How to zoom in on the front camera Xiaomi: 7 working ways

The front camera in Xiaomi smartphones has long ceased to be just a tool for selfies — it has become a full-fledged multimedia device. But many users face the problem: how to zoom in when the standard camera interface does not offer obvious solutions? This is especially true for owners of budget models, where the manufacturer has saved on software functions.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can go from built-in MIUI gestures to hidden engineering menu settings, how to get around system constraints, what applications really work, and why some Redmi or POCO zoom models have default locks on the frontal, and whether you can zoom in without losing quality, and what to do if the camera fails to zoom in.

Spoiler: There's a solution for even the oldest devices on MIUI 10! But first let's get to the bottom of why the standard camera interface often hides this feature.

Why doesn’t Xiaomi have a zoom button on the front camera?

The main reason is hardware limitations: Most front-facing cameras on Xiaomi smartphones (except flagships like the Mi 11 Ultra or Xiaomi 13 Pro) are fixed focus and lack optical zoom, and the manufacturer deliberately blocks digital zoom to avoid complaints about the soap quality of the images.

The second reason is MIUI policy: In the standard Camera app, the zoom function on the frontal is often turned off by default, even if the hardware supports it, and this is done to simplify the interface: Statistically, 80% of users never use the proximity on the selfie camera.

And the third, most insidious reason is regional firmware settings, for example, in global versions of MIUI for Redmi Note 10 zoom on the frontal can be blocked, whereas in Chinese firmware it is available, due to differences in the certification of camera software for different markets.

⚠️ Note: On devices with sensor resolution below 8 MP (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) And digital zoom will be extremely poor, and in those cases, it's better to use external applications with algorithms to improve.

Now that you know why, let's get to the basic how. Let's start with the simplest ways that work on 90 percent of devices.

Method 1: Two-finger gesture (works on 70% of models)

The most obvious and quick method is the chip gesture, which works on most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and newer, but there are nuances:

1. Open the standard Camera app and switch to the front camera.
2. Touch the screen with one finger to focus.
3. Without tearing off the first finger, swipe the second finger up or down the screen.
4. Upward movement is an increase, downward movement is a decrease.

If the gesture doesn't work:

• 🔄 Check if zoom gestures are enabled in the camera settings (Settings) → Gestures → Zoom with two fingers).
• 📱 In some models (for example, POCO X3 Pro) hold your finger on the screen for 1 second and then move the second.
• 🔧 If nothing helps, update the Camera app via Google Play (even on Xiaomi!).

Important: On devices with an ultra-wide front camera (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite), the zoom gesture can only work in video mode, not in photos. This is not a bug, but a feature of the firmware.

Method 2: Hidden menu of camera settings (for advanced)

If the standard methods don't work, it's time to dig deeper. There's a hidden menu in MIUI where you can force frontal zoom on.

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Make a double tap in the top right corner (where the settings icon is usually).
3. Additional settings will appear (if not, try triple tapping).
4. Find the Zoom Settings item or Camera Scale.
5. Enable Front Zoom (allow zoom on the frontal phone).

If this item is not, try another way:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times)


Settings → Additional → Camera Settings → Front Camera Zoom

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 11) after activation of hidden zoom, the camera switch button may disappear.

Method 3: Third-party zoom apps (TOP-3 verified)

If the built-in methods don't work, third-party cameras will come to the rescue, and we tested dozens of apps and selected three that actually work on Xiaomi:

How to install and configure:

• 📱 Download the app from Google Play (do not use it) APK off-site!).
• 🔧 When you first start, give all permissions, including Camera, Microphone and Warehouse.
• 🖼️ In the application settings, find Zoom Control and turn on Pinch to Zoom (two finger gesture).
• 📊 For better quality, turn off Digital Stabilization – it worsens the picture with zoom.

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If the app doesn’t see the front camera, go to Settings → Apps → Permissions → Camera and manually turn on front-facing access.

Critical: On devices with a MediaTek Helio G processor (such as the Redmi 9 or POCO C3), third-party cameras can give a green tint when zooming, which is treated only by replacing the firmware.

Method 4: Engineering menu (for tech-savvy)

If you're not afraid to dig into the system settings, the engineering menu gives you maximum control over the camera. But beware - wrong actions can lead to camera failure!

Instructions for Xiaomi on Qualcomm processors:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##36446337## (code for MediaTek: ##36446338###).
3. Choose Hardware Testing → Camera.
4. Find Front Camera Zoom and set the Enabled value.
5. In the Zoom Level field, enter a number from 1.0 (no zoom) to 3.0 (maximum).
6. Save the settings and restart the phone.

For Qualcomm processors (such as the Snapdragon 720G in the Redmi Note 10 Pro), you can use more advanced settings:

Engineering menu → Camera → Front Camera → Zoom Mode → Set to "Digital"


Engineering menu → Camera → Front Camera → Max Zoom → Set it 4.0.

⚠️ Warning: Some devices will not have autofocus on the main camera after the changes to the engineering menu. To get it back, reset the camera settings through Settings. → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Backup the camera data (photo/video)

Battery charge of at least 50%

Disable two-factor authentication in MI-account (in case of blocking)

Remember the original settings or take pictures of them-->

Method 5: ADB-commands for forced inclusion of zoom

If none of the previous methods worked, the last chance is ADB commands, which requires a computer and a little patience, but gives 100% results on most devices.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – click 7 times).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and install Xiaomi USB Drivers.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
5. Open the command line in this folder and type in: adb devices (your device should appear).
6. Execute the command to turn on zoom: adb shell settings put global camera_front_zoom_enabled 1
7. Reboot the phone.

For devices running MIUI 13+, an additional command may be required:

adb shell settings put global camera_hal3_enabled 1

If the zoom never came, try an alternative method:

adb shell am start -n com.android.camera/.Camera


adb shell input tap 500 # (coordinates may differ)




adb shell input swipe 300 500 300 300 200 # (imitation of zoom gesture)

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ADB-The most reliable way to do this is to reset the phone to the factory settings, and to keep the zoom forever, you have to write the command into the boot script).

Method 6: Rooting and Modifying System Files (Extreme Method)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, root access will open up unlimited possibilities, but remember, it voids the warranty and can lead to a device blink.

What can be done with root:

• 🔧 Edit the file /system/build.prop, Adding the line: persist.camera.front.zoom=3.0
• 📁 Replace the system application of the Camera with a modified one (e.g, MIUI Camera Mod).
• 🛠️ Install the kernel with support for additional camera features (e.g. FrancoKernel).

Step-by-step instructions for replacing the camera:

1. Install Magisk and get root.
2. Download a modified camera (e.g., with XDA Developers).
3. Using Root Explorer, replace the file /system/priv-app/MiuiCamera/MiuiCamera.apk.
4. Set permissions 644 for the new file.
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (most Xiaomi after 2020) rooting will require official permission from Xiaomi!

Method 7: Alternative solutions (if nothing helps)

If all of these methods didn't work, don't despair. Here are some non-obvious solutions:

• 📸 Use an external webcam through OTG-adapter. USB-cameras (e.g. Logitech) C920) They maintain zoom and are better at approaching.
• 🔄 Shoot a video at maximum resolution, then cut and zoom in on the desired snippet in the editor (like CapCut or KineMaster).
• 🤳 Buy a clip lens with a macro lens (worth it) ~It's mounted on the front camera and gives real optical magnification without loss of quality.
• 📱 If you only want zoom for video calls, use apps like Zoom or Google Meet – they have a built-in digital approximation.

For owners of Xiaomi with an infrared camera (for example, Mi 10 Ultra or Mi 11 Pro) there is a bonus life hack:

Open the Camera → Modes → Additional → Infrared Camera


In this mode, the zoom works even if it is blocked on the main frontal!

FAQ: Frequent questions about zoom on Xiaomi's front camera