How to remove watermarks from a photo on a Xiaomi phone: safe methods for MIUI

Watermarks in photos are a common problem for Xiaomi smartphone users, especially if you actively use embedded editors or save pictures from messengers. These translucent inscriptions (most often with the Mi logo, date or name of the application) spoil the appearance of the frame, interfere with further processing and publish unnecessary information. Depending on the phone model (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5, Mi 11) and the MIUI version, the ways to remove watermarks are different — somewhere there are enough built-in tools, and somewhere you will need third-party applications.

It’s important to understand that not all watermarks are the same. For example, Shot on Redmi is automatically added when shooting in Watermark mode (you can turn it off in the camera settings), and the Vivo or Samsung logo can appear when editing in third-party applications. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods – from simple (via the Xiaomi gallery) to advanced (using ADB or Photoshop Express).

1. Removing watermarks through Xiaomi's built-in gallery

The fastest way is to use the tools of the standard MIUI Gallery.This method works on most devices with MIUI 12 and later, but has a limitation: it only removes watermarks added by the system itself (for example, the date or the Mi logo). If the sign is applied by a third-party application (for example, Snapseed or Lightroom), other tools will be required.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Gallery app and select a photo with a watermark.
• ✏️ Click Edit (pencil icon in the bottom menu).
• 🔍 Go to the Tools tab → Remove the watermark (on some models, the option is called Cleaning).
• 🎯 Round the watermark with your finger or stylus, and the system will automatically fill the area with the texture of the background.
• 💾 Save the changes by selecting Save as a copy (so you don't lose the original).

⚠️ Warning: Watermarks on a contrasting background (e.g. white text on black) are less likely to be removed, the system may leave artifacts, and in such cases it is better to use specialized applications (see Section 3).

Make a backup copy of the original photo|Check the lighting on the screen (brightness 70%+)|Battery charge of at least 30%|Close background applications for smooth operation-->

2. Disable automatic addition of watermarks in the chamber

Many Xiaomi users are unaware that watermarks are added by default in the camera settings, which is activated in Redmi and Poco models with MIUI 13/14 firmware and is designed to “brand” images, which can be turned off in 30 seconds:

Steps:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings (or swipe from the right edge of the screen).
3. Go to the Watermark section (on some models – Settings of the image → Tags).
4. Turn off the sliders: 📅 Date and time 🏷️ Device model (e.g. Redmi Note) 11 Pro+) 📱 Logo. Mi/Poco

Save the changes and restart the camera.

If your Xiaomi model doesn’t have this menu item, then the watermarks are added by third-party software instead of the system. Check the settings of apps like Google Photos, VSCO or CapCut, which can also activate the automatic marking option.

Constantly, on every shot |Sometimes, when shooting in certain modes |Nearby, only when editing |Never noticed-->

Third-party applications for watermark removal

When embedded tools MIUI They don't do it, they come in with specialized tools. 7 popular applications and selected the top-3 They're all available on Google Play and compatible with Xiaomi on Android. 11–14:

🔹 Tip: Before using third-party apps, check the permissions they request. for example, Remove Watermark asks for access to Warehouse and Camera, but should not require SMS or Geolocation - this is a sign of potentially dangerous software.

💡

If a watermark is on a monochromatic background (such as a sky or a wall), use the Cloning tool in Snapseed – it copies the texture from a clean area and applies it to the sign, making the removal invisible.

4. Removal of watermarks via PC (for complex cases)

If the watermark is complex (like a translucent gradient logo) or a photo is designed to be printed, desktop editors are better off. They offer more tools for accurate retouching. Consider two options: free (GIMP) and paid (Adobe Photoshop).

Method 1: GIMP (Windows/macOS/Linux)

1. Download and install GIMP (free of charge).
2. Open the photo through the file → Open up.
3. Select the watermark with the rectangular selection tool (or color highlighting if the sign is monochromatic).
4. Click Edit → Pour color/pattern and select Pattern by content (GIMP automatically selects the texture of the background).
5. Export the result through the File → Export as.

⚠️ Note: When editing in Photoshop Express, photos are saved to the Adobe Creative Cloud by default. Disable this option in the settings if you want to avoid data leakage.

5. Advanced method: removal via ADB (for power users)

This method is suitable if watermarks are added at the system level (for example, in firmware Xiaomi.eu or customized ones). ROM). It requires connecting your phone to your PC and working with Android Debug Bridge (ADB). Warning: The wrong commands ADB It can disrupt the camera or gallery.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until you become a developer notification appears. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer and activate Debugging over USB.

ADB Tools

Xiaomi

File transfer

Win + R

cmd

ADB

cd C:\platform-tools

adb devices

(The serial number of your device should be displayed).

adb shell settings put global watermark_enabled 0

Reboot the phone.

🔹 Note: This method does not work on all firmware. If the watermarks are left after the reboot, they are registered in the files. /system/media/theme/default/watermark — Root rights will be required to remove them.

💡

Use it. ADB Errors in teams can lead to camera failure or loss of warranty (some Xiaomi models debug on the phone). USB block OTA-update).

6 How to Avoid Watermarks in the Future

The best way to fight watermarks is to prevent them from appearing.

• 📸 Camera Settings: As mentioned in Section 2, disable the option Watermark in the camera menu. Check also the settings of Geoposition Marks - they sometimes add coordinates to the pictures.
• 🚫 App side: When installing photo editors (such as PicsArt or Canva), read permissions carefully.
• 🔄 Save format: Save photos in format PNG instead JPEG — Some watermarks are added only when converted to JPEG.
• 📱 Updates MIUI: In the firmware MIUI 14 and newer watermarks are disabled by default. Update the system via Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

💡 Advice for Poco owners F5 redmi K60: In these models, watermarks can appear when shooting in Pro or Night mode. Before shooting, check the watermark icon in the top menu of the camera — if it is illuminated, touch it to turn it off.

FAQ: Frequent questions about watermarks on Xiaomi