How to shoot a panorama on Xiaomi: a complete guide with settings and life hacks

Modern Xiaomi smartphones allow you to create stunning panoramic images, but not all users know how to unleash the full potential of this feature. Even budget models like the Redmi Note 12 or the flagships of the Xiaomi 14 series are equipped with advanced frame stitching algorithms that, when used correctly, give a result as good as SLR cameras. However, the quality of the final image depends not only on hardware, but also on the technique of shooting, lighting and post-processing.

In this article, we'll look at everything from basic panoramic launches to professional techniques for perfect shots, which settings you need to change before shooting, how to avoid common errors (such as "steps" at frame junctions), and which applications will help improve finished panoramas. We'll pay special attention to the specifics of different versions of MIUI - from 12 to 14 - since the interface and camera capabilities can be significantly different.

Basic camera settings for panoramic photography

Before you start shooting, check the key parameters in the Camera app, which determine how smoothly the frames will connect and how well they will end up, and here's what you need to set up in advance:

• 📱 Panorama resolution: in new models (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi K60) permitting 12000×3000 In the camera settings, select High Resolution if you plan to print a picture.
• 🔄 Stabilization: Turn on Ultrastabilization (if you have it in your model) or at least standard stabilization.
• 🌄 White balance: for panoramas, it is better to use Auto or manual adjustment for current lighting. When changing the white balance between frames, noticeable transitions may appear.
• 📁 Preservation format: if your Xiaomi supports RAW, Take a panorama in this format for later processing in Lightroom or Photoshop.

Note: in MIUI 14, panoramic mode can be hidden behind an additional swipe in the camera mode menu. If you don't find it, update the Camera app via Google Play or check for system updates in Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI.

Step-by-step: how to shoot a panorama on different models

The panorama algorithm on Xiaomi is almost the same for all devices, but there are nuances depending on the version of MIUI and hardware capabilities. Below is a universal instruction with specific features:

1. Run the Camera app and swipe left/right (depending on the version) to select Panorama mode. On some models (e.g. POCO F5) it may be called Wide or Panorama.
2. Hold your legs steady, shoulder-width, elbows pressed against your torso, and hold your camera horizontally, and even a slight tilt will cause the horizon to curve.
3. Press the downhill button and turn slowly clockwise or counterclockwise. A guideline will appear on the screen, and try to hold the arrow exactly on it.
4. Finish the shot when you reach the right angle of view (usually 180° or 360°). Some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) allow you to shoot panoramas up to 270° without loss of quality.

Important: Turning speed should be uniform, moving too fast will lead to blur, and moving too slow will lead to steps at the frame joints, optimal speed: about 3-5 seconds per 90° turn.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems shooting panoramas, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

⚠️ Attention: if you're shooting a panorama of moving objects (people, cars, waves), the stitching algorithm can create ghost artifacts, in which case you'd better make a series of individual frames and sew them manually into PTGui or Hugin.

A critical feature for Xiaomi owners with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (models 2023 and newer): Panorama mode can automatically turn on AI processing, which aggressively smoothes out details. To turn it off, go to Camera Settings → Additional → AI scene and deactivate the option.

Advanced techniques: 360° panoramas and HDR-shooting

You can use the advanced capabilities of Xiaomi's camera to create really impressive panoramas. Here are some professional tricks:

• 🌐 360° Panoramas: on models with MIUI 13+ Full panorama is available, which allows you to take a circular shot, and this is done after you finish shooting at 180.° Continue to turn until the camera returns to its original position.
• 🌅 HDR-Panoramas: turn on HDR In camera settings, but note that this will increase processing time. It is better to use on static scenes (landscapes, architecture).
• 📏 Multi-row panoramas: for ultra-high resolution, shoot multiple horizontal panoramas from different angles of inclination, then connect them in Photoshop via File → Automate → Photomerge.
• 🎨 Night panoramas: In the dark, use Night Mode in combination with panorama. Keep the camera as still as possible or use a tripod.

For multi-row panoramas, you should use a tripod with a panoramic head (for example, Manfrotto 300N) to accurately withstand the angles of inclination between the rows. If there is no tripod, you can improvise: put your smartphone on a flat surface and rotate it around the axis, marking the starting point with a marker.

Panorama processing: from basic trimming to professional retouching

Even a perfectly shot panorama often requires refinement, and here is the minimum set of actions to improve the picture:

1. Cutting: Remove the black fields around the edges (they appear due to lens distortion) in Google Photos or Snapseed.
2. Perspective Adjustment: In Lightroom, use the Transform → Guided tool to straighten curved lines.
3. Color correction: level the color balance between frame joints with a local correction mask.
4. Noise reduction: If you filmed in the dark, use moderate noise cancellation (e.g., Denoise in Topaz Gigapixel AI).

For automatic processing, specialized applications can be used:

• 📱 Pano Editor (Android) – a free pruning and alignment tool.
• 🖥️ PTGui (Windows/macOS) — Professional software for crosslinking and correction of panoramas.
• 🌐 Fotor (online) – quick processing with templates for social networks.

⚠️ Note: while maintaining panoramas in format JPEG For social networks, set the quality to at least 90%, otherwise compression artifacts may appear at the frame joints. TIFF or PNG.

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If the panorama is too big to upload to Instagram, divide it into 2-3 parts in Canva and post it as a carousel.

Comparison of panoramic modes on different Xiaomi models

The panoramas are very much dependent on the smartphone model, and we tested some of the most popular devices and we put together a comparison table.

As you can see from the table, the flagship models (Xiaomi 13/14 series) offer not only higher resolution, but also flexible settings for professional shooting. For example, in Xiaomi 14 Ultra you can manually set exposure for each panorama frame, which is critical for complex light conditions (for example, sunset with contrasting shadows).

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If your model does not support 360° panoramas, take two hemispheres of 180° with 30° flyover and connect them manually in PTGui.

Alternative applications for shooting panoramas

Xiaomi’s standard Camera app doesn’t always handle complex scenes, and third-party programs can help:

• 📸 Google Camera (GCam): Ported versions for Xiaomi often give smoother joints thanks to algorithms HDR+. Look for builds for your model on the forum XDA Developers.
• 🌄 Panorama 360 Camera: allows you to shoot spherical panoramas with automatic alignment. EQUIRECTANGULAR format VR.
• 🎞️ Open Camera: Open source software with manual exposure and focus settings. Useful for shooting in the video RAW.
• 🏙️ Microsoft Pix: Uses AI to improve detail and remove noise. Good for urban panoramas.

When using GCam, pay attention to the Panorama resolution settings - in some builds it is the default on Medium, which reduces detail.

Panorama resolution: High (100+ MP)


HDR+ control: On




Motion photos: Off

⚠️ Note: third-party apps may not support all of your smartphone’s cameras. For example, GCam often doesn’t work with a telephoto lens on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Before shooting, check which camera the app uses in the settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions