Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
whyred
MIUI Camera
Google Camera (GCam)
Sony IMX376
Redmi Note 5
In this guide, the relevant 2026 Year of installation methods, verified versions of GCam for Android 9/10 (MIUI 12-14), And also instructions to fix the typical problems: the black screen at start-up, the Night Sight that's broken, and the processor that's overheated. 15 assemblage and pick up top-3 with the best stability.
⚠️ Important: Installation of modified APK This can lead to blocking of certain functions. MIUI (Like Widevine. L1 for Netflix HD). Before you start, back up your camera data.
1. Compatibility check and smartphone preparation
Not all versions of Google Camera run on the Redmi Note 5 due to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor and camera drivers.
- 📱 Your smartphone is unlocked (not necessary for installation) APK, Check the lock status: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times on "Core").
- 🔄 Android version - 9 Pie or 10 Q (on Android 8 GCam is unstable). → Updating the system.
- 📸 Camera. MIUI Camera works well. If it's bugged, first reinstall it through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Camera. → Remove updates.
- 🔋 Battery charge > Installing and testing GCam can take up to 30 minutes.
⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), GCam may work better, but requires additional libpatche tweaking to fix color rendering.
To check the current version of Android and the kernel, run in the terminal (the Termux app or adb shell):
getprop ro.build.version.release
getprop ro.board.platform2 Select a version of Google Camera for Redmi Note 5
Whyred supports only modified GCam builds with a patch for the Snapdragon 636.We have tested more than 15 versions and recommend the following (download links at the end of the article):
| GCam version | Author of the assembly | Support for Night Sight | Stability | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCam 8.1 (Urnyx05) | Urnyx05 | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best. HDR, But it's possible to lag when shooting. 4K |
| GCam 7.3 (Nikita) | Nikita | ✅ Yes (with config) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fewer bugs, but weaker portrait processing |
| GCam 6.1 (BSG) | BSG | ❌ No. | ⭐⭐⭐ | The lightest, suitable for weak devices |
Newer versions of the GCam 8.4 do not work on the Snapdragon 636 due to lack of support Camera2 API Using incompatible builds will lead to black screens or crashes.
APK can be downloaded from official sources:
- 🌐 Celso Azevedo (the largest archive of versions)
- 📥 Telegram channel GCam Mods (relevant builds for Xiaomi)
💡
Before installation, turn off battery optimization for GCam: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Google Camera → Battery → It'll prevent the camera from closing spontaneously.
3. Install Google Camera: step-by-step instructions
The installation process takes no more than 5 minutes, but requires the following steps:
- Download. APK selected version (for example, GCam_8.1.101_Urnyx05_v2.6.apk).
- Allow installation from unknown sources: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Browser/File Manager: Activate Install Unknown Applications.
Install APK.
Mi File Manager
Open up GCam.
Set up permissions.
- 📸 Permission to camera
- 📁 Storage permit (for saving photos)
- 📍 Permission for geodata (optional)
☑️ Verification of successful installation
⚠️ Warning: If a message appears after launch: "Camera" API2 Not supported, your device is not compatible with the selected version. BSG — It works even on the cut-down firmware.
4. Configure configs for better photo quality
Without the right configs, the Redmi Note 5’s GCam will produce green or purple artifacts, especially in mode. HDR+. Configuration files (.xml) are corrected:
- 🎨 White balance (removes the greenish tint)
- 🔍 Noise suppression (reduces graininess in dark scenes)
- ⚡ Processing speed (prevents lags)
Instructions for use of the config:
- Download the config for your version of GCam (for example, Urnyx05_whyred_v1.5.xml).
- Create a folder. GCam/Configs7 (for GCam 7.x) or GCam/Configs8 (for GCam 8.x) root-memory.
- Put a file in there.xml.
- Open GCam, tap the black area next to the down button twice, and select the downloaded config.
Recommended configs for Redmi Note 5:
| GCam version | Name of the config. | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 8.1 (Urnyx05) | whyred_urnyx_v2.1.xml | Optimized for Night Sight, low noise |
| 7.3 (Nikita) | Nikita_whyred_HDR+.xml | Best Detail in Light Scenes |
How do you create your own config?
5. Correction of typical problems
Even with the correct version of GCam, Redmi Note 5 can get bugs, and here are the solutions for the most common ones:
🔴 Black screen at launch
Causes and fixes:
- 🔧 Incompatible version of GCam → Install GCam 7.3 from Nikita.
- 📱 Conflict with MIUI Camera → Turn off the regular camera: Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Shut down.
- 🔄 Failure Camera2 API → Restart your phone and clear the GCam cache.
🟢 The green tint in the photo
The problem is with the wrong color calibration for the sensor IMX376. Decisions:
- 🎨 Apply the config with adjustment awb_mode (see section above).
- 🔧 Manually adjust white balance in GCam settings: Settings → Color profile → "Natural".
- 📸 Use the Snapseed app for post-processing: the Color Balance tool" → reduce the green channel by 10-15%.
🔥 Overheating and lags during shooting 4K
Snapdragon 636 not optimized for video processing 4K via GCam. Alternatives:
- 🎥 Take it down. 1080p60 — quality is almost 4K, but without overheating.
- ❄️ Set a limit FPS: In GCam settings, select Video → Permission → 1080p → 30 fps.
- 🔋 Close the background applications through Settings → Battery → Performance mode → "Battery savings".
💡
If GCam is constantly flying out when shooting in Night Sight, reduce the number of frames in the settings. HDR+ before 6-8 (default 12-15). This will reduce the load on the processor.
Comparison of GCam and MIUI Camera: Which is better?
We tested both cameras under the same conditions (daylight, night photography, portrait mode).
| Parameter | Google Camera | MIUI Camera |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime pictures | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (best HDR, detailing) | ⭐⭐⭐ (lights, faint shadows) |
| Night photography | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Night Sight is superior MIUI) | ⭐⭐ (loud noise, blurry) |
| Portrait mode | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (precision mask, natural blur) | ⭐⭐⭐ (margin segmentation errors) |
| Video 4K | ⭐⭐ (lags, overheating) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (stable but weak stabilization) |
| Launch speed | ⭐⭐⭐ (longer initialization) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (snap-start) |
📌 Conclusion: GCam is definitely a winner in photography (especially in the field of photography). HDR It's nighttime, but it's video- and speed-lowering to the regular camera.
7. Additional tweaks for advanced users
If you don’t like standard GCam settings, try these advanced methods:
🔧 Installation of libpatche to correct colors
Some custom firmware requires patching the camera libraries.
- Download. libpatche.zip for whyred (e.g. from here).
- Flow through TWRP (section).
- Clear the Dalvik cache and restart.
📱 Using Magisk to unlock all features
Magisk modules allow:
- 🔓 Unlock Astrophotography (starry sky shooting).
- 🎥 Turn on 4K60 (pilotage).
- 🔍 Improve focus in macro mode.
Recommended modules:
- GCam_Services (background-processing)
- Camera2API_Enabler (If your firmware does not support Camera2)
How to flash the Magisk module?
8. Google Camera Alternatives for Redmi Note 5
If GCam is not suitable for some reason, consider these apps:
- 📸 Footoj uses GCam algorithms, but with a simpler interface. HDR+.
- 🎨 Open Camera – Open source with manual settings ISO, The minus is weak. HDR.
- 🔍 FOV Camera – specializes in wide-angle shooting (useful for macros).
- 📱 MIUI Camera Pro - A modified version of the camera with improved processing (available on the computer) 4PDA).
📌 Comparison of alternatives:
| Annex | HDR | Night Mode | Portrait | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footoj | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Open Camera | ⭐⭐ | ❌ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |