How to turn on a wide-angle camera on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: the complete guide

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is still one of the most popular budget smartphones due to its excellent price-performance ratio. One of the key advantages of the model is a four-modular camera with an ultra-wide-angle 8 MP lens. However, many users face a problem: the wide-angle camera is either missing in the application interface or does not work correctly. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to activate it, from standard settings to unlocking hidden functions.

It's important to understand that the problem can be both software constraints (like after a MIUI update) and hardware malfunctions. We'll look at both scenarios and give you diagnostic recommendations. If you've just bought a Redmi Note 8 or upgraded your firmware, start with basic methods. Custom firmware or root rights owners will need advanced instructions.

Checking hardware serviceability of wide-angle camera

Before you try to turn on the camera software, make sure that the module is physically healthy. On the Redmi Note 8, the wide-angle camera is located second on top (marked "8MP 120°").

• 🔍 External inspection: make sure the lens is free of scratches, cracks or dirt. wipe it with a soft napkin.
• 📸 Testing through the Engineering Menu: Enter the code ##4636##, select "Equipment Testing" → "Camera. Check if the wide-angle module is displayed in the list.
• 🛠️ Check the backlight: in a dark room, illuminate with a flashlight on the camera - a serviceable module should slightly reflect light.

If you see damage to the glass or the module is not identified in the engineering menu, the problem is likely hardware, in which case only replacing the camera in the service center will help. On the Redmi Note 8, the wide-angle module often fails after falls due to the fragile attachment of the flexible plume.

Standard way of inclusion through the application "Camera"

In most cases, the wide-angle camera is activated right in the standard Camera app. Here's a step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Camera app on the Redmi Note 8.
2. Switch to Photo Mode (if you are in a different mode).
3. Click on the 0.6x icon in the top panel (or swipe across the screen to the left to switch between modules).
4. If there is no icon, touch the icon. ⚙️ Settings → Resolution and select the option marked "Wide-angle".

If the camera does not turn on after these actions, try the following steps:

Check for updates to the Camera app in Google Play

Reboot your smartphone

Clear the cache of the Camera application in the settings

Reset the camera settings to factory-->

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI For Redmi Note 8 (especially global), wide-angle camera is disabled by default for markets with low demand for this feature, MIUI China).

Activation through the Engineering Menu (without root)

If the standard method didn't work, you can try to turn the camera on through hidden settings, which does not require superuser rights, but does not work on all firmware:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##36446337##
2. Select Camera → Camera Sensor Test from the menu.
3. Find the Ultra Wide Camera (or Wide Angle) string and click on it.
4. If the camera is displayed as Disabled, try changing the value to Enabled (if the field is available for editing).

After this manipulation, restart your smartphone and check for wide-angle mode in the Camera application. If the option is not available for change, then the firmware blocks it at the system level.

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If the engineering menu does not open, try entering the code through the Calculator app (enter the sequence of numbers as a mathematical expression).

Use of third-party applications for the camera

If the camera is too reluctant to show a wide-angle module, alternative applications can be used, often bypassing the limitations of MIUI and allowing access to all sensors.

• 📱 GCam (Google Camera): Ported version of Google's camera with all modules. Download version for Redmi Note 8 (e.g., Redmi Note 8, BSG GCam or Urnyx05).
• 🔧 Open Camera: Open source with manual settings. Select Camera 2 from the menu API and turn on the secondary camera option.
• 🎥 Footage: video application with support for several modules at the same time.

When a third-party camera is first launched, permission to access the camera and storage may be required. Some versions of GCam require additional settings in the configuration file (you can find them on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums).

⚠️ Note: GCam on the Redmi Note 8 may cause artifacts when shooting in low light conditions. HDR To reduce noise, turn off Night Sight in the GCam settings.

Unlock wide-angle camera through ADB (for advanced)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can try unlocking the camera through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the smartphone to a PC and basic command line knowledge.

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi Note 8: go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install drivers ADB Enter the terminal: adb shell settings put global multi_camera_policy 1
4. Reset the device.

This command is forced to enable multiple cameras at the system level, and if the wide-angle module still doesn't appear after the reboot, try an alternative command:

adb shell


setprop persist.camera.aux.packagelist com.android.camera

Note that changes through ADB can be reset after the MIUI update, and there are also bugs in the camera (for example, a green tint in photos), since the firmware is not optimized for forced activation of the module.

Problems after MIUI Update and Solutions

Many Redmi Note 8 users are facing the disappearance of the wide-angle camera after a firmware update, which is due to Xiaomi's policy of sometimes disabling some features on older devices to "optimize performance." Here's how to get the camera back:

• 🔄 Retraction to the previous version MIUI: If the camera was running before the upgrade, you can return the old firmware via Fastboot or Recovery. 4PDA device-themed.
• 📥 Install custom firmware: LineageOS or Pixel Experience, for example, which supports all camera modules, but requires unlocking the bootloader.
• 🔧 Manual editing of firmware files: in the build.prop file (root required), find the string ro.camera.aux.packagelist and add com.android.camera to it.

Before rolling back the firmware be sure to back up via TWRP or Mi Flash Tool. note that unlocking the bootloader will reset all data on the device!

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The most stable operation of the wide-angle camera is observed on the firmware MIUI 11 and custom builds based on Android 10. Updates to MIUI 12.5+ often introduce restrictions.

Frequent errors and their elimination

Even if you've managed to turn on the wide-angle camera, you may encounter errors, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

• 🖼️ Green color: caused by incorrect color reproduction of the module. Try calibrating the camera through the engineering menu (#36446337## → Camera Calibration).
• 🔍 Blurrency around the edges: wide-angle lenses have natural distortions. Enable distortion correction in camera settings (if available).
• 🔋 Camera spontaneously shuts down: check if the smartphone overheats.Redmi Note 8 has a tendency to trottling at high loads.
• 🚫 Error "Can't connect to the camera": clear the cache and data of the camera application, and check whether the access is blocked by antivirus.

If the error persists, try resetting the camera to factory settings. Go to Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Reset. A full phone reset can help in extreme cases (but don’t forget the backup!).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions