How to remove the sound of the camera shutter on Xiaomi: all ways for MIUI

The sound of the camera shutter on Xiaomi smartphones can be a real problem — especially if you’re taking pictures in quiet places (libraries, theaters, nature) or trying to take a picture unobtrusively. Despite the fact that in most countries the law does not prohibit turning off this sound, manufacturers often block this feature out of the box. In this article, we will examine all the current ways to remove the click of the camera on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices running MIUI 12/13/14 — from standard settings to hidden functions and technical workarounds.

It's important to understand that the methods vary depending on the firmware version, the regional version of the device (global / Chinese version), and even the smartphone model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, one method can work, and on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5, a completely different one, and we tested each method on the current devices and indicated for which cases it is suitable.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t let you just turn off the camera sound?

Smartphone manufacturers (not just Xiaomi, but also Samsung, Apple) often block the ability to turn off the shutter sound for two reasons:

• 📜 Legal restrictions: In some countries (e.g. Japan, South Korea) cameras are required to make sound when shooting to prevent hidden photos. Xiaomi unifies firmware for different regions, so the feature can be blocked even where there are no such requirements.
• 🛡️ Privacy protection: Sound signals that someone is taking a photo, which reduces the risk of unauthorized photography.
• 🔧 Technical limitations: On some models, the shutter sound is sewn up at the level of the camera drivers, and turning it off requires deep intervention in the system.

But in practice, most users don't want to remove the sound for covert photography, but rather to avoid disturbing others in quiet places or drawing attention when taking wildlife photos, and fortunately, there are several workarounds, from simple to complex.

Method 1: Turn off sound through camera settings (not working on all models)

The easiest method is to check the standard settings of the Camera application. Unfortunately, it only works on some models (most often on the flagships of the Xiaomi 12/13 series or POCO F4/F5) and depends on the version of MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the gears. ⚙️ in the upper right corner (or swipe from the right edge of the screen if the menu is hidden).
3. Go to Settings → Camera Sounds (or Sound Effects)
4. Turn off the slider next to the shutter sound or shooting sound.

If you don't have one, your model doesn't support turning off the audio through the menu, so move on to the following.

Make sure you have the latest version of the Camera app (update to Google Play)

Check if the "Silence Mode" is installed on the smartphone (sometimes it blocks the change in the camera sounds)

- Try switching to another shooting mode (for example, from “Photo” to “Portrait”) – sometimes the sound disappears.-->

Method 2: Use the "No Sound" or "Do Not Disturb" mode

On some Xiaomi devices, the camera shutter sound is tied to system sounds, which means that if you turn on No Sound or No Disturb mode, the click may disappear, but this method does not work on all models — for example, on the Redmi Note 11, the sound remains, and on the Xiaomi 12T, the sound disappears.

How to check:

• 🔕 Activate No Sound Mode through the notification curtain (bell icon with crossed speaker).
• 📵 Turn on the mode Do not disturb in the settings (Settings) → Sound and vibration → Don't disturb).
• 🎵 Set the volume of the media to zero (sometimes the sound of the shutter is classified as "Media").

If you still have the sound, try the combination: Do not disturb + No sound + restart the device. On some firmware, this works.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, the shutter sound can be "protected" from shutting down through system settings, in which case only the root or ADB-commands (see Method 4).

Method 3: Install a third-party camera application

If Xiaomi's standard camera doesn't allow you to turn off the sound, you can use alternative apps.

• 📸 Google Camera (GCam): Portable versions for Xiaomi often allow you to turn off the sound in the settings, POCO X3 Pro) GCam is more stable than a standard camera and does not emit clicks.
• 🎥 Open Camera: Free, open source app. In the settings, there is a "Settings" option. → More camera controls → Shutter sound).
• 📷 ProCam X or Footage: Paid apps with advanced settings, including sound management.

How to install GCam on Xiaomi:

1. Download the compatible version of GCam for your model (for example, from celsoazevedo.com).
2. Install. APK-file (allow installation from unknown sources in security settings).
3. Open GCam, go to Settings → Sound Settings and turn off Shutter Sound.

If you choose GCam, look for the version for your CPU (for example, for Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in Xiaomi 13 Ultra you need one build, and for MediaTek Helio G96 in Redmi Note 11 Pro – another).

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Before installing the GCam, check your model's compatibility on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums.Some versions may cause overheating or camera errors.

Method 4: Disabling audio via ADB (for advanced users)

If the standard methods do not work, you can use them. ADB-This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but does not require root rights. MIUI 12/13/14.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your smartphone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Press 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

ADB Tools

File transfer

Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB.

adb devices

(Your device should appear)

adb shell settings put global camera_sound 0

Reboot your smartphone.

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

adb shell settings put system camera_shutter_sound_enabled 0

On some firmware, the sound may return after the system update, in which case repeat the procedure.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and newer Xiaomi can block changes through ADB. If the sound is still after you type the command, try using Shizuku (the application to execute). ADB-commands without PC) or move to the method with root rights.

Method 5: Turning off sound through root rights (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, it is still rooting and editing system files, a risky method (may result in loss of warranty or device brik), but it works on all models.

What will be required:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (Bootloader Unlock).
• 📱 Established custom recaveri (TWRP).
• 🛠️ Root rights (via Magisk).
• 📝 System file editor (e.g. Root Explorer or Mixplorer).

Instructions:

1. Get root rights (see instructions for your model on 4PDA or XDA-Developers).
2. Install a file manager with root support (such as Mixplorer).
3. Go to /system/media/audio/ui/ or /system/product/media/audio/ui/
4. Find the files: camera_click.ogg camera_focus.ogg (Names may vary depending on the firmware).
5. Rename them by adding.bak at the end (e.g, camera_click.ogg.bak) or remove.
6. Reset the device.

The alternative is to edit the build.prop file:

1. Open /system/build.prop in the text editor.
2. Add a line: ro.camera.sound.forced=0
3. Save the changes and reboot.

⚠️ Attention: Editing system files without a backup can cause the camera to crash or cyclic device reboot.Before making changes, backup through TWRP!

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If the camera sound is gone after rooting, but some features (such as banking apps) are no longer working, install Magisk and activate the Universal SafetyNet Fix module to pass SafetyNet.

Frequent problems and solutions

Even after successful shutdown, users face typical problems.

If after manipulating the system, the camera stopped working at all, try:

• 🔄 Reset the camera settings (Settings) → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data).
• 📱 Reinstall the firmware via Fastboot (with no data loss, with the option to save userdata).
• 🛠️ Restore backup copy through TWRP (if you've done backup).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions