How to make a quality scan of a document on a Xiaomi phone

Smartphones are no longer just a means of communication, becoming powerful pocket offices that can replace bulky appliances. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often face the need to urgently send a copy of a passport, contract or certificate, but there is no printer at hand with scanning function. Fortunately, the built-in capabilities of the MIUI and HyperOS shell allow you to solve this problem in seconds without installing additional software.

The quality of the image is directly dependent on the correct settings and understanding of the algorithms of the camera in a specific mode. Many users simply take a photo of the document by mistake, getting a curved image with glare and distorted perspective, which can not be printed or sent to government agencies. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to turn your phone into a full-fledged mobile scanner using standard tools of the system.

The process of digitizing paper on the Chinese giant's devices is system-level optimized, which allows for high processing speeds and excellent text recognition. You don't have to be an expert in photography to get the perfect result, just follow the simple steps described below. Let's look at all the methods available, from the standard camera app to Google's use of artificial intelligence.

Use of the built-in "Documents" mode in the Camera app

The fastest and most obvious way to get a digital copy of paper is to use a special mode in a standard application. Xiaomi developers have implemented algorithms for automatic alignment and improving the readability of text, which are activated when choosing the appropriate shooting scenario, which saves the user from having to manually edit the boundaries or adjust the perspective after shooting.

To activate the function, you need to open the Camera app and select the option More from the bottom menu. In the additional modes list that opens, you should find and click on Documents. If you don't see this item in the first row, you may need to scroll through the list to the right or click on the menu edit button (usually three dots or a pencil) to add a shortcut to the camera's main screen.

Once you've turned on the mode, point the lens over a piece of paper. The system automatically defines the boundaries of the document by highlighting them with a yellow or white frame. Automated capture will work itself as soon as the camera finds the image to be sharp enough, but you can press the shutter button manually. It's important to keep the phone parallel to the surface of the sheet to minimize distortion.

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For better text recognition, provide uniform lighting without sharp shadows on the document.

⚠️ Note: Do not use digital zoom when shooting in Documents mode, as this significantly reduces the quality of text recognition and can lead to artifacts on the edges of the sheet.

Configuring the quality parameters and the format of preservation

The result depends largely on the resolution and file format selected. By default, the camera can save images in JPG compressed format, which is acceptable for viewing on the screen, but not always suitable for printing or archival storage. For professional use, it is recommended to switch to saving in PNG format or adjust settings through the settings menu.

To change settings, go to the camera settings menu by clicking on the three horizontal bars in the upper right corner. Find the Image Quality section and select the maximum value available. Also pay attention to the option Save originals if available in your firmware version, as this will prevent loss of parts during compression.

Some smartphone models, such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+, support shooting in high resolution up to 200 MP. Using this mode to scan small texts or tables with small print can give an excellent result, allowing you to subsequently enlarge a fragment of the document without losing readability.

Keep in mind that high-resolution files take up significantly more space in the device’s memory. If you plan to scan bulky archives, take care of the availability of free memory or set up automatic synchronization with Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive cloud storage.

Use of Google Lens for Text Recognition

An alternative and powerful tool is Google Lens, which is integrated into most modern Android smartphones, which not only takes a photo, but analyzes the content of a frame in real time, allowing you to highlight text, copy it to the clipboard or translate it into another language instantly.

You can run Google Lens through a widget on your desktop, through the Google app, or directly from the camera interface if this feature is supported by your model. Once you run, select Text mode and point the camera at the document. The system will highlight the areas you recognize in blue.

The main advantage of this method is that you can choose an action with text right away, so you can click Copy text to paste it into notes, or Save it to Google Documents, which automatically creates an editable file with recognized content, which is ideal for students and office workers.

⚠️ Note: Google Lens requires an active internet connection because image processing and recognition occur on the company’s servers.

Using artificial intelligence to correct perspective distortions even better than standard camera mode, Google's algorithms can "righten" an angled image and remove shadows, making the document visually clean and even.

Creating multi-page PDF-files through the gallery

Often, one picture is not enough, and you need to combine several pages of a contract or report into one file.The standard Gallery app on Xiaomi smartphones has a built-in creation feature. PDF-Documents from multiple photos, which eliminates the need to search for third-party converters.

To start, scan all the required pages of the document using the Documents mode described above. Then open the Gallery app, go to the Camera or Screenshots album and highlight all the images you need. Click the More (or three dots) button in the bottom menu and select the Create PDF option.

The system will suggest that you sort the pages in the right order, which is critical to the readability of the final file. Once confirmed, you will receive one file that can be sent immediately by email or messenger, and the size of the final file will be optimized for fast transfer.

Third-party apps from GetApps and Google Play

Despite the rich functionality of the regular facilities, sometimes a more specialized approach is required, such as batch processing of hundreds of documents or advanced editing. The GetApps app store and Google Play offer many solutions that can complement the system's capabilities.

One popular solution is CamScanner or its counterparts, which offer cloud storage and sync between devices. However, it is worth remembering that free versions often have restrictions or watermarks. Owners of Xiaomi phones should pay attention to pre-installed tools or official applications from Google, which work more stable.

When installing third-party software, carefully check the permissions requested. The scanning app only needs access to the camera and file storage. If the program requires access to contacts, microphone or geolocation without an obvious need, this can be a sign of insecurity.

Using third-party scanners is justified if you need to automatically upload documents to the corporate system or use specific filters that are not available in MIUI. In other cases, the built-in functions cope with the task no worse.

Elimination: glare, curved lines and bad light

Even with a smart camera, you can run into technical issues that will ruin the result. The most common problem is the glare from lamps or the sun, which makes some of the text unreadable. To avoid this, change the angle of the phone in relation to the light source, not the document itself.

If the lines on the scan look curved (the barrel effect), try moving the phone further away from the document and using optical zoom if there is one, or just cropping the extra later.

In poor light, the camera can make noise, creating a grainy texture on a white background. Turn on the flash only as a last resort, as it often gives hard light in the center and dark edges. It is better to use an additional light source, such as a desk lamp aimed at the document from the side.

⚠️ Warning: Never scan documents containing sensitive information (passwords, full card numbers) on public Wi-Fi without using a secure connection or VPN.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The built-in MIUI tools allow you to perform 95% of scanning tasks without installing unnecessary programs, ensuring safety and speed.