How to remove the name of the Xiaomi model from the photo: all the ways (including hidden)

The watermarks with the name of the smartphone model in the photo are a trademark feature of Xiaomi, which annoys many users. Even on flagship devices like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+, the default system adds the words Shot on [model] to the bottom corner of the images. The reasons for this decision of the brand are clear: advertising and confirmation of authorship. But what if you want to get clean photos without unnecessary tags?

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove a watermark - from standard camera settings to advanced methods using the use of watermarks. ADB and manual editing EXIF-Note that some methods only work on certain versions of firmware (MIUI 14, HyperOS), and others are universal. We will also analyze why the watermark can automatically return after a system update and how to avoid this.

Why Xiaomi is adding watermarks and can they be turned off forever

Xiaomi has been actively implementing watermarks on photos since 2018, when the brand’s marketing strategy focused on the quality of cameras in budget smartphones. Today, this feature is enabled by default on all devices – from the Redmi A2 to the Xiaomi 14 Pro.

• 📢 Brand advertising: Shot on [model] acts as a free ad, especially when users share photos on social networks.
• 🛡️ Protection from fraudsters: watermark complicates the sale of “left” photos under the guise of pictures from Xiaomi’s flagship cameras.
• 📊 Statistics collection: by labels in EXIF-The company tracks the popularity of models among photographers.

Can you remove the watermark forever? Technically, yes, but there are nuances:

• ✅ Nana MIUI 12–14 and HyperOS have a built-in shutdown option (see section below).
• ⚠️ After updating the firmware settings can reset - you will have to configure again.
• 🔧 In some models (for example, POCO F5) watermark is written in system files - manual editing will be required ADB.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) The path to the watermark settings has changed. If you don't find an option in the camera's standard menu, check out the Additional Settings section. → Tags in the photo.

Method 1: Disabling the watermark in the camera settings (the easiest)

If your smartphone is running MIUI 12-15 or HyperOS, the first step is to check the built-in settings, a method that does not require root rights and is suitable for 90% of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices.

Instructions:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the gears. ⚙️ in the upper right corner (or swipe up if you have gesture control).
3. Go to Settings → Watermark (HyperOS can be called Tags in the photo).
4. Turn off the switch next to the Add Watermark option.
5. To apply the changes, restart the camera app (close it in multitasking).

If the option is not on the menu, it means:

• 📱 You've got an old version. MIUI (Below 12) – Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔒 The manufacturer has removed the option for your model (relevant to some). POCO Redmi on HyperOS).
• 🛠️ Watermark is written at the firmware level - you will need ADB (see method 4).

Update your firmware to the latest version |Check the availability of the option in the camera settings |Re-Run the camera app after the changes |Take a test shot to check-->

On some devices (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro), the watermark can return after a reboot. This is a firmware bug that will help reset the camera settings to factory settings (Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear data).

Method 2: Editing EXIF-Data (for already taken photos)

If a watermark is already added to existing images, it can be removed without loss of quality by editing the file metadata.This method works for.jpg and.png formats, but is not suitable for.HEIC (conversion required).

Editing options:

Step-by-step instructions for ExifTool (the most reliable way):

1. Download ExifTool and unpack the archive.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and copy the photo to a folder with exiftool.exe.
3. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and go to the folder with the utility: cd C:\path\k\folder\c\ExifTool
4. Run the command to remove the watermark: exiftool -Software= -Make= -Model= -overwrite_original your photo.jpg

⚠️ Attention: Online editing services EXIF They can save copies of your photos on their servers. For confidential photos, use only offline methods.

Through camera settings|Editing. EXIF PC-only|I use mobile apps.|Cutting in a graphic editor|I'm not removing it.-->

Method 3: Trimming or painting watermark (emergency version)

If you need to prepare a photo urgently, and other methods are not suitable, you can physically remove the inscription with the help of graphic editors, which is suitable for shots where the watermark does not cover important details.

The best tools for mobile devices:

• 🎨 Snapseed (Google) – Selective correction or Overcoloration tool.
• ✂️ PicsArt – Cloning function to remove texture-duplicating inscriptions.
• 🖌️ Adobe Photoshop Express – a fix tool for point retouching.

Step-by-step instructions for Snapseed:

1. Open the photo in Snapseed and select the Coloring tool.
2. Increase the scale to the area with a watermark.
3. Carefully paint over the inscription, selecting the color of the neighboring pixels.
4. Apply changes and export photos in the highest quality.

For PC suitable GIMP (free analogue Photoshop):

1. Open the photo in GIMP.
2. Select the watermark with the rectangular allocation tool.
3. Use the Filter → Improvement → Spot Removal or Cloning Tool.
4. Save the file in.jpg format with 100% quality.

⚠️ Attention: When you trim or paint a watermark, part of the image is lost. If the inscription is located on an important object (for example, a person's face), it is better to use editing. EXIF or ADB.

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Before editing, make a copy of the original photo – many applications save changes on top of the original file, and it will be impossible to restore it.

Method 4: Removing the watermark via ADB (for advanced users)

If there is no shutdown option in the camera settings, and a watermark is added at the firmware level, the ADB team will help. This method works on any Xiaomi devices, but requires a connection to a PC and the developer mode to be enabled.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📱 Included Developer Mode and Debugging by USB smartphone.
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website).

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Enable USB Debugging: Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder and execute: adb shell settings put global camera_watermark_enabled 0
5. Reboot your smartphone.

If the command fails, try the alternative (for MIUI 13+):

adb shell am start -n com.android.camera/.settings.CameraSettings


adb shell input tap 500 1000 # Tapa coordinates for switching on/off watermark (may differ)

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can disrupt the camera. Before experimenting, back up your data through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 5: Use of third-party cameras (alternative to a standard application)

If none of these methods work, you can install a third-party camera app that doesn’t add watermarks, which is suitable for devices that have a watermark at the core level (such as some POCO models on HyperOS).

The best alternatives to the standard Xiaomi camera:

How to install Google Camera on Xiaomi:

1. Download the GCam version optimized for your model (for example, for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, a BSG or Shamim config will suit).
2. Install. APK-File (Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings) → Annexes → Special access).
3. Import a config for your model (instructions are available on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums).
4. Turn off the standard Xiaomi camera in the app settings to avoid conflicts.

Note: on some devices (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite), Google Camera may not support all modules (ultra-wide, macro or telephoto).

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The camera side does not use Xiaomi's system libraries, so there are no watermarks on them by default, but the quality of the images may differ from the standard application.

Why the watermark returns after the update and how to fix it

Many users are faced with a problem: the watermark reappears after a firmware update, which is due to the fact that Xiaomi resets some camera settings to factory ones with major updates (for example, when switching from MIUI 14 to HyperOS).

Reasons for the return of the watermark:

• 🔄 Resetting: the system restores default parameters of the camera.
• 📦 Updating system applications: along with the firmware, the Camera app is also updated, returning the watermark.
• 🔒 Brand policy: on new versions of HyperOS Xiaomi can specifically block the disconnection of the watermark for some regions.

How to prevent the return of the watermark:

1. Turn off automatic camera update: Settings → Apps → Camera → Auto Update (disable)
2. Create a backup of settings through ADB: adb pull /data/data/com.android.camera/shared_prefs/ com.android.camera.xml After the update, restore the file back.
3. Use Magisk modules (root required): The Disable Miui Camera Watermark module blocks the addition of system-level tags.

If the watermark is back after upgrading to HyperOS, try:

1. Remove updates to the Camera app through Settings → Apps → Camera → Remove updates.
2. Install an older version of the APK camera (e.g. with MIUI 14) if the new version ignores the settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about watermarks on Xiaomi