Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, are equipped with accelerometers that automatically detect the position of the device in space. However, in real life, these sensors do not always work instantly or correctly. Often users are faced with a situation where a vertical shot is turned upside down by 90 or 180 degrees, and landscape video can be recorded as portrait.
Such failures can occur due to software errors of the MIUI shell, temporary sticking of the sensor or the features of the work of third-party applications. Fortunately, the built-in image editor in the Android system and the MIUI proprietary shell allows you to correct the orientation of the frame in just a couple of seconds without loss of quality. You do not need to install third-party software, since the basic functionality of the gallery fully covers the needs of most users.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to turn a photo on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro phone using the standard system tools. We will consider not only the basic rotation, but also the fine tuning of the frame, and also discuss the issues associated with blocking the turn of the screen, which often interferes with the correct shooting. Understanding these nuances will help you always get perfectly focused shots.
Standard means of rotation in the MIUI Gallery
The built-in MIUI app on the Redmi Note 8 Pro has powerful tools for basic image processing. To change the orientation of a picture, you don't have to search for complex menus. Just open the file and the interface will offer the necessary tools. The system automatically recognizes the type of media file and offers the appropriate editing options.
The process of rotating the image is as simple as possible for the user's convenience. When you open the photo at the bottom of the screen, you will see a toolbar. Among the many buttons, such as filters, retouch and text, there is always a button with the image of the square and the arrow, which is responsible for changing the angle of rotation of the frame by 90 degrees clockwise.
If you want to turn an image counterclockwise or 180 degrees, you need to press the spin button several times, each press turns the picture a quarter of a circle, a universal method that works equally stable for photos taken on the main camera, screenshots or images downloaded from the Internet.
⚠️ Warning: After rotating the image, be sure to click on the Save or Ready button so that the changes are recorded in the device memory. If you just leave the gallery, the system can request a Confirmation of Save, and if you refuse, your actions will be canceled.
It is important to note that when you save a rotated photo, the original file can be replaced by a new version, or, depending on the sync settings with the cloud, a copy is created. In the Android file system, image metadata (EXIF) is also updated to fix the new orientation, which ensures that when you transfer the file to another smartphone or computer, it opens in the correct position.
Step-by-step instructions for changing orientation
For those who prefer to follow a clear algorithm, we have prepared a detailed guide that will help you avoid errors and quickly get your photos in order. Follow these steps to correctly change the position of the picture on your Redmi Note 8 Pro.
First, open the Gallery app on your desktop or app menu. Find the album that contains the image you want and click on it to view it in full screen. Make sure you see the photo that needs editing, as once saved, the changes can be irreversible without using version history.
☑️ Algorithm of action
Next, look at the bottom toolbar. You need to find an icon that looks like a cropped square with a rotating arrow, or just a button with two curved arrows. In some versions of MIUI, this feature is put into a separate "Capture" menu. Press this button until the image takes the vertical or horizontal position you want.
Once you've got the orientation, remember to record the result. Press OK or the checkmark in the bottom right corner. The system will suggest saving the changes. If you want to leave the original intact, some versions of the gallery allow you to save the file as a copy, but most often the original is overwritten. Make sure you're comfortable with the result before you go out.
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Use the "Reverse" feature right after you turn if you accidentally flip the photo in the wrong direction, which is faster than doing three additional turns in the opposite direction.
Fine tuning: framing and alignment
Often, a simple 90-degree turn is not enough. There are times when the photo is inverted, but the horizon is also blocked or there is a lot of space in the frame. In such situations, the combined framing and rotation tool available in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro comes to the rescue.
In editing mode, select the "Cadration" tool, and here you'll see a frame that limits the visible part of the image, and in the corners of this frame, or near it, there are often sliders for free rotation, which allows you to rotate the photo not strictly by 90 degrees, but by any arbitrary angle, which is ideal for aligning the horizon line in landscape images.
When you use the free spin feature, you can see that the grid is on the screen, it helps you visually assess the symmetry and the correctness of the composition, and as you move the slider, you change the angle of inclination and the framing area at the same time, and it's a powerful tool for correcting perspective and improving overall perception of the photo.
| Function | Description | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Turn 90.° | Standard change of orientation | Main editing menu |
| Reflect. | Mirror reflection vertically/horizontally | The "Cadration" menu |
| Free-turn | Accurate adjustment of the angle of inclination | The staffing tool |
| Save as a copy | Create a new file without deleting the old one | Conservation menu (three dots) |
After you've done all the framing and rotating, the system will show you a preview of the final image. If you're satisfied with the quality, click Save. Notice that active framing reduces the resolution of the final file, because some of the pixels are cropped. Keep that in mind if you're planning to print a large format.
Using Google Photos for editing
Many Xiaomi smartphones, including the Note 8 Pro, have Google Photos available by default or after manual installation, an alternative and often more functional tool for working with the media library. The interface here may differ from the standard MIUI gallery, but the principle of operation remains similar.
Open the Google Photos app and select the image you want. At the bottom of the screen, click the Change button (the slider icon). From the menu that opens, select the Tools tab or immediately find the Frame icon. There's also a rotating feature indicated by the angle arrow.
The advantage of Google Photos is that it can be batched and set-up synced, and if you turn the photo here, the changes can automatically affect all your devices that are logged in to the same Google account, which is especially useful for those who use cloud storage to back up.
⚠️ Note: When editing in Google Photos, the original can be saved separately in the Modified folder, and an edited version will appear in the place of the original file. Check your save settings so you don't lose source or get confused in duplicates.
Google Photos also offers smart alignment tools that automatically determine the horizon and suggest fixing the blockage, which can be faster than manually adjusting. After making all the edits, remember to click Save Copy to make the changes take effect.
Hidden features of Google Photos
Problems with automatic screen rotation
Sometimes users wonder how to turn a photo when the problem is not the file itself, but the locking of the screen orientation. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, as on other Android smartphones, there is a feature called “Oriental Blocking”. If it is activated, the screen will not respond to the turns of the phone, which can interfere with shooting or viewing.
To check the status of this feature, open the notification curtain by swiping from top to bottom. Find an icon with a picture of the lock in the circle or arrows. If it is illuminated, then the autorotor is turned off. Click on it to unlock. This will allow the screen to automatically change orientation when you turn the device.
In some cases, the position sensor (accelerometer or gyroscope) may not work properly. If the screen does not turn even when the lock is off, try calibrating. There are special applications in the Play Market for this, but often it helps to simply restart the device or perform movement of the eight in the air.
It’s worth remembering that some apps, like TikTok or Instagram, have their own orientation settings that can ignore system settings. In such cases, you need to look for a switch inside the app itself. For the standard gallery and camera, system settings are a priority.
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If the screen is not responsive to turns, first check the lock icon in the notification curtain. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by turning it off.