How to remove the date from the photo on Xiaomi smartphones: all working methods

The date on photos in Xiaomi smartphones can be useful for organizing shots, but often spoils the aesthetic of the frame - especially if you want to share a photo on social networks or print it. 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T etc.) and firmware versions (MIUI 14/15) The ways that you delete a date vary, and in some cases, the time stamp is sewn directly into the image, in others, it's just metadata that's easy to remove.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods: from turning off the time stamp in the camera settings to editing photos in third-party applications. MIUI And Xiaomi models, because the interface and the options available may be different, and if you don't want to waste time experimenting, use the table at the end of the Methods Comparison section to choose the best way to do it.

Why does the date appear in the photo and can it be removed forever?

The date in the images appears because of the Watermark feature, which is activated by default on most Xiaomi smartphones. Depending on the model, it can:

• 📅 Overlaid on top of the image – as a text layer (removed by editing).
• 🖼️ Embedded in metadata – not visible when viewed, but displayed in file properties.
• 🔧 Be part of a branded watermark – along with a phone model (requires shutdowns in camera settings).

You can only remove the date forever by turning off the watermark function in the camera settings. If the date is already overlaid on the finished photos, you'll have to use editing or special applications. MIUI 14 and newer path to watermark settings has changed - more on this in the next section.

Method 1: Disabling the watermark in the camera settings (before shooting)

The most reliable method is to prevent the date from appearing by turning it off in the camera settings. MIUI 12-15, but may differ slightly on older versions (e.g, MIUI 11).

How to remove the date before shooting:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings (usually in the upper right corner).
3. Go to the Watermark section (or Watermark in English).
4. Turn off the date (or time) slider.
5. To completely remove the watermark, also turn off the device model.

Is the camera open in Photo mode (not Portrait or Video")|

Version. MIUI at least 12 (the path may be different on older versions)|

Watermark is disabled for all cameras (main, front, wide-angle)|

Checked on the test image (date does not appear)

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Exceptions:

• 📱 In some models (POCO F4 GT, Redmi K50) The watermark option may be in Additional settings → Shooting settings.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI settings may reset - check them after upgrading the firmware.

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If your model does not have the option "Watermark", but the date still appears - check the settings in the Gallery app (Settings section). → Metadata mapping).

Method 2: Photo editing in the standard “Gallery” Xiaomi

If the date is already overlaid on the photo, it can be removed using the built-in editor in the Gallery app, which is suitable for text watermarks, but will not help if the date is sewn into the metadata (in this case, use Method 4).

Step-by-step:

1. Open the photo in the Gallery and click Edit (pencil icon).
2. Select the Pruning (or Coverage) tool.
3. Increase the scale and trim the area with the date (if it is on the edges).
4. If the date is in the center, use the Cloning (or Recovery) tool to “paint” it with neighboring pixels.
5. Save the changes (select Save as a copy to avoid losing the original).

Limitations of the method:

• 🖌️ The quality of the restored area may differ from the original (especially on monochromatic backgrounds).
• 📏 If the date is large or placed on a complex background (such as a person's face), the cloning tool may not be able to handle the problem.

Method 3: Using third-party applications to delete date

If Xiaomi's built-in tools don't work, specialized apps will come to the rescue, and we tested 5 popular solutions and selected the best in terms of efficiency and ease of use.

Selection recommendations:

• 🎯 For quick deletion of the date from 1-2 photos: Remove Watermark.
• 🖼️ For accurate retouching (if the date is on a difficult background): Snapseed.
• 📱 If the date is superimposed on a monochromatic background (sky, wall): PhotoRoom.

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Always save the original photo before using third-party apps – some tools can reduce image quality during processing.

Method 4: Delete date from metadata (EXIF)

If the date is not visible in the photo itself, but is displayed when viewing the file properties (for example, in Google Photos or when downloading to a PC), it is stored in metadata. EXIF. You can remove it without changing the image.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Install the app EXIF Editor (or analogues: Photo) EXIF Editor, Metadata Remover).
2. Open the photo in the application and find the fields DateTime, DateTimeOriginal, DateTimeDigitized.
3. Clear the values or replace them with arbitrary ones (for example, 0000:00:00 00:00:00).
4. Save the changes (the application will create a copy of the file without metadata).

Important: the removal of metadata will not be possible to restore the original date of the shooting, and if the photo is important (for example, for documents), it is better to create a copy before editing.

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To check if metadata remains, upload the photo to the exif.viewer website (works without registration).

Method 5: Manual editing in Photoshop or GIMP (advanced)

If you work with photos professionally or you need to remove the date from dozens of pictures, it is better to use desktop editors: Adobe Photoshop or free. GIMP. These tools allow you to process photos without loss of quality.

A brief instruction for Photoshop:

1. Open the photo in Photoshop (File → Open).
2. Select the date with the tool Rectangular area (or Lasso, if the edges are uneven).
3. Press Shift. + F5 (fill with content in mind or use Stamp (S) to copy neighboring pixels.
4. Save the result in JPEG or PNG format.

For GIMP:

• 🖌️ Use the Heal Selection tool (similar to content-based casting).
• 🔍 For accurate work, increase the scale (Ctrl) + +).
• 💾 Save it in format. XCF, I'll finish the photo later.

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If the date is imposed in a translucent font (as on some models) POCO), Photoshop will help the Color Range tool (color highlighting) for accurate removal.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To save time, use the table below, and we have evaluated each method according to 3 criteria: complexity, speed and quality retention.

Tip: If you often encounter date issues in a photo, combine methods, such as turning off the watermark in the camera settings (for new shots) and use Snapseed to process old photos.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you delete a date, users often make mistakes that spoil photos or lead to data loss. TOP-3 problems and ways of solving them.

⚠️ Note: If you crop a photo in Xiaomi’s Gallery, the original file is replaced without warning.Always create a copy before editing (click Save as a copy in the save menu).

Mistake 1: Artifacts after the date is deleted

Reason: The cloning or healing tool is inaccurately working against a complex background.

Decision:

• 🔍 Increase the scale and process the date in parts.
• 🎨 In Photoshop, use Content-Aware Fill instead of a stamp.

Error 2: Date remains in metadata

Reason: You only removed the visual layer, but didn't clear the fields EXIF.

Solution: Use EXIF Editor for complete metadata cleaning (see Method 4).

⚠️ Note: Some social networks (e.g. VKontakte) automatically reset metadata when a photo is uploaded, and if the date is only visible in the properties of the file, but not in the image itself, you can not delete it.

Error 3: Loss of quality after preservation

Reason: Multiple editing and resave in format JPEG.

Decision:

• 📁 Work with a copy of the file in format PNG (lossless).
• 🔄 In Photoshop, use Save for Web with a 90–100 quality setting%.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions