How to switch camera from front to back to Xiaomi while recording video

Recording videos on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones often requires dynamic shifting of perspectives — the front camera for comments today, the back camera for landscapes tomorrow. But how to switch the camera right during video without interrupting recording? It turns out that not all users are aware of the hidden gestures and MIUI settings that allow you to do this literally in one touch. In this article, we will analyze all the ways — from standard to little-known — taking into account the features of different models and versions of the firmware.

The problem is that the camera interface on Xiaomi is not always intuitive: the camera change button can disappear during recording, and in some modes (for example, 60 FPS or 4K) the function is completely blocked. We tested the solutions on nine models — from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra — and identified universal methods, as well as nuances that are not written in the official instructions. For example, did you know that on some devices, switching the camera resets focus, and on others it does not?

If you're tired of interrupting a recording every time you want to show something from a different angle, or if you're annoyed that the camera change button is missing at the most inopportune moment, this guide is for you, and not only will we show you how to technically switch, but we'll also explain why it works differently on some models than on others, and how to get around the limitations of MIUI.

Why the camera change button disappears while recording a video

The most common complaint of Xiaomi users is that the camera switch icon disappears immediately after recording begins. This is not a bug, but a feature of MIUI firmware that depends on three factors:

• 📱 Smartphone model: on devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processors (for example, Xiaomi) 13T Pro camera interface optimized better than on budget chips (Helio) G88 redmi 12C).
• 🎥 Mode of shooting: in 4K@30fps or 1080p@60fps The function can be blocked due to processor limitations.
• 🔄 Version. MIUI: firmware MIUI 13 buttons are often hidden to avoid accidental presses.

In addition, on some models (for example, the POCO X5 Pro), camera switching during recording is allowed only in the video mode, but is blocked in Short Video (for TikTok/Reels) or Slow Motion. This is because additional modules (wide-angle, telephoto) may not support the selected resolution or frame rate settings.

⚠️ Note: On dual-front camera devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T Pro) when you switch to a selfie, Portrait mode can automatically activate, which will lead to background blur. To avoid this, pre-disable the bokeh effect in the camera settings.

Method 1: Standard button switching (works on 80% of models)

The most obvious method is to use the camera change icon, which is usually located in the upper right corner of the screen.

1. Launch the Camera app and go to Video mode (swipe left/right or tap on the inscription "Photo").
2. Start recording by pressing the red button.
3. If you can see the camera switch button (two arrows in a circle), tap it. If you don't have one, try it: 🔍 It is easy to swipe your finger on the right edge of the screen (sometimes the icon appears when swiping). 📱 Turn the phone in landscape orientation – on some models, the button is displayed only horizontally.

On the Xiaomi 12/13 series and POCO F4/F5, the button can be hidden under the menu of additional features (three dots or a gear).

1. Tap it on. ⋯ → Turn the camera over.
2. On some firmware, you need to hold the 2 second button to activate the shift.

The camera icon is visible on the screen|The phone is not in energy saving mode|Ultra stabilization mode not activated"|The video resolution does not exceed 1080p (budgetary)-->

Important: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, the button may flash red if the switch is blocked due to high CPU load, in which case try to lower the video resolution to 720p or turn off HDR in the camera settings.

Method 2: Double-Tap gesture (hidden MIUI function)

Few people know, but Xiaomi has a hidden gesture to quickly switch cameras even if the button is not visible, which works on most models with MIUI 12 and newer, but it must be activated beforehand:

1. Open Settings → System applications → Camera → Camera gestures.
2. Turn on the Double Tap option to change the camera (some firmware calls it Quick Switch).
3. Start recording the video and double tap any empty space on the screen (not on the buttons!).

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 11/12 and POCO M4/M5 If the camera starts to scale arbitrarily after activating the function, turn off the zooming with the double tap in the same settings.

💡

If the gesture doesn’t work, try tapping closer to the edge of the screen — some firmware ignores touching in the center area while recording.

Method 3: Voice commands (for MIUI 13+)

With MIUI 13, the Camera app has voice control support, including camera switching, to take advantage of this feature:

1. Open the camera settings → Voice control and turn on the slider.
2. Start recording the video.
3. Tell one of the teams: 🎤 "Change the camera" 🎤 "Switch to selfie" (for front camera) 🎤 "Return the main camera" (for the back)

The function works offline and supports Russian, but there are limitations:

• 🔇 In noisy conditions (concerts, street) the camera may not recognize the team.
• 📵 On some models (Redmi) 10A, POCO C40) Voice control is disabled by default and requires manual activation.
• 🔋 Voice recognition increases battery consumption by 5-10%.

On Xiaomi 13 Ultra and 14 Pro, voice commands work even when the screen is locked, if the camera is running in “Quick Start” mode (configure in Special Features).

Standard button|Double-tapa gesture|Voice commands|Another option-->

Method 4: Use of the "Dual Camera" mode (for simultaneous recording)

If you need to show both angles at the same time (like yourself and your phone screen), use the dual camera (or Picture-in-Picture) mode, which is available on most Xiaomi models with MIUI 12.5+:

1. Open the Camera app and swipe to Video mode.
2. Slap the icon. ⋯ (or menus) and select Double Camera.
3. And you'll see a little window on the screen that shows you the image from the front camera, and you can drag it with your finger and change the size.
4. Start recording, both cameras will work at the same time.

Regime restrictions:

⚠️ Warning: In mode, the Redmi Note 11 and older dual camera automatically turns off the front camera microphone to avoid echoes.If you need sound from both sides, use an external microphone or record audio separately.

Problems and errors when switching cameras

Even if you did everything right, you can have failures, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🔴 The camera doesn't switch, the video lags: The reason: lack of RAM or overheating of the processor. Solution: Close background applications (especially games or instant messengers). 720p. Restart your phone if the body temperature is above 40.°C.

The switch button is grey and inactive.

Reason: Current video mode doesn't support changing cameras.

• Go to standard video mode (not Slow Motion or Time-Lapse).
• Turn off Ultra Stabilization in the settings.

After switching the video stops.

Reason: firmware bug on MIUI 12.0.x. Solution:

• Update the camera through Settings → About the phone → System update.
• Install an alternative camera app (such as GCam or Open Camera).