How to take a picture of the moon on a Xiaomi phone at night: a detailed guide with camera settings

Photographing the moon on a smartphone at night is a task that seems impossible without professional technology. However, modern Xiaomi (including the Redmi, Poco and Mi lines) are equipped with cameras with modes that allow you to capture nightscapes with high detail.

In this article, we will not only discuss technical aspects (excerpt, ISO, The focus, but also practical tricks: how to stabilize a phone without a tripod, what apps will help in post-processing, and why it is sometimes better to take pictures of the moon not at full moon.+), Where the potential for astrophotography is higher.

And if you follow our guidelines, you can get images that you're not ashamed to post on social media or even type, and if you only have a budget Redmi 10A on hand, there are ways to improve the results without expensive equipment.

Why are pictures of the moon on your phone often bad?

The main problem with the smartphone is that you're looking at the moon in a way that's not expected or technically possible, and you're seeing a bright disk of craters in the sky, and the camera is looking at a little white spot on a black background, and here are the key reasons why you're not doing it.

• 🌕 Automotive camera – the smartphone tries to brighten the entire frame, which is why the moon “burns out” into a white spot, and the sky loses details.
• 📱 Lack of optical zoom – digital zoom results in loss of image quality and soapiness.
• 🤳 Trembling hands – even minimal shaking at prolonged exposure makes the picture blurry.
• 🌙 Incorrect phase of the moon – in full moon contrast craters are minimal, and in other phases the details appear better.

A critical mistake most beginners make is using digital zoom instead of approaching “legs” or a telephoto lens. For example, on Xiaomi 12T Pro with 2x optical zoom, the moon will take up only ~10% of the frame, and at 10x digital, the image will turn into pixels.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi doesn’t support manual camera settings (Pro or Manual modes), all shutter speed tips and ISO In this case, use third-party apps like Camera. FV-5 Open Camera.

Which Xiaomi models are better for shooting the moon?

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good for astrophotography, and here is a table comparing key models by parameters important for the moon:

If you have a model with a score of 1-2, do not worry: even on budget devices you can get an acceptable result using external lenses (for example, Xiaomi Lens Attachment with a 2-fold increase) or post-processing techniques.

Lifehack for owners of flagships: on Xiaomi 13 Ultra in Moon Mode mode (available in some firmware), the camera automatically increases the detail of the moon due to AI algorithms. To activate it, go to Additional → Moon.

Optimal camera settings for shooting the moon on Xiaomi

To get clear images of the moon, you need to go to Manual mode and adjust the parameters manually.

• 📸 Focus: Infinity (∞) or manual focusing on the moon (touch the screen and hold it to lock).
• ⏱️ Excerpt: 1/200–1/500 Sec (the brighter the moon, the shorter the exposure time).
• 🌡️ ISO: 100-400 (above) – noise will appear).
• 🔍 White Balance: Daylight or 5000–5500K (yellow).
• 📏 Resolution: maximum (for example, 12 MP instead of 9 MP in 4:3 mode).

Step-by-step adjustment instructions:

1. Open the Camera app and select Pro (or Manual) mode.
2. Set the focus on ∞ (if you have an option) or touch the moon on the screen to focus.
3. Reduce the ISO to 100–200 and adjust the shutter speed starting at 1/250 seconds.
4. Turn off HDR and Night Mode, they will only ruin the frame.
5. Take a few pictures with different settings for comparison.

Set up Pro mode|Shut down. HDR and Night mode|Set the focus on ∞|Reduce ISO before 100–400|Experiment with exposure from 1/500 before 1/100 sack-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9) don’t have manual focusing in Pro mode. In this case, use the Open Camera app from Google Play, which supports full control over settings.

How to stabilize your phone without a tripod?

Even if you're short-term, hand tremors can ruin your picture. If you don't have a tripod, use these methods:

• 🧱 Relying on a hard surface: Put your phone on a windowsill, roof of a car or a folded stack of books. Use a delay timer (2-10 seconds) to avoid shaking when pressed.
• 🎮 Improvised tripod: fasten your smartphone between books or in a cardboard stand with a cutout!
• 🧲 Magnetic holder: If the phone has a metal case (a rarity for Xiaomi), attach it to the metal surface with a magnet.
• 🤲 Breathing technique: hold your breath for 2-3 seconds while shooting, elbows in the body.

A tip for Poco/Xiaomi owners with infrared: if you have a remote, use it as a trigger. Set up the Mi Remote app to shoot with a delay, this will help avoid touching the screen.

💡

If the shooting is conducted through the window, pre-wipe the glass with an alcohol napkin - greasy spots and dust scatter light and worsen clarity.

Best time and conditions to photograph the moon

Not all nights are equally good for photographing the moon.

• 🌓 Moon phase: ideally, first/last quarter, when the shadows from craters are as contrasting as possible».
• 🌌 Atmospheric transparency: Check the cloud forecast (Windy or Clear Outside applications) and the fog and haze make the moon cloudy.
• 🏙️ Light: shooting in the city worsens the contrast.
• ⏰ Time: The moon is highest above the horizon at midnight (less atmospheric distortion), but evening will also fit (20:00–23:00).

How do you determine the optimal phase of the moon? Use the Moon Phase Calendar app or the Moon Calendar website. For example, in 2026, the best dates to survey craters are:

• April: 2–3, 15–16, 29–30
• May: 1–2, 14–15, 28–29
• June: 12–13, 26–27

How to improve the photo of the moon on the phone?

Even a perfect shot can be made better with editing. Here are the tools and techniques for Xiaomi:

• 📱 Built-in editor: Xiaomi Gallery has basic tools – increase clarity by 20-30%, reduce exposure by 0.3-0.5 EV, add contrast.
• 🎨 Snapseed (free): Use the Selective Correction tool to darken the sky background. HDR-30-40% effect for craters. Increase the structure in the Details section.
• 🖥️ Lightroom Mobile: Import photos in the format RAW (if filmed in this format) and adjust the curves to increase the contrast between light and dark areas.

Example of processing in Snapseed:

1. Open the photo and select Tools → Curves.
2. Raise the top of the curve (light tones) and lower the bottom (shadows).
3. Go to the Details → Structure and increase the value to +40.
4. In Selective Correction, darken the background of the sky (add a dot to the dark area and reduce exposure).

💡

Shoot the Moon in RAW format (if your Xiaomi supports) to save as much detail as possible in post-processing. In the camera settings, turn on the Save RAW option or use the Open Camera app.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced photographers sometimes make mistakes when shooting the moon.

⚠️ Attention: If you are shooting the moon through a window, turn off the Removal of Reflections option (if any) in the camera settings.This algorithm can artificially blur small details, mistaking them for glare.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions