How to improve the camera on Xiaomi Redmi 9: from settings to hardware tricks

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its camera is often a weak point. Even with a module 13 MP photos are noisy, video is jiggy, and night shooting leaves much to be desired. The reason is not only in the “iron”, but also in suboptimal default settings, weak processing. MIUI Lack of knowledge of users.

The good news is that Redmi 9 can improve camera quality by 30 to 50 percent without changing the module or buying a new phone. MIUI, Find accessories and follow simple rules of shooting, and this guide has 12 proven ways, from basic to advanced, with newbies' explanations and technical nuances for experienced users.

We're not going to say, "buy a flagship" or "use Photoshop," just working methods that are working today, but we're going to start with the simplest and gradually move on to fine-tuning.

1. Optimization of standard settings of the MIUI camera

The first thing you need to do is reset the camera settings to factory and configured them again. Many users have been using a phone with curves for years without even knowing it. Redmi 9 has hidden options that Xiaomi doesn't advertise, but they have a serious impact on quality.

Open the Camera app, touch the gear (⚙️) and go through the following points:

• 📸 Photo resolution: Select 13 MP (4:3) instead of 9 MP (16:9). The latter mode trims the frame and adds software zoom, which worsens the detail.
• 🎥 Video resolution: Install Full HD (1080p) At 30 fps. 60 fps mode on Redmi 9 works with strong noise cancellation and artifacts.
• 🌙 Night mode: Enable the option Auto (HDR) Instead of manually switching. MIUI Choose the optimal parameters for lighting.
• 🔍 AI-The artificial intelligence in Xiaomi’s budgets often overdoses with saturation and contrast, spoiling natural colors.

Pay special attention to the Additional section (three dots in the upper right corner) and here are the useful features:

• 📏 Grid: Turn on the Golden Ratio for the correct frame composition.
• 🔄 Aspect ratio: Use 3:4 for Instagram or 1:1 for Stories – this will reduce cropping when downloading.
• 🎯 Focus: Activate Continuous Autofocus to avoid blurry pictures when moving.

⚠️ Warning: After the changes, restart the phone. Some settings (such as aspect ratio) apply only after the reboot.

2 Update firmware and camera to the latest version

Xiaomi regularly releases camera updates that improve photo processing, add new algorithms HDR On Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot), the latest firmware versions greatly enhance detail in the dark and reduce noise on video.

To update the camera:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Press three points (⋮) and select the latest version.
3. After updating MIUI Check the version of the Camera app in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Camera: Up-to-date version at 2026 - 6.4.012 and higher.

If the update is OTA It does not come, you can install it manually:

• 🔗 Download the latest stable firmware for Redmi 9 from Xiaomi’s official website (select the Global region).
• 📁 Move the file to the root of the phone’s memory (not to folders!).
• 🔄 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Select a firmware file.

⚠️ Note: Do not install beta versions of firmware (for example, MIUI China Beta: They often contain experimental camera algorithms that can degrade the quality of the images.

💡

Before updating, back up your photos to Google Photos or your computer. In rare cases, resetting your camera settings can remove edited photos from the gallery.

3. Use GCam (Google Camera) instead of the standard camera

The most effective way to improve the Redmi 9 camera is to install the Google Camera (GCam), which uses processing algorithms from the Google Pixel that outperform Xiaomi’s standard solutions for detail, dynamic range and night shooting.

Redmi 9 is suitable for the GCam 8.1 version from the developer BSG or Urnyx05. You can download it on the Celso Azevedo forum (choose config for lancelot).

After installation:

• 📱 Run GCam and give all permissions.
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Lib Patcher and select a config for Redmi 9 (usually called lancelot.xml).
• 🎯 Turn it on: HDR+ Enhanced (enhanced dynamic range) Night Sight (night mode) Sabre (reduced noise)

Comparison of the GCam and the standard camera on Redmi 9:

⚠️ Note: Some versions of the GCam may not work with the Redmi 9 front camera. If the app itself crashes, try disabling Hardware Processing in the settings.

Install APK proven-source|Download Config for Lancelot|Turn on HDR+ Enhanced|Shut down. AI-processing|Check the night mode.-->

Hardware improvements: lenses, lighting and stabilization

Even with the perfect software settings, the Redmi camera 9 Physically limited: a small sensor (1/3.1"), lack of optical stabilization and weak light (f/2.2). But this can be compensated for by inexpensive accessories:

• 🔍 External lenses: Xenvo or Apexel nozzles (price) ~1500–3000 ₽) They add a wide angle, a macro or a telephoto, and a clip mount kit is good for Redmi 9.
• 💡 Ring lamp: Cheap models (~500 ₽) with adjustable brightness and color temperature (5000–6500K) Solve the problem of noise in the dark.
• 🎥 Stabilizer: budget DJI Osmo Mobile SE (5,000 ₽) Transforms a video into a professional.
• 🔋 External battery: Shooting in 4K or with a GCam quickly drains the battery. Powerbank at 10,000mAh (~1000 ₽) saves in long sessions.

Example of lenses use:

• Macro (20x): Allows you to shoot small details (insects, textures) from a distance of 2-5 cm Without a nozzle camera Redmi 9 does not focus closer to 10 cm.
• Wide-angle (0.6x): Expands the viewing angle to 120°, useful for architecture or landscapes.
• Telephoto (2x): It gives optical magnification without loss of quality (unlike digital zoom). MIUI).

For lighting, watch the color temperature:

• 🌞 5000–5500K — Daylight (ideal for portraits).
• 💡 3000–4000K — Warm light (suitable for food or interiors).

5. The correct settings of shooting: light, focus, composition

Even with GCam and external lenses, 90% of the quality of a photo depends on the technique of shooting.

• ☀️ Lighting: Never shoot against the sun - the Redmi 9 sensor does not cope well with contrasting scenes. Best time for a photo: golden hour (1-2 hours before sunset).
• 📐 Composition: Use the rule of thirds (turn on the grid in the camera settings). Objects at the intersection of lines look more harmonious.
• 👁️ Focus: Press the screen to set the focal point. In GCam, hold your finger to AE/AF Lock (exposure fixation and focus).
• 🖼️ Frame: Avoid digital zoom - better get closer.max zoom without loss of quality on Redmi 9: 2x (with an external lens, up to 4x).

For the video:

• 🎬 Stabilization: Enable Ultrastabilization in the video settings (only works in Full) HD). Hold your phone with both hands or use a stand.
• 🔊 Sound: An external microphone (e.g., Boya) BY-M1 2000 ₽) It will eliminate the noise of the wind and improve the voice.
• ⏱️ Duration: Videos longer than 5 minutes are better to shoot with a pause every 2 minutes - so less heat the processor and does not fall FPS.

Examples of good and bad photography:

💡

The easiest way to improve your Redmi 9 photos is to shoot in format. RAW (And then it's processed in Lightroom Mobile, which is 40 percent more detail than that. JPEG.

6 Post-processing: Applications and Editing Secrets

Even a perfect shot can be made better with editing.

• 📷 Lightroom Mobile: Free version allows you to adjust exposure, contrast and color balance without loss of quality.
• 🎨 Snapseed: Selective correction tool will help to brighten the shadows in portraits.
• 🤖 Topaz Gigapixel AI: Increases photo resolution from 13 MP to 26 MP with minimal artifacts (paid, ~3000 ₽).

Basic settings for editing photos with Redmi 9:

• Exposition: Increase by +0.3–0.7 for dark images.
• Contrast: Raise up to +15-25 for "flat" staff.
• Brightness of shadows: +30-50 to show details in dark areas.
• Sharpness: Apply only to the edges (slurred mask) with a radius of 0.5-1.0.

For video use CapCut or KineMaster:

• 🎞️ Stabilization: Enable the Pro-Stabilization option in the clip settings.
• 🔊 Sound: Remove noise with Denuser and normalize volume.
• 🎭 Color correction: Apply LUT Teal & Orange for the cinematic view.

⚠️ Note: Do not save edited photos in JPEG Repeat, every export is a quality loss. Use it. PNG or TIFF for intermediate versions.

7.Alternative firmware and cores for advanced users

If you're willing to go beyond standard settings, you can install custom firmware or a modified kernel.

• 🔧 Access to manual settings ISO, white balance and exposure.
• 📈 Improved processing algorithms (e.g, Camera2 API supportive RAW).
• 🚀 Optimizing performance for shooting 4K lagless.

The best options for Redmi 9:

• LineageOS 20: Pure Android with GCam support without bugs.
• Pixel Experience: A firmware with a camera from Google Pixel ported to the lancelot.
• Kernel SU: Modified kernel with improved camera control (requires root).

Installation instructions (briefly):

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (waiting 7-14 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for Redmi 9.
3. Make a backup of the current firmware in TWRP.
4. Sweep through custom firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img



TWRP:



wipe → Format Data → yes




install → select firmware → swipe for installation

⚠️ Warning: Castom firmware can break Widevine L1, Why Netflix and Disney are+ They will only work in 480p. Before installing, check compatibility on the forum XDA.

8.Frequent Redmi 9 camera problems and their solutions

Even after all the improvements, the Redmi 9 camera can work unstable.

If the camera stopped working after the phone fell:

• 🔧 Check the camera plume - it often moves away from the motherboard.
• 🛠️ If the sensor is cracked, replace the module (price) ~2000–3000 ₽ service-centre).

To diagnose hardware problems, use the camera test in the engineering menu:

##4636## → Phone Information → Equipment Testing → Camera

💡

If the camera still doesn't shoot well after all the manipulations, check the battery status. At a discharge below 15%, the processor limits performance, which affects the processing of the photo.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions