How to turn on the camera on the smartphone Xiaomi: all the ways (2026)

Are you trying to take a selfie or take a video, but the camera on your Xiaomi doesn't respond to taps? Did you just buy a new Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and can't find where the camera app launches? This problem is more common than it seems - especially after MIUI updates or resets. 80% of the time, the decision takes less than a minute if you know where to look.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to turn the camera on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from standard icon launch to hidden features like quick access gestures or activation via voice assistant XiaoAI. You’ll also learn what to do if the camera is physically disabled in security settings (relevant to enterprise devices) or blocked by parental controls.

1. Standard camera launch through the app icon

The most obvious way is to use the standard Camera icon, but even here, users have a problem: the icon can be hidden in a folder, removed from the home screen, or deactivated.

• 🔍 Search system: Swipe your finger down the main screen to open the search bar. Type "Camera" and the system will show the app even if it is hidden.
• 📁 Checking the Google folder: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) The default camera icon is placed in the Google Services folder. Open it on the home screen.
• 🔄 Icon Recovery: Clip the empty space on the home screen → Widgets → Find the Camera and drag it back.

If the icon is missing, it could mean that the app is disabled or removed. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find Camera and check its status. On models with MIUI 14+, the camera app cannot be completely removed, only disable.

2. Quick camera start from lock screen

Xiaomi smartphones support a quick-start gesture right from the lock screen - this works even if the phone is locked with a password.The method is relevant for all models from Redmi 9A to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Here's how to do it:

1. Twice press the power button (if your model has a physical button).
2. Or swipe up the camera icon in the lower right corner of the lock screen (on MIUI 13/14).
3. On some models (for example, POCO F5) you need to hold the power button for 1-2 seconds until the menu with the option "Camera" appears.

If the gesture does not work, check its settings:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select Quick Camera Start and activate the slider.
3. In the models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) here you can configure the display of the camera icon on the always-on display (AOD).

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If the camera doesn’t start from lock, try turning off the Smart Lock feature in the security settings – it sometimes conflicts with quick gestures.

3. Activation of the camera via voice assistant XiaoAI

XiaoAI, a voice assistant built into MIUI, can run the camera on a voice command, which is convenient if your hands are busy or your screen is dirty, and works on Chinese and global firmware, but requires pre-setting.

How to turn on:

• 🎤 Say, "Hey XiaoAI, open the camera" (English firmware: "Hey Google, open camera»).
• 🔊 If the assistant does not respond, activate it in Settings → XiaoAI → Voice assistant and enable the option “Voice recognition in any screen».
• 🔄 In the models with MIUI 14 you can configure an individual command – for example, “Selfie” to start the front camera.

Note that on some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU), XiaoAI may be disabled by default, in which case use Google Assistant, which also supports the Open Camera command.

4. Enable the camera through a widget or notification panel

If you use the camera a lot, it makes sense to add a widget to the home screen or notification bar for instant access, which is especially convenient on larger smartphones like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or the POCO F4 GT, where it’s not always easy to reach the app icon.

Method 1: Widget on the main screen

1. Click the empty space on the main screen → Widgets.
2. Find the Camera widget (usually 4×1 or 2×2).
3. Drag it to a comfortable location. Some firmwares allow you to choose which camera will open by default (main or front).

Method 2: Shortcut in the notification panel

• Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
• Click on the icon. ⚙️ («Edit or hold any Quick Settings icon.
• Find the Camera tiles and drag them to the active area.

5.What to do if the camera is disabled in the security settings

On some Xiaomi smartphones (especially corporate or parental controls), the camera can be software-disabled via security settings, in which case, when you try to launch, you will see a message saying, "Camera disabled by administrator." Here's how to fix it:

Step 1: Checking Parental Controls

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Parental control.
• 🔓 If the function is active, you will need to enter PIN-Administrator code (usually set when setting up control).
• 📵 In the Restrictions section, find the Camera and remove the restriction.

Step 2: Checking corporate policies (for work phones)

• 🏢 If the phone was issued by the company, the camera can be locked through Android Enterprise or Knox (on some Xiaomi models with support for enterprise functions).
• 🔧 In this case, please contact IT-Department - to unlock the camera yourself will not work without the rights of the administrator.

⚠️ Warning: If you see a message saying “Camera is disabled due to security policy” on your personal phone (not corporate), it may be a consequence of a virus. Check the phone with antivirus (e.g. Xiaomi Security) and reset to factory settings via Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings.

6. Solve problems if the camera does not turn on

If none of the above methods worked, the problem could be a software failure, a camera module damage, or an application conflict.

1. Phone reboot

It sounds trivial, but 30 percent of the time it helps. Hold the power button for 10 seconds until the phone turns off, then turn it on again. After you restart, try to start the camera again.

2. Cleaning up the camera app's cache

• Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Camera.
• Click on Clear Cache and Clear Data (Warning: This will reset your camera settings!).
• Reboot the phone.

3. Permit verification

Sometimes, after the MIUI update, the camera resolutions are lost. Go to Settings → Apps → Camera → Permissions and make sure that you are enabled:

• 📸 Camera (access to photo/video shooting).
• 🔊 Microphone (for recording sound in video).
• 📁 Storage (to save files).

4. Test in safe mode

If the camera is not working due to a conflict with another app (such as GCam or Snapchat), start the phone in Safe Mode:

1. Hold the power button until the off menu appears.
2. Hold your finger on the “Switch off power” option – a suggestion will appear to go to safe mode.
3. Confirm and check the camera, and if it's working, remove the newly installed apps.

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If the camera is in safe mode but not working normally, the problem is with a third-party app. Start by removing the latest installed programs, especially those that requested access to the camera.

5. Checking for hardware damage

If the camera does not turn on even after resetting, physical damage is possible:

• 🔍 Check the lens for cracks or contamination (especially after falls).
• 🔌 Check if the camera plume has moved (relevant after disassembling the phone).
• 📱 On models with a retractable camera (for example, Xiaomi Mi Mix 3), the mechanism can jam – try to gently press the camera module (do not make an effort!).

⚠️ Note: If the camera is rebooted or the camera fails when you try to start, it may indicate that the camera module's firmware has been damaged, and only flashing through Fastboot or contacting the service center will help.

7. Features of the camera on popular Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi models have unique camera launch features, and this is what owners of popular devices need to know:

Xiaomi 13 Ultra / 14 Ultra

• 📷 Has a physical camera button on the sidebar – press it once for quick start.
• 🔍 Supports double-touch gesture across the screen to start the camera (configured in Settings) → Additionally. → Gestures).

POCO F5 / F4 GT

• 🎮 In Game Turbo, the camera is turned off by default to save resources. To turn it on, swipe down from the top right corner of the game and click on the camera icon.
• ⚡ Supports the camera launch by voice through POCO Launcher (Team: Open camera»).

Redmi Note 12 Pro+

• 🌙 In the dark, the camera can automatically switch to night mode – it is not a failure, but a function. AI Scene Detection. Shuts down in camera settings.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite

• 🔄 This model often has its autofocus settings knocked down after updates. If the camera starts but doesn't focus, reset the camera settings to Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Clear the data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the camera on Xiaomi