How to improve the camera on Xiaomi: from settings to firmware

Cameras in Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most talked-about topics among users, even flagship models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro.+ Sometimes they disappoint with the quality of their images in automatic mode, not to mention budget devices, but the problem is often not the hardware, but the software optimization, the settings, or even the banal ignorance of the device's capabilities.

In this article, we’ll explore practical ways to improve your camera on Xiaomi, from basic settings to advanced tricks with firmware and third-party apps, how to make the most of your matrix, fix typical problems (blurred, noise, incorrect exposure), and even mimic the effects of expensive optics. All methods tested on 2020-2026 models and are relevant to the Redmi, Poco and Mi lines.

Important: some tips require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, and we'll highlight these cases separately and warn you of the risks, start with the simplest and gradually move on to complex manipulations.

1. Optimization of standard settings of the MIUI camera

Before looking for third-party solutions, check the basic settings in the native Camera app. Many users shoot in default mode for years, without even knowing about the hidden options.

Open the Camera app, swipe up (or tap on the gear) and pay attention to:

• 📸 Photo/video resolution: Set the maximum for your model. 12 Pro. 64 MP for photo and 4K@30fps But remember, high resolution. = file size.
• 🔍 Regime. HDR: Turn on the car.-HDR or HDR10+ (This is especially important for contrasting scenes (e.g., sunset against dark trees).
• 🌙 Night mode: Set up Auto or Manual Night mode with a timer of 2-5 seconds for static objects.
• 🎯 Focus: Turn off face autofocus if the camera is constantly “missing” past the main object.

Pay special attention to the section Additional (or Professional Mode): here you can manually adjust the white balance, ISO So for example, for portraits in the sun, reduce the exposure. ISO 100-200, and for night shooting, raise to 800-1600, but not higher - otherwise there will be a strong noise.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Poco) X5) manually ISO It's above 3200, and the camera starts to turn green in the dark areas. IMX686.

2. Update firmware and camera drivers

Manufacturers regularly release updates that improve image processing. MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 13 Pro added support for Dolby Vision for video, and in Redmi Note 12 fixed the bug with relight when shooting against the sun.

How to update:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install the latest version of MIUI.
3. After the update, restart the phone and reset the camera settings to factory (Camera Settings) → Reset).

If the official update has not arrived, check the firmware version on the forums. 4PDA or XDA Developers: Sometimes regional firmware (e.g. Global vs China) has different photo processing algorithms. MIUI Xiaomi 12S Ultra is available in Leica Authentic mode, which is not available in the global.

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware (e.g., Pixel Experience) can improve photo processing by using Google Camera algorithms, but often breaks the main camera or wide-angle module. XDA.

3.Using Google Camera (GCam) for Xiaomi

Google Camera (or GCam) is famous for its photo processing, especially in modes. HDR+ And Night Sight. For many Xiaomi, it works better than native software, but requires the right setup.

How to determine:

• 🔗 Download the GCam version for your model from Celso Azevedo (look for themes tagged Xiaomi or your CPU name, such as Snapdragon 7 Gen 1).
• 📱 Install. APK-File (Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings) → Annexes → Special access).
• ⚙️ Download the config (.xml file) for your model (which can also be found on the forums) and import to GCam via double tap on the black field next to the down button.

Recommended settings for GCam on Xiaomi:

• Turn it on. HDR+ Enhanced (or) HDR+ Auto for dynamic scenes).
• Turn off Social Media Ready, which reduces the detail.
• In Advanced. → Lib Patcher select Saber (for Snapdragon processors) or BSG (MediaTek).
• For night photography, use Night Sight with a 3-7 second timer (hold your phone still!).

Xiaomi. 12T Pro (with Sony matrix) IMX707) GCam gives you 20–30% It's better in dark areas than a standard camera, but it can cook out light areas (-0.3...-0.7 EV).

Download the correct version of GCam for your processor

Import a config (.xml) for your model

Disable battery optimization for GCam in settings MIUI

Check the operation of all modules (main, wide-angle, telephoto lens)

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Calibration of color reproduction and white balance

One of the common complaints about Xiaomi cameras is unnatural colors: too warm skin tones or cold sky tones, which can be fixed without root rights, using hidden settings or third-party utilities.

Method 1: Manual setting in Pro-mode

Open your home camera, go to Professional Mode (Pro) and manually adjust:

• White balance (WB): For daylight, select 5200K–5500K, cloudy — 6000K–6500K.
• Saturation: Reduce to +10...+15 if the colors look vulgar.
• Contrast: For portraits, lower to -10, for landscapes, raise to +10.

Method 2: Manual Camera (without root)

Manual Camera allows you to fine-tune the color reproduction than the native app.

1. Choose. RAW+JPEG preservation-format.
2. In the Color section, set a Natural or Neutral profile.
3. Activate Auto WB Lock to avoid color temperature spikes when shooting video.

Method 3: Calibration through ADB (for advanced)

If you are ready for experiments, you can change the parameters of the camera through the ADB. For example, to increase the detail:

adb shell setprop persist.camera.hal3.enable 1


adb shell setprop persist.vendor.camera.privapp.list com.android.camera,com.google.android.GoogleCamera

Afterwards, restart your phone. on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (With Dimensity 920 chip, this trick increases color bits from 8 to 10 bits in Pro mode.

5. Improve video quality: stabilization and bitrate

Video on Xiaomi often suffers from two problems: frame jitter (especially on budget models) and low bitrate (which leads to soapiness when moving).

Stabilization:

• 🎥 Enable Ultrastabilization in the video settings (works only for the video). 1080p and 4K@30fps).
• 🤳 Use an external stabilizer (for example, DJI Osmo Mobile) or chest/helmet mount for dynamic scenes.
• 📱 In GCam, activate Video Stabilization in the settings and select High.

Bitrate and permission:

By default, Xiaomi limits the bitrate of a video to save space.

1. Install the Camera Mod app.
2. Select your model and increase the bitrate to the maximum (for example, for 4K@30fps — before 100 Mbps).
3. In the video settings in your home camera, select HEVC (H.265) instead H.264 — This will reduce the file size without loss of quality.

⚠️ Attention: Increase in bitrate above 100 Mbps on models with Snapdragon processor 7xx (For example, Redmi Note 12 can cause overheating and forced frame rate reduction!

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To capture video in motion (e.g., bicycle, running) use permission 1080p@60fps bitrate 50 Mbps and the stabilization enabled, which will give you a balance between quality and smoothness.

6. Hardware improvements: lenses and lighting

Even the most advanced software can't replace good optics. If you're serious about mobile photography, consider these accessories:

• 🔍 External lenses: Moment Macro Lens (2x magnification for macro photography. Sandbox Wide-Angle (0.6x) — Expands the viewing angle to 120°. Suitable for landscapes. Xenvo Pro Lens is a set of wide-angle and macro lens with clip.
• 💡 Lighting: Lume Cube Panel Mini - compact LED-The portrait panel. ML30 — temperature-adjusted bicolor lamp (3200K–5600K). Ring Light with phone mount - for streams and selfies.
• 🎧 Stabilizers and anchorages: DJI OM 5 is a magnetically fastened gyroscopic stabilizer. Joby GorillaPod is a flexible tripod for shooting from unusual angles.

When choosing lenses, pay attention to compatibility with your model. For example, for the Xiaomi 13 Ultra with a protruding camera, you need a magnetic lens (like Moment M-Series), and for the Redmi Note 12, a universal clip is suitable.

For night photography, be sure to use an external light source, even a smartphone flashlight (on at full power and directed at an angle of 45).° to the object) will give a better result than the built-in flash.

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External lenses won’t replace the optics of flagship smartphones, but they can extend the capabilities of budget models. 10A allows you to shoot details from a distance of 2-4 cm, which is impossible to achieve with a regular camera.

7 Advanced Methods: Root, Mods and Custom Cores

If you're willing to sacrifice a warranty for the sake of maximum quality, consider these methods. They require unlocking the bootloader and root rights, so they're only suitable for power users.

Installation of a custom core

Some cores (such as FrancoKernel or Kirisakura) optimize the camera at the system level.

• Perseus Kernel improves processing RAW-file.
• Neutron Kernel adds support 10-bit HDR video.

Installation:

fastboot flash boot [kernel name].img


fastboot reboot

2. Camera mods (Magisk)

Through Magisk, you can install mods that:

• Unlock. 4K@60fps on models where this is limited by software (e.g. Poco) X3 Pro).
• Adding support DNG RAW home-cell.
• Increase the bitrate of the video to 150 Mbps.

Popular fashions:

• ANX Camera – ported camera from Google Pixel with improved HDR+.
• The MiCamera Mod is a modified native camera with unlocked features.

3. Setup build.prop

By changing the system settings, you can trick the camera into using more advanced algorithms, such as activating Dolby Vision on unofficially supported models.

ro.vendor.camera.dolby.enabled=true


persist.vendor.camera.dolby.hdr10=true

Added to the file /system/build.prop through a root-righted editor (e.g., BuildProp Editor).

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly editing build.prop can lead to bootloop.Always backup the original file!On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Lite), the change in camera settings in build.prop is reset after the update. MIUI.

8 Post-processing: How to save failed photos

Even with perfect camera settings, sometimes you get bad shots, and post-processing apps can help fix them:

• 📷 Adobe Lightroom Mobile: Use Details (+20...+30) and sharpness (+15...+25) To restore blurred photos, in the Color section, reduce saturation. -10 And increase the liveliness by +15 natural-toned.
• 🎨 Snapseed: Selective correction tool will help brighten dark areas without lighting. HDR Scape simulates the effect of multilayer exposure.
• 🎬 CapCut (for video): Stabilization: Tools → Stabilization → Color correction: use it. LUT-filters (e.g. Cinematic or Log).

For RAW-The best choice for files (if your camera supports them) is Darktable or RawTherapee on PC, which allows you to fine-tune curves, tones, noises and color profiles more accurately than mobile editors.

Example of processing:

The original image on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ It was dull in cloudy weather:

1. Exposure to the +0.8.
2. Reduced High Lights to -30.
3. Added Detailing in the Shadows (+40).
4. The Portra 400 profile was used for warm tones.

The result: the sky ceased to be gray, and the faces in the photo have acquired a natural color.

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For the video in 4K Use Premiere Rush on your phone: it supports color profiles HLG and Rec.2020, Not available in most mobile editors.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi camera improvements