You take a selfie on Xiaomi, but the photos are turned horizontally? It's not a camera defect, but a standard mirror effect that the manufacturer turns on by default. This setting mimics the reflection in the mirror, but it interferes with many users — especially when shooting text, gestures or asymmetric objects.
In this article, we will discuss why Xiaomi’s front-facing camera (including Redmi, Poco, Black Shark models) mirrors the image and how to fix it. We will look at the official MIUI 12-14 settings, the hidden developer settings, and alternative ways for older firmware versions. Importantly, the methods differ depending on the model and version of the software, so here are universal solutions and a compatibility table.
If you've tried to turn off the mirror through the camera's standard menu, but it didn't work, don't rush to reset the settings. It might be the configuration file or the root rights, and we'll cover all the options, including those that don't require technical knowledge.
Why Xiaomi’s front camera mirrors the image
The mirror image on the selfie camera is not a bug, but a feature. Smartphone manufacturers (including Xiaomi, Samsung, Apple) specifically activate this default mode to:
- 🔹 So you can simulate a real reflection. When you look in the mirror, your left ear is on the right, and the camera works, and that's what most people are used to.
- 🔹 Make it easier to set up a shot, and mirroring makes it easier to position yourself in a shot, especially when shooting videos or streaming.
- 🔹 Maintain social compatibility. Many platforms (such as TikTok or Instagram) automatically mirror video, so the original file without reflection may look “inverted” after downloading.
However, this approach has drawbacks:
- 📄 Text in photos (such as T-shirts or sheets of paper) becomes unreadable.
- ✋ Gestures (e.g., "class" or "winning") are displayed incorrectly.
- 🎨 Asymmetrical objects (tattoos, hairstyles) look different than in reality.
In Xiaomi, SLR is activated at the MIUI firmware level and depends on the camera model. For example, in smartphones with Sony IMX sensors (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro), the setting can be hidden in a different menu than in budget Redmi with OmniVision matrices.
Official method: disabling the mirror in the camera settings
The easiest method is to use the built-in Camera app options, but not all Xiaomi models have this feature out of the box.
- Open the Camera app and switch to the front camera (swipe down or tap on the switch icon).
- Touch the gears. ⚙️ in the upper right corner (or tap on the screen and select "Settings").
- Scroll down to the "Advanced" or "Camera Settings" section.
- Look for options: 🔄 "Mirror image" (Mirror) 📱 "Reflection of the Self (Selfie Reflection) 🔀 "Flip Image (Flip Image)
Turn off the slider or uncheck the tick. In some versions of MIUI, you need to select Off. from the drop-down menu.
If there is no such item, don’t worry. On Xiaomi with MIUI 12 and newer, the feature may be called differently or hidden elsewhere. For example, in Poco F3, the option is hidden in Settings → Additional → Display Mode.
Open the annex “Camera"|Switch to front camera|Find the settings icon (⚙️)|Check the "Additional" or "Camera settings" section"|Search for options with the words "mirror", "reflection", "flip"
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Attention! On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A or Poco M3), the mirror display is turned off only for photos, but remains for video, due to the optimization of the Snapdragon processor for streaming.
⚠️ Warning: After the mirror is turned off, the photos will be saved in “real” form (without reflection), but the preview in shooting mode will remain mirrored.
Hidden settings MIUI: Developer mode
If the standard camera settings don’t have the option to turn off the mirror, try activating developer mode.This method works on Xiaomi with MIUI 13/14 and some versions of MIUI 12.5.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row, and the notification will appear: "You became a developer!".
- Return to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers (usually at the bottom of the list).
- Scroll down to the Hardware Acceleration or Multimedia block.
- Look for options: 🔧 camera.hal1.mirror.front — set the value 0 (off.). 🔧 persist.camera.mirror.front – change to false. 🔧 vendor.camera.mirror.enable - disable the slider.
Reboot your smartphone.
If you don’t have these options, your Xiaomi model doesn’t support software disabling the mirror through the developer, in which case only manual editing of configuration files (we’ll talk about this below) or using third-party applications will help.
What to do if there are no camera settings in developer mode?
Compatibility table: Xiaomi models and support for disabling the mirror
Not all Xiaomi smartphones allow you to disable mirror display standard means. Below is a table with proven models and available methods (data is current for MIUI 14 as of August 2026):
| Model | Standard camera settings | Developer mode | Root is required. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13/13 Pro | ✅ Yes (in "Additional") | ✅ Yes (camera.hal1.mirror) | ❌ No. | The mirror is turned off separately for photos and videos |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | ✅ Yes (in "Camera settings") | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | The function is called "Reflection of Self." |
| Poco F4/F5 | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes (persist.camera.mirror) | ❌ No. | Reboot is required after changes |
| Redmi 10A/10C | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | You need to edit build.prop. |
| Black Shark 5 Pro | ✅ Yes (in "Shooting Modes") | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | The mirror is turned off only for game mode. |
If your model is not in the table, try methods for similar devices, for example, for Redmi Note 11 will fit the instruction from Redmi Note 12, and for Poco X3 Pro – from Poco F4.
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Before experimenting with settings, back up your data via Settings → System → Backup. This will help restore your phone if something goes wrong (for example, after editing system files).
Manual methods: editing system files (for advanced ones)
If standard methods fail and mirroring is critically intrusive, then manual interference with system files remains, a method that requires root rights and is only suitable for advanced users.
Attention! Incorrect editing of system files can lead to loss of warranty, camera failures or phone breeze.
Instructions for devices with unlocked bootloader and Magisk:
- Install Root Explorer or Mixplorer (with superuser mode enabled).
- Go to /system/build.prop and open the file in the text editor.
- Add the following lines to the end of the file: persist.camera.mirror.front=false camera.hal1.mirror.front=0
- Save the changes and restart the phone.
- If the mirror is still there, try editing /vendor/build.prop (for Android 10+ devices).
If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the mirror image can be sewn into the kernel, in which case only flashing to another build or manual patching of kernel will help.