How to take a mirror image on Xiaomi

Modern smartphones from Xiaomi are equipped with advanced camera modules, but by default they work in real display mode. This means that the user sees himself as others see him, which often causes psychological discomfort when taking selfies. Many are used to their reflection in the mirror and find it more attractive, so the question of how to take a mirror image on Xiaomi is extremely relevant for a wide range of users.

The problem is that the front camera automatically reflects the image on a vertical axis to match the usual experience of using a mirror. However, when you save a file, the system can automatically adjust this effect, returning the photo to the "real" view. Depending on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, and the application used, the algorithms can behave differently, requiring manual adjustment to achieve the desired result.

In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at all the nuances of camera work, including hidden settings and third-party utilities, and learn how to manage save settings so that your photos always look exactly as you’ve planned, without unexpected surprises after processing.

Difference Between Real and Mirror Image

The fundamental difference is the way the light output is processed by the matrix and the software. When you look in a normal mirror, you see yourself flipped on a horizontal axis. The smartphone camera, working in standard mode, tries to mimic this experience in the viewfinder, but in the final save, often removes this effect, so that the text on the clothes or signs in the background read correctly, rather than be flipped.

For the user, this creates a mirror-error effect, where the face in the photo appears asymmetrical or unusual. The psychology of perception dictates that we look better in the reflection, because we see it every day. Technically, taking a mirror image on Xiaomi is a forced horizontal reflection in the final file, ignoring the standard correction.

Front cameras often have a wide viewing angle, which can distort the proportions of the face, especially at the edges of the frame. This can amplify the negative effect when combined with unusual reflection. So many users tend not only to reflect the photo, but also to use portrait modes to smooth out these defects.

⚠️ Note: Remember that mirror photography is technically “wrong” from the point of view of optics, but familiar to your brain.

Understanding this difference is important for choosing the right method of processing, and if you want to post on social media where aesthetics is important, mirroring might be preferable, and if you want documentary accuracy, like scanning documents through a camera, you'd better use a standard mode without reflections.

Set up a regular Xiaomi camera for selfies

In most modern Xiaomi models, such as the Redmi Note 13 or Xiaomi 14, camera settings allow you to flexibly manage the behavior of the front module. Manufacturers understand user requests and provide tools for switching modes. To access them, you need to open the standard Camera app and go to the settings menu.

Usually, the parameter you're looking for is in the front camera section. The interface may vary depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. You need to find a switch that keeps the geometry of the frame, often called "Save Selfie Proportions" or "Mirror Photos."

If you turn on the mirror image saving feature, the viewfinder and the final file will be identical to what you see on the screen when you shoot, which is especially convenient for video bloggers who monitor their facial expressions and position in real time, and the lack of post-processing saves time and allows you to immediately upload content to the network.

• 📸 Open the Camera app and switch to the front module.
• ⚙️ Click on the three horizontal bars in the top corner and select Settings».
• 🔄 Find the option “Save the proportions of selfies” or “Mirror photo” and activate it.
• ✅ Take a test shot and check the result in the gallery.

Importantly, some versions of the HyperOS shell may have this item hidden or otherwise named. If you don't find it right away, carefully review all the tabs in the settings menu, including the "Advanced" section. Sometimes manufacturers hide these options so as not to overload the interface for beginners.

Use of the built-in MIUI editor and Gallery

Even if you've already taken a picture in normal mode, don't worry. MIUI and the new HyperOS have powerful built-in image editing tools that allow you to correct the orientation of the frame after the fact, which is even more reliable, since it works regardless of the settings of the camera itself at the time of shooting.

To do this, open the photo you want in the Gallery app. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a menu with edit buttons. You're interested in the Cut-Turn tool, which is usually represented by an icon with a square and arrows or simply the word "Change." Inside this menu, there's a turn button and a horizontal reflection button.

Pressing the reflection button (often looks like two triangles separated by a vertical line) will instantly turn the image over, which does not impair the quality of the photo, since it occurs at the software level without losing pixels. After applying the effect, you must press the Save button to record the changes.

Keep in mind that when you save, the system may suggest you make a copy of the file or replace the original. It is recommended that you choose to make a copy so that you always have the original version in case the mirror effect is inappropriate, this is a rule of good manners when working with digital content.

⚠️ Note: When editing photos, make sure you don’t flip text in the background if it’s important to the context of the photo.

Third-party applications for creating selfies

The standard tools don't always meet the needs of advanced users. If you want more sophisticated features, such as real-time mirror filtering, you should turn to third-party developers. App stores offer many options that can replace the standard camera.

Popular apps like Open Camera, Camera FV-5, or specialty beauty cameras often have more flexible settings. In Open Camera, for example, you can customize the behavior of the previews and the final file separately from each other in detail, which gives you complete control over the process.

Using third-party software also allows you to bypass some of the restrictions imposed by the smartphone manufacturer, for example, some applications allow you to save photos in RAW format with the already applied mirror effect, which gives ample opportunities for further retouching in professional editors.

• 📲 Download the Open Camera app from the Google Play Store.
• ⚙️ Go to the application settings (cog icon).
• 🖼️ Find the Camera Settings section and activate Front Camera mirror image».
• 🔒 Make sure that the tick is on the preservation, not just on the preview.

However, it’s worth remembering that third-party apps may not have access to all the hardware capabilities of Xiaomi’s camera, such as sophisticated AI algorithms to improve the night or portrait mode with blur. So choosing between a full-time camera and a third-party camera is always a compromise between processing quality and flexibility of settings.

Solving problems with inverted text in the photo

One of the common problems with mirroring is text, and if you have a book on your T-shirt, a store sign, or a model in your hand, it will become unreadable in mirror mode, which looks like a mistake and can ruin the image.

There are several ways to address this problem, and the easiest way to avoid text being in the frame is to use mirror mode, but if text is an important part of the composition, it's best to take the photo as normal and then only reflect the face in the editor using masks, although this requires skills with Photoshop or analogues on the phone.

In some cases, changing the angle helps: If you take a selfie with text in the background, try to rotate the phone or change the angle so that the text becomes less noticeable or reads normally even in the reflection (although the latter is not possible for flat objects parallel to the plane of the camera).

There are also smart algorithms in some editors that can recognize text and flip it back, leaving the face mirrored. However, this is a difficult task for a mobile processor and is still rare in mass applications. So the preventive measure, frame control, remains the most effective.

Comparison of shooting modes on different models

Different Xiaomi smartphone models can implement the mirror image function differently. Flagship models of the Xiaomi 13/14 series often have more advanced software that allows fine-tuning, while budget Redmis can only offer basic options. Below is a table showing the differences in the availability of features.

As you can see from the table, budget device owners may face a lack of direct configuration in the camera menu, in which case the only option is to use the built-in gallery editor or install a third-party application, a slight inconvenience that, however, is easily compensated by free editing tools.

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Tip: If you have a budget model Xiaomi without a mirror setting, use the Google Photos app – there the reflection function is in the Tools menu –> Edit.

Owners of older models like the Redmi Note 9 or Mi 9 should also check for system updates. Xiaomi often adds new features to the camera through software updates, so the current firmware version can solve the problem of not having the right option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Main conclusion: To make a mirror image on Xiaomi can be either through the camera settings before shooting, or quickly editing the finished photo in the built-in gallery editor.

To sum up, image mirror management on Xiaomi devices is a simple but important skill for every user. Knowing where the right switches and tools are, you can always get exactly the image that matches your vision, regardless of the phone model.