How to remove unnecessary icons from the photo on Xiaomi: date, logo, watermarks

Xiaomi smartphones automatically add tags to photos, such as the date of the shoot, the Mi logo, watermarks with coordinates or even advertising tags in some regions. For some users, this is a convenient feature, and for others, an annoying element that spoils the frames.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can remove icons, from standard camera settings to third-party apps and manual editing. It’s important to understand that the methods differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14 or HyperOS), the smartphone model (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra, etc.), and even regional features. We tested each method on current devices and collected only working solutions.

If you want to not just hide tags, but remove them completely without a trace, be prepared for the fact that some methods will require additional actions, from installing applications to editing system files. For beginners, we have prepared simple instructions, and for advanced users, advanced technical solutions.

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1. Disabling watermarks in camera settings

The most obvious and safe way is to deactivate automatic tagging directly in the camera app, a method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 12 and later firmware, as well as on HyperOS.

To remove date, logo or coordinates from future photos:

1. Open the standard Camera app.
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings (usually in the upper right corner).
3. Scroll down to the Watermark section (or the Marks in the photo in some versions).
4. Turn off the sliders next to: 📅 Date and time 📍 Location (if any) 🏷️ Logo. Mi/Redmi/POCO

Save the changes and take a test shot.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro or Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G) The watermark option can be hidden deeper in the "Advanced" or "Professional settings" section. If you don't find the item, check the firmware update: in older versions. MIUI (This function may not be below 12.5.

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If you turn off the tags anyway, try resetting the camera to factory settings: Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear the data. This won't delete your photos, but it will reset all the shooting parameters.

This method won't remove icons from photos you've already taken -- it only works for new ones. If you need to clear existing images, read on.

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2. Removal of icons with a standard editor

MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in photo editor that allows you to smear or crop unnecessary tags, which is suitable for single shots and does not require the installation of third-party applications.

Step instructions:

1. Open the Gallery app and select a photo with an icon.
2. Click on "Edit" (the pencil icon at the bottom).
3. Go to the Tools or Additional tab (depending on the software version).
4. Choose one of the options: ✂️ Cutting: Cut the photo so that the icon does not fall into the frame (suitable if the label on the edge). 🎨 Retouch: Use the Replacement or Cloning tool to paint over the label with texture from neighboring areas. 🖌️ Brush: Hand-blown the icon with a color close to the background (less noticeable on monochromatic surfaces).

Save the modified photo as a copy (so you don't lose the original).

🔹 Pros of the method: does not require the Internet, works offline, preserves the quality of the image.

🔹 Cons: manual retouching takes time, and cropping can spoil the composition of the frame.

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3. Third-party applications for automatic removal

If the built-in tools don't work, we'll have specialized software to help, and we've tested 5 popular apps and picked the ones that work best with Xiaomi tags.

Top.-3 watermarking applications:

📌 How to Choose the Right Application?

• 🖼️ For single photos with simple tags (date, logo) Snapseed will be enough.
• 📂 For batch processing (for example, 50 photos from a vacation) suitable Remove Watermark.
• 📱 If you need to prepare a photo for Instagram, use PhotoRoom.

⚠️ Note: Apps like PicsArt or Lightroom can also remove tags, but often spoil image quality due to aggressive processing.

Snapseed

Remove Watermark

PhotoRoom

Lightroom

Other-->

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4. Manual removal via ADB (for advanced)

If you're not afraid to dig deeper, you can turn off watermarks at the system level with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which completely removes the tags even when they can't be deactivated through settings, and only works on devices with an unlocked bootloader and USB debugging enabled.

Step-by-step:

1. Install. ADB-pc-tool.
2. Turn it on on your smartphone: 🔧 Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate the developer mode). 🔌 Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.

adb shell settings put global camera_watermark_enabled 0

Reset the device.

🔧 Additional commands for fine tuning:

• Remove date: adb shell settings put global camera_watermark_date_enabled 0
• Remove logo: adb shell settings put global camera_watermark_logo_enabled 0
• Remove coordinates: adb shell settings put global camera_watermark_location_enabled 0

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This can cause a camera malfunction. Before executing commands, back up your settings through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Install ADB on PC

Enable the developer mode

Activate debugging over USB

Make backup settings

Connect your phone to the original cable-->

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5. Delete tags through editing system files (Root)

For users with Root rights, there is a radical way to delete the system files responsible for watermarks, a method that is guaranteed to remove all tags, but requires caution: wrong actions can lead to a camera “brick”.

What needs to be done:

1. Install a file manager with Root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/vendor/overlay/ or (for HyperOS): /product/overlay/
3. Find files with names: CameraWatermarkOverlay.apk MiuiCameraWatermarkOverlay.apk com.xiaomi.camera.watermark.overlay.apk

.bak

CameraWatermarkOverlay.apk.bak

Reset the device.

🔹 What to do if the camera stops working?

• Return the files to their original names.
• Remove the camera cache through Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear the cache.
• If the problem remains, restore the firmware backup.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi) K60 Ultra) watermark files can be stored in other folders. If you can't find them in the specified paths, use the search for the watermark or camera keywords in the root directory.

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6. Alternative methods: cloud services and PCs

If you don't want to install apps or go through your smartphone settings, you can remove tags with online services or computer programs, which is suitable for processing large numbers of photos or when you need to maintain maximum quality.

The best tools for PC and Web:

• 🖥️ Photoshop (Content-Aware Fill or Spot Healing Brush).
• 🌐 Inpaint Online (theinpaint.com) – upload photos, highlight a label and download a cleaned version.
• 🖼️ GIMP (Free Photoshop analogue with Resynthesizer plugin for object removal).
• 📁 BatchWatermarkRemover – a program for batch removal of watermarks from hundreds of photos.

📌 How to remove the tag in Photoshop:

1. Open the photo in the program.
2. Select the icon with the Lasso tool or the rectangular area.
3. Press Shift + F5 (content-based filler).
4. Confirm action – Photoshop will automatically fill the area with texture from neighboring pixels.

⚠️ Note: Online services like Inpaint or Remove.bg can store uploaded photos on their servers. If there is sensitive information in the pictures (such as the coordinates of the house), use offline editors.

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7. How to prevent the appearance of labels in the future

To avoid the problem of watermarks, follow these tips:

• 📱 Update the firmware: in new versions MIUI HyperOS and often have additional settings to disable tags.
• 🔍 Check your camera settings after a phone reset or update – sometimes they are reset to factory.
• 📷 Use third-party cameras: Apps like Google Camera or Open Camera don’t add watermarks.
• 📎 Take it down. RAW: file-wise.DNG The tags are not built in (but take up more space).

💡 Useful Lifehack: If you need tags for your personal archive but not for publications, set up two cameras:

1. The standard Xiaomi camera - with tags for family photos.
2. Avoiding the camera (eg, GCam) – without tags for social networks.

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The most reliable way to avoid watermarks is to use alternative applications for shooting (GCam, Open Camera) or shoot in RAW format.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about removing icons with photos Xiaomi