Why the camera is bugging on Xiaomi smartphones: from the “black screen” to blurred photos

The camera on Xiaomi started to get weird: it's black screen when it launches, autofocus doesn't work, the camera app suddenly shuts down. Problems with the camera module are one of the most common complaints of smartphone users of the brand, and both budget Redmi and flagship Mi or Mi suffer from it. POCO. In 80% of cases, it is not hardware that is to blame, but software failures, but there are hardware nuances that you should know about.

In this article, we’ll look at 12 key reasons why Xiaomi’s camera can be buggy, from the app’s banal cache to physical damage to the plume. You’ll learn how to diagnose a problem yourself, which settings to check first, and when to exactly carry the phone to the service. And a list of Xiaomi models with factory defects of cameras (2023-2026), which the company officially recognized.

1. Software glitches: cache, updates and application conflicts

To start with, 9 out of 10 camera problems on Xiaomi are solved without disassembling the phone.

• 📱 Overflowing Camera app cache – accumulates after frequent use and leads to freezes.
• 🔄 Failed update MIUI — Especially relevant for bet versions of firmware.
• 🤖 Conflict with other apps that request access to the camera (such as TikTok, Instagram, or banking programs).
• 🛠️ Errors in Google services (e.g. Google Camera or Google Camera) AR Core).

The first thing you need to do is clear the cache and the data from the Camera app.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the camera in the list and select it.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the cache and Clear the data.
4. Reboot the phone.

If that doesn’t help, try running the camera in safe mode (hold the power button). → Safe Mode. If it's got a camera that's working properly, it's a problem with one of the apps that you've installed:

• 🎥 Video Applications (CapCut, Likee).
• 🔒 Banking programs with secure camera access.
• 🤖 Modified versions of Google Camera (GCam).

2. firmware errors: when to blame MIUI

Xiaomi regularly releases updates to the MIUI, But not all of them are tested properly, especially in global and European builds (e.g., in the United States, MIUI Global 14.0.5), where the camera can be used:

• 🖼️ Give out a green or purple screen when shooting.
• 🔍 Do not focus on close objects.
• 📸 Closing spontaneously in 2-3 seconds.

This is often the case after major updates (e.g., with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) To check if the firmware is to blame:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → version of MIUI.
2. Remember the current version (for example, V14.0.4.0.TMCEUXM).
3. Check on the forums (for example, 4PDA Xiaomi Community: Complaints about this version.

If the bug is massive, you have to wait for the patch or roll back to the previous version.

1. Download stable firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (Download section).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the phone’s memory.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update → Click on three points → Select a firmware file.

Attention! Firmware rollback will reset all phone settings. Pre-backup through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

3. Conflicts with Google Camera (GCam) and other modifications

Many Xiaomi users install alternative camera apps, such as Google Camera (GCam), to improve the quality of their images, but not all versions of the GCam are compatible with Xiaomi hardware, which leads to:

• 🔴 Black screen at launch.
• 📵 Losing focus or “twitching” the picture.
• 🔋 Overheating of the phone during shooting.

If you have installed GCam and the camera has started to glitches, do the following:

1. Delete Google Camera and all associated files (e.g., Google Camera, config.xml GCam).
2. Clear the cache of the standard Camera app (as described in the first section).
3. Reboot the phone.

If you want to continue using the GCam, choose stable builds for your model.

Before installing the GCam, turn off. MIUI Optimization in the Developer Settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 5 times click on the version → For developers → Turn off optimization MIUI). This will reduce the number of failures.

Hardware problems: plume, module and sensors

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be physical damage to the components of the camera, and most commonly, the following are:

• 🔌 Camera plume - rubs or moves away from the connector (especially after falls).
• 📸 Camera module itself - the lens cracks or the sensor fails.
• 🔍 Laser or ToF sensor (in models with 3D-The camera, for example, Mi 10 Pro).
• 💡 Flash - burns out or sticks in the on state.

How to check for hardware faults:

1. Put a flashlight on the camera lens, and if you see scratches, cracks, or dust, the module is damaged.
2. Shake the phone (carefully!) If you hear rattles inside, maybe the plume or camera mount has fallen off.
3. Run the test equipment through the engineering menu: ##4636## → Testing of equipment → If the test shows an error (for example, Camera failed) – a problem in the hardware».

Attention! If the camera stops working after a phone drops or moisture hits, don't try to disassemble the device yourself. 90% of the time, it causes damage to the plume or short circuit. Contact Xiaomi Service Center - warranty repairs (if valid) will cost less than self-replacement module.

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If the camera is working but the photos are blurry, try to gently wipe the lens with a soft lilaless napkin, sometimes the reason for the soft focus is greasy fingerprints or dust.

5. Factory marriage: Xiaomi models with camera issues

Some Xiaomi models suffer from factory-faulted camera defects that manifest over time.

• 📱 Redmi Note 10 Pro - known defect of purple shade in the photo when shooting indoors.
• 📱 POCO X3 Pro – some parties fall off the main camera plume after 6-12 months of use.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra – problems with autofocus on the secondary camera (wide-angle).

Xiaomi has officially acknowledged the defects in the following batches (according to data from 2023-2026):

To check if your phone is under warranty repair:

1. Find the serial number in Settings → About the phone → General information.
2. Compare the first 6 digits with the table above.
3. Contact the Xiaomi service center with a check and packaging.

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If your model is on the list with a factory defect, do not try to repair it yourself - this will void the warranty. Xiaomi is obliged to fix the defect free of charge within the warranty period (usually 12 months).

6.Overheating and trottling: why the camera "lags" in summer

Many Xiaomi users complain that the camera starts to slow down or make a mistake when shooting long hours, especially in the heat, due to trottling, an artificial restriction of performance to prevent overheating.

• 🔥 Xiaomi 12S Ultra, 13 Pro – flagships with powerful processors, but a weak cooling system.
• 📱 POCO F5 Pro, Redmi K60 — They're hot when they're shooting video 4K/60fps.
• 🌡️ Any model at ambient temperature above 35°C.

How to reduce heat:

• 📵 Close the background apps before shooting (especially games and social media).
• ☀️ Avoid direct sunlight – remove the cover and let the phone cool.
• 🔋 Take a video in a lower resolution (for example, 1080p instead 4K).
• ⚡ Turn off fast charging during shooting.

If your phone turns off when you’re shooting a video with a message saying “Temperature is too high,” do the following:

1. Put your phone in the shade for 10-15 minutes.
2. Turn off mobile data and Wi-Fi (they load the processor).
3. Reduce the resolution of the video in the camera settings.

7. Problems with permissions and privacy settings

Sometimes the camera is not bugged by hardware or software failures, but by incorrect resolutions.

• 🚫 Camera app is forbidden to access the microphone (required for recording video).
• 🔒 Administrative rights for system services are disabled.
• 📵 Incognito mode or background restriction for the camera is enabled.

How to check and correct permissions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Camera → Permissions.
2. Make sure all switches are on: 📸 Camera. 🎤 Microphone 📁 Warehouse 📍 Location (optional, for geotags)

Settings → Confidentiality → Special access → Access to the camera

It is also worth checking the battery settings:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
2. Find the Camera app and select No Limits mode.

If you use a work profile (for example, through Samsung Knox or Android for Work), the camera may be blocked by security policies.

FAQ: Frequent questions about camera issues on Xiaomi