist of video + static frame, and standard editors may not properly handle their orientation.

  1. Open a live photo in the gallery.
  2. Press "More» → «Extract the staff»**.
  3. Select a static frame and rotate it separately.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I rotate several photos at the same time?
Yes, you can use batch-processing apps like Photo Rotate & Flip or FastStone Image Viewer (on PC), which is not available in the standard Xiaomi gallery.
Why does the photo become smaller after the turn?
This is due to compression when saving. To avoid loss of quality, select the option “Save in original resolution” in the editor settings or use the.png format.
How to rotate the photo by 45° (arbitrary angle)
The standard Xiaomi gallery only rotates 90°. For an arbitrary angle, use Snapseed (Transform → Turn tool**) or Photoshop Express.
The turn works, but the photo still shows sideways on WhatsApp. What do you do?
The problem is the messenger cache. Try: Delete the photo from the chat and send it back. Clear WhatsApp cache in the app settings. Send the photo as "Document" (clip icon → "Document"**).
Can I turn my photo on Xiaomi without losing it? EXIF-data (dates, geotags)?
Yes, if you use specialized editors like ExifTool (for PC) or EXIF Editor (for Android), they allow you to change orientation without deleting the rest of the metadata.