How to turn on the front camera on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: 5 proven ways

The front camera on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones sometimes refuses to start, which becomes a real problem for selfie lovers, streamers or those who often communicate via video. The reasons can vary from randomly changed settings to software failures. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on the selfie camera, including hidden MIUI functions, gestures and alternative methods.

It's important to understand that the camera activation algorithm may vary depending on the Redmi model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ vs Redmi 10C) and the firmware version. We've taken these nuances into account and developed universal solutions that work on most of the brand's devices. If standard methods don't work, at the end of this article you'll find instructions for diagnosing hardware malfunctions.

1. Standard method: through the app "Camera"

The most obvious, but not always obvious, method for beginners is to use the regular Camera app, which many users don’t know is that switching between the main and front cameras can be hidden behind a gesture or button.

To turn on the selfie camera:

• 📱 Open the Camera app** (the icon is usually located on the home screen or in the app menu).
• 🔄 Find the Turn Camera icon on the screen, which looks like two arrows forming a circle, or a stylized phone with two lenses, usually located in the upper right corner.
• 👆 On some Redmi models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro) switching is done by double tap on the screen or swipe up/down.
• 🔍 If there is no icon, check if the toolbar is hidden. Tap the screen once to call for additional buttons.

On Redmi models with MIUI 14 and later, camera switching can be tied to the “touch the screen” gesture, a point often missed in official instructions.

⚠️ Warning: If the camera doesn’t respond after clicking on the switch icon and the message “Can’t connect to the camera” appears on the screen, this may indicate an application conflict. Close all programs that use the camera (such as Zoom or Instagram), and try again.

2.Use of gestures and fast commands

Xiaomi is known for its hidden features, and the selfie camera is no exception. Depending on the version of MIUI, you can turn on the front camera with:

• 👋 Double-touch gesture: Twice touch the screen with two fingers (on Redmi Note 10 Pro and later).
• 🔄 Swipe down the camera icon on the home screen (activates selfie mode directly).
• 🗣️ Voice command: Say “OK, Google, take a selfie” or “Hi, Mi, turn on the front camera” (requires voice assistant enabled).
• 🔘 Volume Up button: On some firmware, double tapping on Volume Up triggers the camera in selfie mode.

If the gestures don’t work, you can manually adjust them:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures and movements.
2. Find the “Fast Camera Launch” or “Camera Gestures” section.
3. Activate the option "Double press the power button" or "Swipe by icon".

3. Verification of permissions and privacy settings

One of the most common reasons why a selfie camera doesn't turn on is because the Camera app doesn't have permissions or because it conflicts with privacy settings, which is especially true after a MIUI update or a setting reset.

To check the permits:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the camera in the list and select it.
3. Go to the “Permissions” section** and make sure that you are included: 📸 Camera. 📁 Storage (to save photos) 📍 Location (optional, for geotags) 🔊 Microphone (if you are recording video)

"Clear the cache"**

Also check the MIUI privacy settings:

• Go to Settings → Privacy → Application Permissions → Camera.
• Make sure the Camera app* has access to the front camera (sometimes permissions are reset after updates).

⚠️ Warning: If you see unknown apps with camera access on the permission list, it could be a sign of malware. Uninstall suspicious programs and perform antivirus checks (e.g. Mi Security).

4. Alternative applications for enabling selfie cameras

If the regular Camera app fails to work, you can use third-party software, which is also useful if you need advanced features (such as manual exposure settings for selfies).

Before installing third-party cameras:

• 🔧 Disable Battery Optimization for the Application in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 📥 Download. APK only from trusted sources (e.g. APKMirror or official websites).
• 🔄 After installation, restart the phone – it will help to avoid conflicts with the MIUI.

💡

If the front camera turns out a green screen after you install the GCam, download the special version for your Redmi model from the 4PDA forum, where patches are often posted to fix bugs.

5. Diagnostics of hardware problems

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be the hardware.The front camera on Xiaomi Redmi most often fails for the following reasons:

• 💥 Fall or impact – even a minor mechanical impact can displace the camera plume.
• 💧 Moisture intrusion - oxidation of contacts leads to loss of communication with the module.
• ⚡ plume malfunction – contacts wear out over time, especially if you open the phone lid often.
• 🔋 Problems with the board are rare, but it happens that the camera controller on the motherboard fails.

To check the hardware serviceability:

1. Try to start the camera in safe mode: Press the power button → long tap on "Stop" → "Safe mode." If in safe mode the camera is running, the problem is in third-party software.

engineering menu

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Go to Testing → Front Camera. If the test comes up with an error, it's a hardware malfunction.

• Light up the lens with a flashlight - if you see a cloudy spot, it may be that the lens has cracked.
• Check if the camera module is wobbling (close pressure on the area around the lens).

Fastboot Flashing (for experienced users):

• 📥 Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
• 🖥️ Install the Mi Flash Tool on PC.
• 🔌 Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (click Volume Down) + Power when the phone is turned off).
• 🔄 Follow the instructions of the firmware program.