How to shoot a starry sky on a Xiaomi phone: a complete guide from preparation to processing

Starry Sky is one of the most exciting stories for a photographer, but many believe that it requires a professional DSLR to shoot it. In fact, even Xiaomi's budget smartphones (including the Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco models). X4 The Pro or Mi 11 Ultra can capture the Milky Way and constellations with the right approach, and the key is to understand the limitations of a mobile camera and use special techniques.

In this article, we will discuss all the stages of shooting: from location and time selection to manual camera settings and post-processing. You will learn which Xiaomi modes are best used for astrophotography, how to do without a tripod (if it is not at hand), and why even 48 MP main camera does not guarantee a quality shot without the right exposure — FAQ Answering the Most Common Mistakes of Newcomers.

1.What Xiaomi models are suitable for shooting stars?

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equally good at astrophotography, but key options to look out for are:

• 🔍 lens aperture: the smaller the value (for example, f/1.8 instead f/2.2), The more light that gets into the matrix — f/1.7–f/1.9.
• 📸 The size of the matrix pixels: large pixels (from 1.2 microns) better capture the faint light of stars. Budget models often use 0.8 microns – this will make it difficult to shoot.
• 🎛️ Manual mode (Pro Mode): without the ability to set yourself ISO, White balance and exposure will not be able to remove the star.
• 🔋 Stabilization: optical (OIS) electronically (EIS) It will help to reduce the lubrication with long exposure.

The best Xiaomi models for astrophotography (in descending quality):

If your model has a pixel size less than 1.0 microns, you will need to use external lenses (for example, Xiaomi Lens with an increase in aperture) or special applications for stacking (overlaying) frames to shoot stars.

2. Preparation for shooting: time, place and weather

Even the most advanced camera can't save a shot if it's in a city or in a full moon, and here are 3 key factors that determine success:

• 🌌 Light pollution: use the Light Pollution Map, which is perfect for blue to black zones, and in the city you can only shoot the moon and the brightest stars (for example, Sirius).
• 🌑 Moon phase: best time is the new moon or the first/last 3 days of the lunar cycle. When the moon is full, the light of the moon clogs the stars.
• ☁️ Weather and cloudiness: even thin clouds scatter starlight. Use Clear Outside to predict atmospheric transparency.

The optimal time to shoot:

• 🕒 Astronomical twilight (when the Sun is 18 below the horizon)°) — sky as dark as possible.
• 🌠 The peak of the activity of the Milky Way: from March to October (in the Northern Hemisphere) it is best seen.
• ⏳ The first 2 hours after sunset - the atmosphere has not yet had time to cool down much, which reduces turbulence (flickering stars).

⚠️ Warning: Filming in winter requires special preparation! Cold discharges the battery quickly (especially at long shutter speeds), and condensation on the lens can ruin all shots. Use silica gel bags in your phone case and hand heating pad to keep the temperature up.

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Before you go out for a shoot, charge your phone fully and take the powerbank. Long shutter speeds and cold discharge the battery 2-3 times faster than usual.

3. Xiaomi camera settings for shooting stars

Now, the most important thing is to set up the camera, and Xiaomi has two ways to shoot the sky.

1. Manual mode (Pro Mode) - for experienced users.
2. Star Mode is a simplified version (not available on all models).

Let us consider both options in detail.

Method 1: Manual mode (Pro Mode)

Open the standard Camera app, go to Additional → Pro (or Manual) and set the following parameters:

• 📷 Focus: Put it in mode MF (manual focus and set the value to infinity (∞). Autofocus doesn't work at night!
• ⏱️ Shutter speed: 10 to 30 seconds. Start at 15 seconds and adjust to the result. Too long exposure will lead to star smear (due to the rotation of the Earth).
• 🌡️ ISO: 1600 to 6400. Start with 3200. High. ISO It adds noise, but without it, the stars will be too dim.
• 🔘 White balance: set up 4000–5000K (Or you can pre-install the Incandescent Lamp. Autobalance will make the sky green.
• 📏 Permission: uncheck the box with AI and select the maximum resolution (e.g. 48 MP if supported).
• 🔄 Format: RAW (This will allow you to process the picture better later.

Example of optimal settings for Xiaomi 12 Pro:

Mode: Pro


Focus: MF (∞)




Exposure: 20 seconds




ISO: 3200




White balance: 4500K




Format: RAW + JPEG




Stabilization: Off (when using a tripod)

Method 2: Star Mode (Star Mode)

Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) They have a built-in Starry Sky mode to activate it:

1. Open the camera. → Additionally. → Starry sky.
2. Set your phone on a tripod (required!).
3. Press the down button and don’t touch the phone for 10 to 60 seconds (time depends on the model).
4. The app will automatically take a series of pictures and combine them into one frame with minimal noise.

⚠️ Attention: Starry Sky mode in Xiaomi often gives a green tint in pictures due to aggressive processing.If it is critical, shoot in Pro Mode and process manually.

Shut down. AI and HDR|

Set a manual focus on infinity|

Select the format RAW (if available)|

Turn off digital zoom|

Check the battery level (minimum 50%)-->

Equipment: What do you need besides a phone?

In theory, you can shoot stars off your hands, but the result is far from ideal.

• 📱 Tripod: Even a lightweight plastic tripod (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Portable Tripod) will reduce shaking. Alternatively, a stable surface (stone, car roof).
• ⏱️ Remote or timer: Touching the screen when the shutter is lowered causes vibration. Use a delay of descent (2-10 seconds) or Bluetooth remote (for example, Xiaomi Bluetooth Remote).
• 🔋 Powerbank: As mentioned earlier, cold and long shutter speeds quickly put the battery down.
• 🔍 External lens (optional): wide-angle (18-24 mm) or fish eye will help capture more sky).
• 🧲 Kit for protection from cold: silica gel packs (condensate) and thermocase for the phone.

If there is no tripod, you can use the available means:

• A folded towel or sweater as a shock absorber between the phone and the surface.
• A tape or rubber band to fix the down button (if there is no timer).
• Car phone holder (if you are taking off from the car).

5. Shooting Techniques: How to Avoid Flurry and Noise

Even with the right camera settings and equipment, you can get blurry or noisy shots. Here are 5 professional techniques to help improve the result:

• 🌌 Rule 500: To prevent stars from lubricating due to the rotation of the Earth, use the formula: Max. shutter speed (sec) = 500/ (focal distance) × Crop factor for most Xiaomi smartphones (with focus) ~26 mm and crop factor ~5.6) maximum exposure without lubrication — ~But in practice, you can zoom in to 10 to 15 seconds unless you need perfect clarity.
• 📊 Stacking: Take a series of photos (10-20 pieces) with the same settings, and then combine them in the program StarStaX (Android) or Sequator (PC). This will reduce noise and show faint stars.
• 🔄 Exposure bracketing: Take the same shot with different settings ISO/extracts (e.g., excerpts, ISO 1600/20 sec ISO 6400/10 Sec), then combine them into Photoshop or Lightroom.
• 🌠 Shooting in RAW: If your model supports you RAW (For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro, be sure to use it. The format saves more data for post-processing.
• 📵 Disabling all unnecessary functions: AI, HDR, Night mode (unless it is specialised for stars) will only worsen the quality of the game.

Example of a sequence of actions for stacking:

1. Set your phone on a tripod, set up Pro Mode (for example, ISO 3200, 15 sec exposure).
2. Take 15-20 pictures in a row (use a timer or remote).
3. Transfer the photos to your PC and process them in Sequator (free program).
4. Export the result and refine it in Lightroom (increase contrast, reduce noise).

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Stacking is the only way to get a clear picture of the Milky Way on a smartphone without professional equipment. Even Xiaomi’s flagship models can’t capture enough light in one shutter speed.

Photo processing: how to make stars brighter?

Raw images of the sky usually look dull and noisy. Post-processing is a must-do step that converts them into impressive shots. Here is a step-by-step guide for Lightroom Mobile (free version):

1. Import and trimming: Download RAW or JPEG Cut the frame to remove unnecessary elements (for example, light sources on the horizon).
2. Exposure adjustment: Increase the exposure to +1.0–+2.0. Raise the Shadows to +50–+70, To show the faint stars, reduce the light by -20–-30, To preserve the details in bright areas.
3. Noise reduction: In the Details section → Set the noise to 30-50, reduce the color noise to 20-30 (otherwise the stars will lose color).
4. Increase contrast and clarity: Increase contrast by +20–+40.Add clarity (+15–+25) and Microcontrast (+10–+20).

Color correction

• Set the temperature to 4000–4500K natural-colored.
• Increase the saturation of the stars (carefully so as not to get artifacts).

For advanced processing on PC, use Photoshop with the AstroPanel plugin or GIMP with Wavelet Decomposition settings for noise reduction.

Example before and after processing:

⚠️ Warning: Don't overdo it with increased exposure and contrast - this can create false colors on stars (such as green or purple hues). If stars start to look like rainbow dots, reduce saturation.

7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced photographers sometimes make mistakes when shooting the stars. TOP-5 problems and solutions:

If you are photographing the Milky Way but it is not visible in the picture, check:

• 📅 Time of year: from November to February in the Northern Hemisphere it is almost invisible.
• ⏰ Time of day: best window - from 22:00 to 2:00 (depending on the month).
• 🌍 Camera direction: The Milky Way rises in the southeast (spring/summer) or southwest (autumn).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions