How to shoot timelapse on Xiaomi smartphones: from preparation to installation

Timelapse is a video technique that compresses real-time clocks in seconds to create a fast-moving effect. Xiaomi smartphones (from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra) offer built-in tools for shooting timelapse, but not everyone knows how to unleash their potential. In this article, you will find not only basic instructions, but also professional tricks: from choosing the right frame interval to processing finished video in applications.

The biggest mistake for beginners is to try to take timelapse by eye, without taking into account the lighting, stabilization and technical limitations of the smartphone, for example, shooting a sunset at 1 second intervals will lead to jerks, and using digital zoom will ruin quality. MIUI 12–14, and tell you which third-party apps will help if standard features aren’t enough.

It's important to understand that timelapse on Xiaomi can be shot both through the regular Camera app and with specialized programs like Lapse It or Hyperlapse Mobile. Each method has pros and cons - and we'll compare them in detail. If you want to capture the movement of clouds, building a house or flowering plants, this article will help to make a video that is not ashamed to publish on TikTok or YouTube.

What Xiaomi models support shooting timelapse

Almost all Xiaomi smartphones released after 2018 can capture timelapse through the standard Camera app. However, the quality and functionality depend on the model and version of the firmware. Below is a comparison table of capabilities for different lines.

If your model didn’t make it to the table, check for the timelapse function in the camera menu: open the app, go to More mode. → Timelapse. On older devices (like Redmi). 9A) This mode may not be available – in this case, you will have to use third-party applications.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with Snapdragon processor 4xx (Like Redmi. A1) Taking high-resolution timelapse can cause overheating. 720p and at least 3 seconds apart.

Preparation of the smartphone for shooting: settings and accessories

To make timelapse smooth and professional, it's not enough to just press the record button. Preparation involves choosing the right settings, checking memory and using accessories.

• 🔋 Battery charge: Make sure it's at least 70 percent charge, timelapse capture consumes energy faster than regular video, flagships (Xiaomi 14 Pro) can charge while shooting, but it can cause heat.
• 📱 Free space: One hour of timelapse with an interval of 1 second in 1080p borrower ~5-7 GB. Check the free space in Settings → Warehouse.
• 📸 Cleaning the lens: Dust or fingerprints on the camera lead to blurred footage.Risk the lens with a microfiber.
• 🔒 Focus lock: In timelapse mode, autofocus can "breathe" (change focal length). AE/AF Lock.

Now, the accessories, you can do without them, but they'll make a lot of difference.

• 🎥 Tripod or holder: Even a slight shaking of the hands will ruin the video. Any tripod with a smartphone mount will do (for example, Xiaomi Mi Tripod).
• 🔄 Gimbal: For dynamic timelapses (e.g., motion shooting), use a stabilizer like DJI Osmo Mobile 6. Xiaomi's budget models have weak built-in stabilization.
• ☀️ Filters: ND-filters (such as the K&F Concept) will help you shoot in the bright sun, reducing the overlights.
• 🔌 Power Bank: If you plan to shoot more than 2 hours, connect an external battery (e.g. Xiaomi Power Bank 3) 20000mAh).

⚠️ Note: When shooting in the cold (below) +5°C) Xiaomi smartphones can automatically shut down to protect the battery.If you are shooting a winter landscape, keep the phone in a heated case or periodically warm it up in your pocket.

Step-by-step: shooting timelapse through a standard camera

Standard Appendix Camera on MIUI It offers basic timelapse settings that are enough for most tasks, and we will take the process as an example of Xiaomi 13 Pro (on other models the interface may differ slightly).

1. Open the Camera app and swipe left across the screen to go to the modes menu. → timelapse.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (settings) in the upper right corner: 🎞️ Permission: 1080p or 4K (Not available on all models). ⏱️ Time interval: 1 to 60 seconds. For fast processes (for example, traffic), choose 1-2 seconds, for slow ones (sunset, construction) - 5-10 seconds. 🔄 Stabilization: Turn on if you take off your hands.

Point the camera at the object and block the exposure/focus (hold your finger on the screen until the lock appears). AE/AF Lock).

Press the red recording button. The timer will appear on the screen and the number of frames taken. To stop shooting, press the button again.

Critical nuance: on models with MIUI 13 and below when shooting timelapse in 4K You can have an artifact of green pixels in poor light. To avoid this, lower the resolution to 1080p or use third-party applications.

Set a tripod or fixed the phone

Checking the battery power (minimum 70%)

Cleared the lens of dust.

Blocked focus and exposure

Choose the right interval for the scene-->

Selection of shooting interval: table of recommendations

One of the key parameters of timelapse is the interval between frames, which determines how smooth or torn the video will be. Too short a time interval (for example, 0.5 seconds) will lead to a huge file volume and excessive detail, and too long (30 seconds) to a jerky picture.

Below are recommendations for choosing the interval for different scenes.

To calculate the time of shooting, use the formula:

Shooting duration (min) = (Interval in seconds × Number of frames in video) / 60


Example: for a 10-second roller with an interval of 3 seconds and 24 frames per second:




(3×240) / 60 = 12 minutes of shooting.

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If you're shooting a sunset, start shooting 30 to 40 minutes before the expected sunset time, and you capture the smooth transition from daylight to dusk.

Shooting timelapse at night: features and settings

Nighttime timelapses are some of the most spectacular, but also the most difficult, to perform.

• 🌃 Noise on video: In the dark, the smartphone increases ISO, which leads to graininess.
• 💡 Lights and headlights of cars "clog" the frame.
• 🔋 Overheating: Long-term shooting with night mode loads the processor.

Solutions for different models:

• 📱 Xiaomi 13/14 Series, Mix Fold 3: Use Night Timelapse Mode (available in Professional Mode). Set shutter speed 1–2 sack, ISO higher 3200.
• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5: There is no night mode in timelapse - shoot in 1080p 3-5 seconds apart and process the video in Adobe Premiere Rush (noise reduction).
• 📱 Redmi 10/11 Series: Nighttime timelapse shooting is impossible without third-party apps.Try NightCap Camera (available on Android).

Example of settings for shooting the starry sky on Xiaomi 13 Ultra:

Mode: Professional → Timelapse


Resolution: 1080p




Interval: 30 seconds




Exposure: 10 seconds




ISO: 1600




White balance: 4000K




Focus: Manual (to infinity)

⚠️ Note: When shooting night timelapse in the cold (< -10°C) condensate can accumulate on the lens, spoiling the frame. Use silica gel packs in the case or special anti-fogging wipes.

The side of the application for shooting timelapse: comparison and instructions

If you don't like the standard Xiaomi features, look at third-party apps that offer advanced settings: manual exposure, shooting in the video. RAW, intervals of less than 1 second and even creating hyperlapses (timelapse with camera movement).

Top.-3 apps:

Instructions for shooting in Lapse It (on the example) POCO F5):

1. Install the app from Google Play and give access to the camera and storage.
2. Select Time Lapse mode and set the settings: 🎞️ Permission: 1920×1080 (Xiaomi is optimally). ⏱️ Interval: 1–3 squash. 📸 Focus: Block it manually. 🔧 Additional: Turn on Grid for a straight frame.

Press Start and lock the phone, and the app will show you the duration of the shooting.

After finishing, click Stop and export the video to the Gallery or edit directly to Lapse It.

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The side of the application allows you to shoot timelapse in format RAW, And that gives you more color correction, but they drain the battery more -- watch the charge!

Timelapse processing and installation: from raw video to masterpiece

Even a perfectly shot timelapse requires post-processing.

• ✂️ Cutting: Removing excess staff at the beginning/end.
• 🎨 Color correction: Contrast adjustment, saturation.
• 🎵 Sound: Adding music or noise (wind, city sounds).
• 📈 Stabilization: Elimination of micro-shaking (if filmed without a tripod).

Programs for installation on a smartphone:

• 📱 CapCut: Free, simple interface, built-in effects for timelapses.

Step-by-step instructions in CapCut:

1. Import Video: Click New Project → Select and add your timelapse.
2. Cut the extra: drag the sliders on the timeline to leave only the desired fragment.
3. Add music: press audio → Music and select the track (you can download your own track).
4. Adjust the speed: if the video is too fast, reduce the speed to 0.8x speed-menu.
5. Apply the filter: in the Effects section, select Movie or Film for stylization.
6. Export: Press Export, select permission 1080p and quality High.

For advanced processing (such as removing noise or adding camera motion), use Adobe After Effects on your PC. Twitch plugin will help eliminate flickering that often occurs when shooting with automatic exposure.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced Xiaomi users make mistakes when shooting timelapse, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• 🔄 Camera shake: Cause: Shooting without a tripod or on an unstable surface. Solution: Use a tripod or a flexible holder.
• 🌓 Exposure flickering: Cause: Automatic brightness setting (AE) Changes between frames. Solution: Block the exposure (AE Lock) or shoot manually.
• 📱 Overheating of the phone: Reason: Long shooting in the 4K Solution: Reduce the resolution to 1080p, Take off in short sessions (30–40 minutes) with breaks.
• 🔋 Battery discharge: Reason: Timelapse is a heavy load on the processor.Solution: Connect Power Bank or use power saving mode (but it can degrade quality).
• 🖼️ Lack of memory: Reason: Timelapse takes up a lot of space (especially in the case of a timelapse). 4K). Solution: Use a microSD memory card (class) UHS-I U3) Or take them off at a smaller interval.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with a MediaTek Helio G processor (for example, Redmi) 10C) If you shoot a timelapse of more than 1 hour, you may experience a "Camera Stopped" error, and to avoid this, break it down into several 40-50-minute sessions.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions