Why not take photos of the camera on Xiaomi Redmi 9 – a full analysis of the causes and solutions

Why the Redmi 9 camera might fail

Xiaomi Redmi 9 remains one of the most popular budget devices even years after its release due to its balanced performance and reliability. However, owners often face a problem when the main or front camera stops taking photos: the Camera app flies out, the screen turns black when you try to take a picture, or there is an error “failed to connect to the camera.” In 80% of cases, the problem is solved software, but sometimes requires intervention in the hardware.

In this article, we will look at all possible causes, from a simple application failure to a physical module failure, and give step-by-step instructions for diagnosing and troubleshooting. We will focus on the nuances specific to the Redmi 9 (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T versions), where the problem is often associated with firmware or overheating of the processor.

Before you carry your phone to the service center, check at least 3 of the solutions offered – in most cases, this will save you time and money.

1. Software failures: Camera application or system

The most common cause is a temporary software failure, especially if the camera was working normally and then suddenly stopped opening. In Redmi 9, this often happens after updating MIUI or installing third-party apps that conflict with the camera drivers.

Symptoms of software failure:

• 📱 The Camera app closes immediately after launch
• ⚫ The screen remains black, but the button interface is displayed
• ⚠️ A notification appears "Camera is occupied by another application"
• 🔄 The camera works in some apps (like Instagram) but not in the standard one.

How to check:

1. Reboot the phone - this resets the camera's temporary data to RAM.
2. Try opening the camera in safe mode (press the power button → Safe mode). If the camera is running, it is the fault of third-party software.
3. Remove the Camera app cache in Settings → Apps → Camera → Memory → Clear the cache.

Restart phone |Run Safe |Elecate Camera cache |Update MIUI to latest version |Remove newly installed apps-->

If the problem persists, try resetting the app (in the same Memory menu, click Reset) This will return the standard shooting settings, but will not delete your photos.

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If the camera is running on Snapchat or TikTok, but not the standard app, the problem is definitely the software, not the hardware. Try installing an alternative camera from Google Play, such as the Open Camera or GCam (BSG version will do for Redmi 9).

2. Conflict with other applications

In MIUI (especially in versions 12-14), the camera can be blocked by other software, most often the fault is:

• 🔒 Advertising blocking applications (AdGuard, Blokada)
• 🛡️ Antiviruses with camera protection (Kaspersky, Avast)
• 🎮 Android emulators (BlueStacks, LDPlayer – they can “capture” the camera)
• 📱 Screen Duplication Applications (ApowerMirror, TeamViewer)

How to find the "culprit":

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Camera.
2. See which programs have access to the camera. Turn off the permission for the suspicious.
3. If it doesn’t work, remove the newly installed apps one by one, checking the camera after each deletion.

Pay particular attention to applications with administrator rights (such as Clean Master or DU Battery Saver), which can lock the camera “for optimization”.

AdGuard/Blokada|Antivirus (Kaspersky, Avast, etc.)|Android emulator|Screen duplication applications|None of the above.|Other-->

⚠️ Warning: Redmi 9 with MIUI 13+ has a bug that may cause the camera to fail after using Application Cloning (dual WhatsApp/Telegram). Solution: Remove the cloned application or update MIUI.

3. Damage to system files or firmware

If the camera doesn't work even after resetting, the problem may be in corrupted system files or incorrectly installed firmware.

• 📲 Phones after manual upgrade via fastboot or recovery
• 🔧 Devices with custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)
• 🔄 Apparatuses after Failed Reset to Factory Settings

How to check the integrity of the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. If the version is marked as Stable, but the camera is not working, try updating through Settings → System Update.
3. If there are no updates, download the latest firmware for Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot) from Xiaomi’s official website and install it through System Update → Three dots → Select a firmware file.

For advanced users: If the camera doesn't work after installing custom firmware, check if it supports camera drivers for the MediaTek Helio G80 (Redmi 9 chipset).Some GCam builds require additional configuration files (XML) that can be found on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums.

Hardware problems: from plume to camera module

If the software methods didn't work, it's probably hardware. Redmi 9 is the one that most often fails.

• 🔌 The camera plume is a thin, flexible cable that connects the module to the motherboard, and over time it rubs or moves away from the connector.
• 📸 The camera module itself can fail after falling or getting moisture.
• 🔥 CPU overheating – Helio G80 is prone to trottling, and at high temperature the system shuts down the camera to save power.
• 🔋 Failed battery – if the battery is inflated, it may press on the plume or motherboard.

How to diagnose a hardware breakdown:

1. Check the plume: When you open the camera, press the back cover slightly in the module area, and if the image appears, the plume has moved away and needs soldering or replacement.
2. Look at the overheating indicators: if the phone is hot and the camera shuts down 1-2 minutes after launch, it's trottling. Check the temperature through the AIDA64 app (Sensors section). Norm for the Helio G80 is up to 60°C under load.
3. Examine the camera for physical damage: cracks on the glass, stains under the lens, corrosion on the contacts.

⚠️ Warning: On Redmi 9, the main camera plume often fades after falling by a corner (even with a case). If you dropped the phone and the camera stopped working immediately after that, there's a 90% chance that the problem is mechanical damage. Don't try to disassemble the phone yourself: in Redmi 9, the plume is soldered to the board, and replacing it requires a soldering station.

Critical: If the camera shows a picture with a lot of noise (colored dots, stripes) or a completely black screen, but in some applications (for example, in Google Meet) displays a normal picture, the ISP driver (Image Signal Processor) in the firmware is to blame.

5. Overheating and trottling: why the camera turns off when shooting

The MediaTek Helio G80 in Redmi 9 is known for its tendency to overheat, especially when taking long-term video or using the camera in hot weather. The system automatically turns off the module if the processor temperature exceeds 65-70 ° C.

Signs of overheating:

• 🌡️ The phone gets hot at the top (where the processor is located)
• 🎥 The camera lasts 1-2 minutes, then the screen goes out or there is an error.
• 🔋 Quickly drain the battery when using the camera
• ⚡ Performance drops (lags, brakes in the interface)

How to lower the temperature:

1. Close all background apps before shooting (especially games and instant messengers).
2. Remove the cover - it can block the heat sink.
3. Lower the video resolution to 720p or 1080p 30fps (in camera settings).
4. Use temperature monitoring applications (such as CPU Monitor) and stop shooting when you reach 60°C.
5. If the phone warms even in simple – replace the thermopaste on the chip (this can be done in the service center).

Radical solution: roll back the firmware to MIUI 12.5 (if you have newer versions) In recent updates, Xiaomi has tightened the trottling restrictions on the Helio G80, leading to mass complaints about the camera shutdown.

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If the camera turns off when you're recording video, try turning off image stabilization in your shooting settings, which puts a lot of stress on the processor and speeds up overheating.

6.Moisture and corrosion: a hidden threat to the camera

The Redmi 9 does not have official water protection (IP- certificate), but even ingress of moisture into micro-slits (for example, when using a phone in the rain or in the bathroom) can cause corrosion of the camera contacts.

• 💧 The camera worked normally but stopped after contact with water (even if the phone didn't sink)
• 🔌 Artifacts (strips, spots) appear on the screen that do not disappear after the reboot.
• 📉 Over time, the problem gets worse (the camera first bugs, then stops turning on altogether)

What to do:

1. Turn off your phone immediately and remove the SIM- card/memory card. Do not turn it on at least 24 for an hour.
2. Place the device in a silica gel bag (eat in shoe boxes) or rice (less efficient).
3. Do not dry the phone with a hair dryer or on a battery - this can damage the plume.
4. After drying, check the camera. If there is a problem, bring it to the service for cleaning contacts with ultrasound.

⚠️ Warning: If a "Moisture detected in the connector" notification appears on the screen, but the phone has not come into contact with water, it may be a false alarm of the sensor due to high humidity, in which case rebooting or drying the phone in a warm dry place (for example, near the lamp) for 1-2 hours will help.

If corrosion has already begun, you can't fix it yourself - you will need to disassemble the phone and clean the contacts with alcohol or special solutions, in advanced cases, you may need to replace the plume or the entire camera module.

7. factory reset: Last chance before service

If all the previous methods failed and the camera still doesn't take pictures, you'll have a complete phone reset, which will delete all the data, but return the system to its original state, which often resolves deep software conflicts.

How to reset on Redmi 9:

1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → About Phone → Backup or manually copy files to your PC.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset → Resetting.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, set the phone up as new and check the camera.

If the reset didn't work, the problem is the iron.

• 🔧 Contact Xiaomi Service Center (the warranty is valid if the phone is not disassembled and sinking).
• 💰 Clarify the cost of repair: the plume replacement costs 800-1500 ₽, the camera module costs 1500-3000 ₽.
• 📱 If the phone is older than 2-3 years, evaluate the feasibility of repairing — sometimes it is cheaper to buy a new entry-level Redmi.

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Before resetting, try creating a second user on the system (Settings → Users & Accounts → Add User) and check the camera under the new account. If it works, the problem is with your main profile settings, and a complete reset can be avoided.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi 9 camera