How to turn on a wide-angle camera on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: all the ways and secrets

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is equipped with a quadrocamera with an ultra-wide-angle module at 8 MP, but many owners face a problem: this object simply does not appear in the interface of the standard Camera application. The reasons can vary from firmware bugs to incorrect settings. In this article, we will discuss all working methods for activating a wide-angle camera, including hidden MIUI functions and workarounds for informal firmware.

It's important to understand that the wide-angle module on the Redmi Note 9 (codenamed merlin) doesn't work like the main camera, it has a lower resolution, a fixed f/2.2 aperture and a viewing angle of 118°, which requires a separate focus and white balance setting. If your Camera app doesn't have an ultra-wide switch, don't rush your phone into service - 90% of the time, the problem is solved software-based.

Checking hardware support for wide-angle camera

Before you try to turn on the ultra-wide module, make sure that your Redmi Note 9 is equipped with it at all, the fact is that there are regional versions of the smartphone (for example, the Redmi Note 9S or Redmi Note 9 Pro for India), where the camera configuration may differ.

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Full specification and find the Camera section, 4 modules should be specified: 48 MP (main) + 8 MP (wide-angle) + 2 MP (macro) + 2 MP (depths).
• 📱 Use the app. AIDA64 (available on Google Play: Go to Cameras and check for a module with focal length ~1.12 mm (this is the ultra-wire).
• 🛠️ Remove the back cover (carefully so as not to damage the plumes) and visually inspect the chamber unit – the wide-angle module is usually located to the right of the main camera and has a smaller lens size.

Attention! If the specs or AIDA64 only show 3 cameras, your smartphone may be a modification of the Redmi Note 9T (with MediaTek Dimensity 800U), where the wide-angle module is replaced by a depth sensor, in which case it is impossible to activate the ultra-widescreen software - it is not physically present in the device.

Method 1: Activate through the standard Camera application

In most cases, the wide-angle camera is not hidden due to hardware problems, but due to incorrect settings of the application.

1. Open the Camera app (the camera icon on the home screen).
2. Tap the 0.6x (or WIDE) icon in the top toolbar. If it's not there, move on to the next step.
3. Swipe your finger across the screen from left to right, which is a gesture to switch between cameras, and on some firmware, it works even if the 0.6x button is not visible.
4. If nothing happens, tap the icon. ⚙️ Settings → Resolution and quality and enable the option Ultra-wide angle (if it is in the list).

If the wide-angle camera never came along after this, the problem could be the firmware version. For example, there was a bug on MIUI 12.0.3 for the Redmi Note 9 that caused the ultra-wire to shut down after the upgrade, so the solution is to upgrade MIUI to the latest stable version or roll back to MIUI 12.0.2.

Method 2: Using third-party camera apps

If the standard Camera app is stubbornly reluctant to show a wide-angle module, you can use alternative programs that can work with multiple cameras.

• 📸 GCam (Google Camera) - ported version of the camera from Google Pixel with support for all modules Redmi Note 9. BSG or Urnyx05 (search the forum 4PDA).
• 🎥 Open Camera is open source with manual camera selection. → Camera and select Ultra-wide angle (8MP).
• 🔧 Camera2 API Probe – a utility to check for support Camera2 API. If the Hardware Level section is LEVEL_3, Your smartphone is fully compatible with third-party cameras.

⚠️ Attention! When using the GCam on the Redmi Note 9, there may be a problem with the green tint in the wide-angle camera photos. XML-Profile (can be downloaded on the same page) 4PDA model-themed).

Third-party cameras have the advantage of additional features, such as night mode for a wide-angle module (not available in the standard application) or manual exposure settings. However, note that some applications may not support ultra-wide video recording due to MIUI limitations.

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Before installing GCam, disable battery optimization for the application in the MIUI settings, which will prevent the camera from accidentally closing during shooting.

Method 3: Enabling a wide-angle camera through an engineering menu

If the software methods don't work, you can try activating the module through a hidden engineering menu, which requires caution, as improper actions can lead to camera failures.

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Testing on some firmware).
3. Scroll down to the Camera section and tap it.
4. In the camera list, look for the Ultra Wide Camera (or Camera 2) and click Enable.
5. Reboot your smartphone.

If you don't have a wide-angle camera after the reboot, try another code: ##36446337## (opens the camera testing menu). Select the Single Camera Test and alternately check all the modules. If the ultra-widescreen refuses to turn on, the problem may be firmware or hardware damage to the plume.

Comparison of photo quality: main vs wide-angle camera

Before you actively use the ultra-wire, you should understand its strengths and weaknesses. Below is a table comparison with the main camera on the Redmi Note 9:

And you can see from the table that the wide-angle camera is a loser in most things, but the main advantage of this is the angle of view. It's ideal for taking architecture, landscapes or cramped spaces where you want to capture maximum area. However, because of the lack of autofocus, objects closer to 30 cm will be blurred, and in low light, the noise in the pictures increases by 2-3 times.

⚠️ Attention! When shooting with a wide-angle camera, avoid direct light sources (sun, lamp) at the edges of the frame. The wide viewing angle creates strong glare and chromatic aberrations that are almost impossible to correct in post-processing.

The solution to the problems: why the wide-angle camera does not work

If none of the methods helped to activate the ultra-wide, let’s analyze the typical causes and their solutions:

• 🔄 Resetting camera settings: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Camera. → Storage and press Clear Data, which will return all parameters to factory.
• 📱 Conflict with other applications: Some programs (like Parallel Space or Second Space) can block access to cameras.
• 🛠️ Train damage: If the smartphone fell or was repaired, the connector of the wide-angle camera could move away, in which case only disassembling and checking the plumes will help.
• 🔧 Firmware lock: Some custom firmware (like LineageOS) have the ultra-wire disabled by default, so you can install the Camera Patch patch through Magisk.

If the problem occurred after the MIUI update, try to roll back to the previous version.

1. Download the archive with the necessary firmware from the site en.miui.com.
2. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and tap the icon ⋮ → Select a Service Package.
3. Specify the path to the downloaded file and confirm the rollback.

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Before rolling back the firmware, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. Reset wipes all user files!

Hidden features of wide-angle camera on Redmi Note 9

Few people know, but the ultra-wire on the Redmi Note 9 supports several hidden modes that are not advertised in the standard interface.

• 🌃 Night mode for wide-angle camera: Set GCam with Night Sight support and manually select the ultra-wire in the module settings.The quality will be worse than on the main camera, but better than without night mode.
• 🎞️ Video recording in 4K: By default, the wide-angle camera shoots video only in 1080p. To unlock. 4K, install a modified application Camera2 API Enabler from Magisk.
• 🔍 Ultra-wide macro mode: despite the fixed focus, you can get an acceptable macro quality if you bring the object to a distance of 5-10 cm and use good lighting.

Another life hack is manual distortion correction. Wide-angle cameras always add barrel distortion around the edges. Lightroom Mobile has a Geometry → Distortion tool to help correct that. You just move the slider -20...-30 to make the edges of the frame even.

⚠️ Attention, when shooting a video with a wide-angle camera in a format 4K It is recommended to use an external power bank and limit the duration of rollers to 5-7 minutes to avoid trottling.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 9 wide-angle camera