How to remove the watermark from the photo on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: safe and effective methods

Watermarks in photos with Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 — a common problem that users face after updating MIUI or when using the standard camera app. These tags (usually with the Mi logo or the words Shot on Redmi) are automatically added to the pictures, spoiling the aesthetics of frames and making it difficult for them to continue to use in social networks or print. Unlike flagship models, where the function can be disabled in settings, on budget smartphones like Redmi Note 9, the option is often hidden or absent.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to remove watermarks, from official methods (if available for your version of MIUI) to bypassing restrictions with third-party tools. We will focus on preserving image quality and data security to avoid file damage or camera failure. Importantly, some methods require superuser rights (root), which may void the warranty, we will note these cases separately.

Why do Redmi Note 9 have watermarks and can you turn them off in the settings?

Watermarks on the Redmi Note 9 are added by default in two cases:

• 📸 Watermark Mode in the Camera App (activated manually or after updating) MIUI).
• 🔄 Automatic tag from Xiaomi in high-resolution images (more often found in firmware for India and China).

In theory, you can turn off the feature via the camera menu: Camera settings → Watermark → Turn off. However, on the Redmi Note 9 (especially with MIUI 12 and older), this item is often absent. The reason is the policy of Xiaomi, which on budget models limits the flexibility of settings to encourage users to buy flagships. The alternative way is to use hidden developer settings, but it does not work on all versions of the firmware.

If you don't have a shutdown option on your menu, don't rush to take drastic measures.

• 📱 Version MIUI: In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. On firmwares below 12.5, the watermark may not be.
• 🌍 Regional firmware: Chinese versions (CN) More often than not, labels are added (Global).
• 🔧 Camera Updates: Sometimes a watermark appears after the Camera app update via Google Play.

💡

Before experimenting with settings, back up your photos. Use Google Photos or Mi Cloud to avoid data loss when crashes.

Method 1: Removing watermark through photo editor (without loss of quality)

The safest method is to use the Gallery's built-in editor or third-party apps like Snapseed, Lightroom, which requires no root rights and is suitable for single shots.

Instructions for Xiaomi Gallery:

1. Open the photo in the Gallery and click Edit (pencil icon).
2. Select the Trimming tool (not to be confused with framing!) and zoom in so that the watermark is on the edge of the frame.
3. Cut the image, leaving only a clean area, and the downside is to reduce the resolution.

For more accurate removal, use Snapseed:

Upload the photo to the app|Select the "Correction" tool"|Round the watermark|Click "Delete" and select a texture pattern|Keep the result as high as possible-->

⚠️ Note: When cropping in the Gallery, the original file is overwritten. To avoid loss, pre-copy the photo to another folder or cloud.

Method 2: Disabling the watermark through the engineering menu (for advanced users)

If the watermark is added automatically by the system, it can be disabled via an engineering menu (MTK Engineering Mode or Qualcomm Diag, depending on the Redmi Note 9 processor).This method does not require root, but improper actions can disrupt the camera.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##36446337## (for MediaTek processors) or ##4636## (for Qualcomm).
2. Go to the Hardware Testing → Camera section.
3. Find the Watermark or Logo Enable setting and set the Disable value.
4. Reboot the phone.

If the engineering menu does not open:

• 🔓 Make sure that SIM-The card is active (some codes require a network).
• 📲 Try the alternative codes: ##36446338## or #7594## (for older versions) MIUI).

⚠️ Warning: Changes to the engineering menu can cause camera crashes (e.g., a greenish tint in the photo or an error failed to connect to the camera). Before experimenting, check if there is a backup firmware for your model.

Method 3: Use ADB-commands to disable watermark (without root)

If the engineering menu is not available, you can disable the watermark via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on most versions of MIUI and does not require superuser rights, but requires a computer.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📦 Google's Platform Tools utility.
• 🔧 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to activate the developer mode, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect the Redmi Note 9 to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (or Terminal) in the Platform Tools folder and type: adb shell settings put global. camera_watermark_enabled 0
3. Reboot the phone.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

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


adb shell input tap 500 1000 # Tap coordinates for watermark disabling (may differ)

💡

ADB-commands are one of the safest ways, because they don't affect system files. MIUI The settings may be reset and the procedure will have to be repeated.

Method 4: Removing watermarks with Magisk (requires root)

For users with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, a radical method is available - modifying system files, which is guaranteed to remove the watermark, but voids the warranty and can lead to unstable camera operation.

What needs to be done:

1. Install Magisk Manager and check root status.
2. Download the Disable Camera Watermark module from the Magisk repository (e.g., XDA Developers).
3. Install the module through Magisk → Modules → Install from storage.
4. Reboot the phone.

If there are no ready-made modules, you can manually edit the file /system/vendor/build.prop by adding a line:

ro.camera.watermark.enable=0

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of build.prop can lead to bootloop (cyclical reboot).Before changes, back up the file via TWRP or adb pull.

Method 5: Alternative Camera Applications (Problem bypass)

If none of these methods worked, the last option is to use third-party camera apps that don't add watermarks.

To install GCam on Redmi Note 9:

1. Download the version from BSG or Urnyx05 (for example, GCam_7.3.018_Urnyx05-v2.6.apk).
2. Install. APK-File (Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings) → Annexes → Special access).
3. Import Configuration for Redmi Note 9 (for example, MGC_7.3.018_Mercury_V2.xml).
4. Turn off Watermark in GCam settings (Settings → Advanced → Disable watermark).

The GCam has the advantage of improved photo processing (especially in low light conditions) and no watermarks at all, but some features of Xiaomi’s standard camera (such as Documents 2.0 or Night Mode 2.0) may not be available.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When removing watermarks, users often face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 Watermark returns after update MIUI: Reason: System settings are reset. Solution: Repeat the shutdown procedure through ADB ore-menu.
• 📵 Camera stops working after changes to build.prop: Reason: syntax error in file. Solution: restore the original build.prop TWRP or re-flash the phone.
• 🖼️ Loss of quality in cropping in Gallery: Reason: Xiaomi compression algorithm.Solution: Use Snapseed or Lightroom for point removal.
• 🔒 ADB Can't see the device: Reason: Drivers not installed or debugging disabled Solution: Reinstall Platform Tools and check developer settings.

If after all the manipulations the watermark remains, check:

• 📌 Is there a third-party app that adds tags (e.g. BeautyCam or Mi WaterMark) installed).
• 🔍 Is the Professional camera in the settings activated (sometimes it forcibly adds tags).
• 📡 Are Xiaomi Cloud Services Connected, Which Can Modify Photos When Downloaded.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions