How to record video in shaomi: a complete guide

Xiaomi smartphones have long since ceased to be just budget devices for calls. Modern models, whether the flagship Xiaomi 13 Pro or the available Redmi Note, are equipped with cameras that can compete with professional equipment. However, many owners use only a small part of the potential of their gadget, shooting in basic mode without additional settings.

To get a really good picture, you need to understand how to activate shooting modes and what parameters affect the final file. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of video shooting, from basic actions to advanced exposure and focus settings.

Getting the device ready and understanding the interface of a standard application is the first step to creating blogger-level content, and the software capabilities that the company's engineers build into the MIUI or HyperOS shell should not be ignored.

Basic video activation

The easiest way to start recording is to run the standard Camera app, which is usually a lens on a white or color background, depending on the theme of the design, and when you open it, you'll see a viewfinder occupying most of the screen.

At the bottom of the interface is a line with modes of operation. The default mode is often "Photo", so you need to switch it to start recording the video. Swipe the mode names left or right until you find the item "Video".

Once you select the mode, a red round button will appear on the screen, and you click on it instantly triggers the writing process, at which point the button can change shape or color, and a timer and memory fill indicator will appear on the top.

• 🔴 Press the red button to start recording.
• ⏸ Use the pause button if you need to interrupt without completing the file.
• 📸 Take a photo while shooting by clicking on the camera icon from the side.

⚠️ Warning: If the recording button is inactive (gray), check if the lens is covered with a cover or protective film, and also make sure that there is free space on the device.

Remember, in base mode, the camera makes most exposure decisions, which is convenient for fast shooting, but limits creative control over the scene.

Quality and permission setting

To change the parameters of the video you are recording, you need to go to the settings menu. In the upper right corner of the camera interface, there is an icon with three horizontal bars.

In the menu that opens, look for “Quality” or “Resolution” and here are the options available, depending on the specifications of your Xiaomi smartphone, and the choice of higher resolution directly affects the detail of the picture.

However, it’s worth remembering that shooting in 4K requires significantly more processor resources and memory space. If you plan to shoot and send videos to instant messengers for a long time, it may make sense to choose Full HD.

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To save space and simplify installation on social networks, 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second is often enough.

Below is a table that helps you choose the best settings for different shooting scenarios:

The change of settings takes effect immediately, and you can change the settings directly during the shooting process, although it is better to do this before recording, so as not to miss the important point.

Use of image stabilization

Trembling hands are the main enemy of quality video. In Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, EIS (electronic stabilization) is responsible for combating shaking. It programmatically cuts the edges of the frame and aligns the picture.

To activate this feature, go back to the settings menu through three bars. Find the Stabilization switch and make sure it's on blue. Without this mode, shooting on the go becomes a chaotic twitch of the image.

And it's worth noting that when you turn on stabilization, the angle of view can narrow a little, and the camera sacrifices the edges of the frame to have room to maneuver when you align the horizon, which is normal behavior of the system.

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Always turn on stabilization if you are shooting with your hands in motion, but for static scenes on a tripod, it is better to turn it off to avoid artifacts.

Some models, such as the Xiaomi 12S series or the Xiaomi 13, use optical stabilization (OIS), which works at the lens level. It is more efficient than electronic, but also requires activation in settings for maximum results.

⚠️ Attention: When shooting in mode 4K 60 fps stabilization may not be available due to high load on the image processing processor.

Hidden functions and professional regime

The standard video mode is good for everyday tasks, but for creative experiments, you should consult the Pro or Pro Video section, and you can find it by scrolling through the modes in the bottom bar, or through the More menu.

Here, the user has full control over the shooting parameters, so you can manually set shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focal length, and this allows you to create unique effects that are not available automatically.

For example, if you set a low ISO and a short shutter speed, you can get a clear picture of a fast-moving object, and if you change the white balance, you can give the scene a warm sunset hue or cold moonlight.

• 🎞 Shutter speed: regulates the amount of light and blur in motion.
• 🌗 ISO: control the sensitivity of the matrix to light.
• ⚖️ BB (white balance): adjusts color temperature.
• 🔍 Focus: allows you to select the point of field manually.

Using professional mode takes time to learn, and you don't expect to get the perfect result on the first try, but once you've mastered these tools, you can shoot videos that you can't get from auto mode.

Slow-motion shooting

The Slow Motion effect captures moments that the human eye can’t see, and on Xiaomi smartphones, it’s called Slow Motion, and it’s in the same camera mode list.

When you choose this mode, the screen will split into two parts or a scale will appear. The top of the scale indicates normal recording speed, and the bottom indicates slowed down speed, and you need to move the slider when an interesting action occurs.

Once the video is finished, it's automatically processed, where the slow-down areas are played in slow-mo and the rest are played at normal speed, which creates a dynamic and cinematic effect.

Good lighting is needed to get a good result in this mode, and since the frame rate here can be as high as 960 frames per second, the matrix requires a lot of light, otherwise the video will be dark and noisy.

Frequent problems and their solution

Even on modern devices, there can be crashes, and one of the common problems is the black screen when the camera starts, often solved by a banal smartphone reboot that resets driver errors.

If the video is recorded but without sound, check to see if the microphone is covered with a finger or a case, and it is also worth looking at the settings of the application permissions and make sure that the camera has access to the microphone.

In the case of video interruption on its own, it is likely to be overheating the processor or overflowing memory buffer. shooting in 4K strongly heats the device, so take breaks or remove the protective case for better cooling.

⚠️ Note: If the camera is constantly flying off at startup, try clearing the app cache in the Apps section» → «Settings» → «All applications» → «Camera» → «Clean up».

Sometimes the problem is that the memory card format is incompatible, so if you're recording video on a microSD, make sure it's at a speed class of U3 or V30.

Where the recorded videos are stored

Once recorded successfully, the file is automatically saved to the device gallery, and can be found through the Gallery app on the Video or Camera album, and the path to the file on the system is usually /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera.

To quickly access a video you just shot, you can click on a thumbnail in the corner of the viewfinder immediately after you stop recording, and this will open up a built-in video editor where you can cut the extra or apply filters.

If you use cloud services like Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud, videos can automatically sync to the server. Check your sync settings to avoid wasting mobile traffic unexpectedly.

When connecting a smartphone to a computer through USB-cable select file transfer mode (MTP). Then the folder with the video will be available in the root of the internal drive, and you can copy it to the hard drive.