How to edit a photo on a Xiaomi phone: from basic edits to advanced effects

Xiaomi smartphones have long ceased to be just means of communication, they have become full-fledged tools for shooting and processing photos. POCO They have powerful cameras and embedded editors that allow you to turn a normal image into a professional photo, but how do you unlock the full potential of these tools? In this article, we will discuss all the ways to edit photos on Xiaomi phones – from standard gallery features to hidden features. MIUI and third-party applications.

You'll learn how to fix exposure, add art effects, remove objects from photos, and even create collages -- all without a computer or sophisticated software. MIUI, which speed up the editing of 2-3 Ready to turn your pictures into masterpieces!

Basic editing tools in a standard gallery MIUI

So let's start with what the system itself offers. MIUI (12 and later, it has a built-in editor that many users underestimate, and to open it, you just tap on any photo and click the Edit button (pencil icon).+ tools divided into categories:

• 🎨 Color correction: brightness, contrast, saturation, shadow and light
• ✂️ Pruning and turning: changing proportions, aligning the horizon, mirror reflection
• ✏️ Retouching: removal of skin defects, brightening of teeth, changing the shape of the face
• 🌄 Effects: More than 20 pre-installed filters (including: AI Sky to replace the sky)
• 📝 Text and stickers: Adding inscriptions, memes and graphic elements

The instrument deserves special attention. AI Enhance (some firmware called Smart Improvement) automatically analyzes photos and adjusts them to the best settings for color, sharpness and noise. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, this algorithm uses data from the main Leica camera to improve even the shots from the front. But be careful, sometimes. AI overdoses with saturation - it is better to compare the result with the original.

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To quickly cancel all changes to the gallery MIUI, Press the “Cancel” button (arrow to the left) with your finger – the option “Reset everything” will appear».

Another hidden feature is the comparison mode, where you swipe left or right on the screen while you're editing, so you'll see the original and the current version at the same time, which is especially useful when working with colors, where it's easy to "fry" the picture, and if you need to save both versions (original and edited), use the "Save copy" function in the export menu.

Advanced functions: AI Sky, Magic Eraser and Portrait Mode

Xiaomi’s current flagships (starting with the Mi 11 series) and some Redmi Note models (like the Note 12 Pro)+) They support unique editing tools that are hard to find in third-party applications:

The Magic Eraser on Xiaomi 13 Ultra is particularly impressive, as it can remove even translucent objects (like reflections in glass) with minimal artifacts, but the caveat is that if an object blends in with the background by color, the tool can eat some of the parts it needs, and in such cases, it is better to use a hand-held brush retouch.

For owners of devices with Leica cameras (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or 14), exclusive color reproduction profiles are available: Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant. The first retains natural colors, the second adds cinematic saturation, these profiles can be used not only during shooting, but also during the editing stage in the gallery.

Hidden possibilities of the gallery MIUI: gestures and hotkeys

Many users do not know that the gallery MIUI It supports hidden gestures and combinations that speed up editing:

• 👆 Double tap on the screen during editing – quick switch between the original and the current version (alternative to swipe).
• 🤏 Pinch with two fingers on the histogram - accurate exposure setting in 0.1 increments EV (instead of the standard 0.5).
• 🔄 Long-term pressing on the filter opens the advanced settings of its intensity (does not work on all models).
• 📱 Tweaking the phone in cropping mode - resets all changes to the original proportions.

Another little-known trick is batch editing, and if you need to apply the same settings to multiple photos (e.g., add one filter to all vacation photos), follow these steps:

Select a photo in the gallery (long press). → mark out)|Click "Edit» → «Package processing»|Choose a filter or correction|Apply changes to all photos|Keep copies (optional)-->

On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5) When you edit in a dark theme, you activate True Color mode, which displays colors more accurately. To enable it forcibly, go to Settings. → Screen. → Color scheme → Saturated.

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Double-tape gesture for comparing the original and the edited version works even in third-party editors installed through the MIUI (For example, Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile).

The Best Third-Party Apps to Edit on Xiaomi

Although the standard gallery MIUI We tested dozens of apps and selected the ones that are best optimized for Xiaomi smartphones (including 120Hz support and HyperOS adaptation):

Xiaomi owners with Leica or Sony cameras IMX707 (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra) we recommend Lightroom Mobile. This app can read sensor metadata and offers presets optimized for specific models. For example, for Xiaomi 13 Pro there is a profile "Leica Natural" that mimics the brand's signature color rendering of the German brand.

If you need to quickly remove the background from a portrait for Stories, PhotoRoom is better, because it uses a neural network trained on millions of Xiaomi cameras, so it pinpoints the boundaries of hair and small details. And for serious color correction, you can not do without Snapseed - his tool "Selective correction" allows you to spot the exposure or color of individual areas of the photo.

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On Xiaomi with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (like Xiaomi 13), apps like Lightroom are 30% faster thanks to optimization for the Adreno 740. → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Additionally. → Optimization for applications.

Editing RAW-Photos on Xiaomi: when and how to use

Many Xiaomi flagships (starting with the Mi 10) support shooting in format RAW (The extension.dng. These files contain raw sensor data, which gives you much more editing power. RAW can be re-created over-lit areas or shadows that JPEG They're lost forever, but there's a downside:

• ⚠️ RAW borrow 5-10 Time more space (one photo) ≈ 20–50 MB).
• ⚠️ Not all apps can open/edit DNG (standard-galleries MIUI Only basic settings are available).
• ⚠️ Processing RAW Requires more resources – budget Redmi is possible lag.

To include the footage in RAW On Xiaomi, go to the Camera app» → Settings → Format → Keep in RAW. In some models (for example, POCO F4) This option is hidden in Pro mode (swipe left through the viewfinder to activate the).

For editing RAW-Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed is the best option on your phone «RAW-editing, where you can configure:

• 🌡️ White balance by pipette (choose a neutral gray object in the photo).
• 📊 Tone curve for fine-tuning contrast.
• 🔍 Noise reduction (especially relevant for night shots on Xiaomi with small sensors).
• 🎯 Masks by depth (if) RAW portrait-mode).

On Xiaomi 13 Ultra and newer models have a proprietary feature – dual preservation (RAW + JPEG This is convenient if you want to share a snapshot quickly on social media (JPEG), But at the same time have a backup for deep editing (RAW). To activate this function, go to the camera settings → Format → Save. RAW and JPEG.

How to Fix Common Mistakes When Shooting on Xiaomi

Even with the best cameras, you can get bad shots. Fortunately, many of the defects are fixable in the editing phase. Let's look at the typical problems and the ways in which you can solve them in a gallery. MIUI or third-party applications:

The problem of chromatic aberration (purple/green halos at the edges of objects) is a problem that is common on budget Redmis with wide-angle modules, and can be corrected in Lightroom:

1. Open the photo in the module "Lens-correction".
2. Activate the option “Remove chromatic aberrations”.
3. If the artifacts are left, manually reduce the "Purple Edging" slider.

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On Xiaomi with Samsung cameras ISOCELL (For example, Redmi Note 11) chromatic aberrations are less common due to hardware correction» → «Settings» → «Camera information».

Creating collages and stories right on your phone

With standard tools MIUI And third-party apps can create professional collages and stories for social networks right on your phone. Xiaomi has a built-in collage editor, but its functionality is limited:

• 📌 Templates for Stories: Canva or Unfold have 9:16 layouts with animation. Xiaomi has no lags thanks to Snapdragon optimization.
• 🎭 Dynamic collages: In PicsArt, you can create a collage with a paralax effect (objects move when the phone is tilted «3D Collage».
• 🎬 Video storytelling from photos: CapCut or InShot can turn static shots into videos with music and transitions. On Xiaomi 13, rendering takes only 10-15 seconds.
• 🖼️ Depth effect collages: Fotor has a function «3D A collage that mimics the volume of shadows and blurs, perfect for portrait mode photos.

For owners of Xiaomi with AMOLED-screens (e.g., screens, POCO F5 Pro) has a bonus: in applications like VSCO Or maybe Lightroom can be turned on. HDR10+ This will help you fine-tune the colors before exporting, so you can activate it:

1. Open the photo in the editor.
2. Go to the display settings (usually the eye or monitor icon).
3. Select "Extended Dynamic Range" or «HDR-preview».

If you post photos on Instagram often, check out the Preview app, which can:

• 📏 Automatically crop the photo to 4:5 or 1:1 format without loss of quality.
• 🎨 Use filters optimized for Instagram algorithms (they compress photos less).
• 📊 Show a preview of how the photo will look in the tape.

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On Xiaomi MIUI 14+ There's a hidden function called "Fast Collage." To activate it, select 2 to 9 photos in the gallery, click "More» → «The system automatically selects a template based on the orientation of the images (vertical/horizontal).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Photo Editing on Xiaomi