How to turn on a wide-angle camera on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways

Why can the wide-angle camera on Redmi 9 be turned off?

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is equipped with a module with a wide-angle camera 8 MP (depending on the modification), but many users are faced with the fact that it does not activate automatically. The reasons can be different, from firmware bugs to incorrect settings of the camera application. In some cases, the module simply does not appear in the interface, although physically present in the device.

The most common problem is when you update your MIUI or reset your settings, because the system can reset camera resolutions or turn off extra modules to save battery life, and it can also be caused by software damage, such as if you installed custom firmware or modified system files.

In this article, we’ll look at all the working ways to turn on a wide-angle camera on Redmi 9, including official and alternative methods. If your device doesn’t see the module at all, it may indicate hardware failure — but it’s worth checking the software solutions first.

Check for a wide-angle camera in your Redmi 9

Before you try to activate the module, make sure that your version of Redmi 9 is equipped with it at all. There are several modifications to this smartphone, and not all have an additional camera:

• 🔍 Redmi 9 (M2003J15SC/M2003J15SS) — main version with wide-angle camera 8 MPP, f/2.2, 118°.
• ⚠️ Redmi 9A/9C/9AT — Budget models without a wide-angle module.
• 📱 Redmi 9 Prime/9 Power - analogues of the main version, but for other regions (wide-angle camera is present).

To determine the model accurately, go to Settings → About Phone → Model. If your device is not listed with a wide-angle camera, further instructions will not help – there is simply no physical module.

⚠️ Note: Some vendors may issue Redmis 9A Redmi 9, so check the box or check if the specification says only 13 MP + 2 MP (without 8 MP), wide-angle camera is not.

Method 1: Activate through the standard Camera app

In most cases, the wide-angle camera turns on right in the Camera application interface. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Camera app (the icon on the home screen or menu).
2. Switch to Photo Mode (if you are in a different mode, such as Video or Portrait).
3. At the top of the screen, find the icon. 0.6x or WIDE (It may be hidden under the button ⋯ or menu).
4. Tap this icon – the camera will switch to a wide-angle module.

If there is no 0.6x icon, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone (sometimes helps to reset temporary interface errors).
• 📷 Check if camera permissions are disabled in Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Permits.
• 🔧 Update the Camera app via Google Play (if available).

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI The wide-angle camera is only available in Photo mode, not in Video or Night mode. If you don't see the option, try changing the shooting mode.

Method 2: Reset the settings of the Camera application

If the wide-angle camera previously worked, but Suddenly stopped showing, the problem may be in the wrong settings.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Camera in the list and open its settings.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After resetting, all camera settings will return to factory settings, including the available modules. If the wide-angle camera does not appear, this may indicate damage to system files or hardware malfunction.

Alternatively, reset only settings (without deleting data):

1. In the same Camera menu, select Permissions.
2. Turn off all permissions, then turn them back on.
3. Restart the app.

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If the camera is unstable after reset (for example, a wide-angle module turns on, but the image is blurry), try calibrating it. To do this, close all applications, open the camera and wait for it to automatically adjust the focus (this can take up to 30 seconds).

Method 3: Update MIUI to the latest version

In some versions of MIUI (especially MIUI 12.0.1 and below), the wide-angle camera can be disabled due to firmware bugs.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download and install it.

After the update, check the camera. If the problem persists, try manually installing the latest version of MIUI via Recovery:

If even after upgrading the wide-angle camera doesn't work, it may be a problem with regional firmware, and some versions of MIUI for India or China may block additional modules, in which case flashing to the global version will help.

Method 4: Using third-party camera apps

If the standard Camera app doesn’t see a wide-angle module, try alternative programs that can work with multiple cameras:

• 📸 Google Camera (GCam) is a ported version of the camera from Google with support for all modules Redmi 9 (XML-file).
• 🎥 Open Camera is open source, with manual camera selection, and you can force a wide-angle module to be activated in the settings.
• 🔍 Camera MX — Supports multi-module cameras and allows you to manually switch between lenses.

An example of Open Camera setup:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open the settings (icon) ⚙️).
3. Go to Camera Selection and select Ultra Wide Field (or Camera 2 if the name is different).
4. Save the settings and check the work.

⚠️ Note: Third-party applications may not process data from a wide-angle camera correctly, especially in low-light conditions. If the image is obtained with heavy noise or distortion, go back to the standard camera.

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Third-party applications (such as GCam) often give better shot quality from a wide-angle camera than standard ones. MIUI Camera, but require proper setup XML-profile for your model.

Method 5: Checking the hardware serviceability of the camera

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be in the module itself.

• 🔦 Light a flashlight into a wide-angle camera (located next to the main one, usually marked as 8MP or WIDE). If dust, scratches or condensation are visible inside, the module is damaged.
• 📱 Connect your phone to your computer and use it. ADB, to check the list of available cameras: adb shell dumpsys media.camera The output should be a section with physical_id: 2 (If it's not, the module is not defined by the system.
• 🛠️ If you’re good at repairs, you can check the camera plume – sometimes it’s off the board (especially after falls).

If the camera is physically damaged, it will cost 1,500-3,000 rubles (depending on the service center), make sure that the problem is in the module, not the motherboard - it is better to consult a specialist before repairing.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 9 wide-angle camera