Why the front camera on Xiaomi smartphones does not open: a complete guide to troubleshooting

The front camera on Xiaomi has stopped opening – a problem faced by owners of both budget Redmi and flagship Mi or Mi. POCO. In some cases, the camera app just flies when you try to switch to a selfie, in others, the screen remains black, and sometimes the system emits an error "failed to connect to the camera.

Most often, the malfunction occurs after the update. MIUI, But even if you haven't dropped your phone or installed any questionable firmware, the culprit could be an application conflict, cache cache or permissions disabled. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from basic checks to complex hardware breakdowns, as well as give checklists for self-diagnosis.

Before you carry your phone to the service center, try to walk through our guide - in 70% of cases, the problem can be solved without disassembling the device. And if you have already tried to restart your smartphone or clean the camera data, but nothing helped, pay attention to the sections about testing the iron part and hidden settings. MIUI, which are rarely written in standard instructions.

1. Software glitches: from cache to application conflicts

So, to start with, the simplest thing is software problems that don't require opening the body, and most often, the front camera stops working because of:

• 📱 Hanging Camera app – especially after prolonged use or multitasking.
• 🗑️ Cache overflow – temporary files can block access to the module.
• 🔄 Conflict with other programs, such as messengers or software for shooting (Likee, Snapchat).
• 🔒 Lack of permissions – the system can block access to the camera after the update.

The first thing you have to do is force the Camera app to be shut down and restarted.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the camera in the list and tap it.
3. Press Forced Stop, then Clear the cache.

If this doesn’t help, try to delete the app data (on the same menu, click Storage). → Clear the data. Attention: this will reset all camera settings (modes, filters, saved settings). After cleaning, restart the phone and check the selfie camera.

Stop the "Camera" annex"|Clear the camera cache|Delete the application data|Reboot your smartphone|Check the camera permits-->

Another common case is that it's a conflict with other applications, for example, if you've recently installed a video or photo editing software, it might have locked the camera.

1. Launch your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → Shut down the power. → Hold your finger on Turn off until the suggestion to go to Safe Mode appears).
2. In safe mode, try to open the front camera.
3. If it's working, it's a problem in one of the apps you installed, and you can uninstall the recently added programs one at a time, checking the camera after each deletion.

⚠️ Warning: In Safe Mode, all third-party applications are disabled, but system ones (for example, Google Camera on some models) POCO) If the camera doesn't work here, the problem is deeper than the software conflict.

2. Settings and permissions: what could have gone wrong

Sometimes the front camera won't open because of the permissions disabled or the system settings changed, for example, after an update. MIUI Some settings are reset and the Camera app may be denied access to hardware modules.

Check the permits as follows:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Camera → Permissions.
2. Make sure that items are included: 📸 Camera. 🎤 Microphone (if video recording is used) 📁 Storage (to save photos)

If permissions are enabled but the camera still doesn’t work, check the system privacy settings:

1. Open the Settings. → Confidentiality → Special access → Access to the camera.
2. Make sure that the Camera app (and other programs that need access) are not blocked.

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) has a hidden camera ban feature that can be triggered when malware is suspected to be disabled:

1. Go to Settings → Password and Security → Block applications.
2. Check if the camera is added to the blocked list.

To revert to the previous version:

1. Download the archive with the necessary firmware from the official website MIUI Downloads.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root folder of the phone.
3. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
4. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select a firmware file → specify update.zip.

⚠️ Note: Firmware rollback can cause data loss if a backup is not made. on some models (e.g. Redmi) 9T or POCO M3) Recoil requires an unlocked loader.

If you don’t want to roll back, try resetting the camera settings to factory:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Put it on the gear (⚙️) → Restore the default settings.

Hardware breakdown: from plume to camera module

If the software methods didn't help, the problem is most likely hardware.The front camera on Xiaomi may fail for the following reasons:

To diagnose hardware problems:

1. Check the plume: If the phone fell or was vibrating (like in a car), the plume could have moved away from the connector. POCO X3.
2. Inspect the camera module: in bright light, see if there are any physical damage (cracks, chips).
3. Check the heating: If the top of the body is warmed strongly, this may indicate a short circuit in the module.

If you suspect a plume injury, you can try temporarily “resuscitating” the camera:

1. Carefully tap on the top of the body (where the camera is located) with your palm.
2. Tip the phone from different angles – sometimes contact is restored.
3. Try to press the area around the camera a little bit (no bigotry!).

⚠️ Attention: If the camera is running after physical exposure, but then it stops again, this is almost a guarantee of a problem with the plume. Temporary "treatment" can aggravate the breakdown, so it is better to immediately carry the phone to the service.

5. Hidden functions MIUI: What prevents the camera from working

V MIUI There are a few "secret" features that can block the front camera, and many users are unaware of their existence.

The first one is Incognito Mode for Camera (available on the MIUI 12.5+). He turns off the camera for all applications except the standard one:

1. Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Incognito mode.
2. Make sure the feature is disabled or there is a Camera app in the exclusion list.

The second is the “Speek Protection” (on some models, for example, Mi 11 or Redmi). K50). This feature blocks the front camera if the phone detects suspicious activity (such as trying to shoot without unlocking the screen) to turn it off:

1. Open the Settings. → Lock screen → Additionally. → Protection against peeping.
2. Turn off the option or add the Camera app to the list of trusted ones.

The third hidden setting is "Constrain hardware" in power saving mode, and if you have Ultra Mode or Super Saving on, the system can turn off the camera to save power.

1. Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.
2. Make sure you choose Balanced or Performance.

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On Xiaomi models with Mediatek processors (for example, Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) The front camera may not work due to a conflict with the Game Turbo feature. → Special facilities → Game Turbo.

6. Testing the camera through the engineering menu and ADB

If standard methods do not help, you can check the camera through the engineering menu or ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This will help determine if the problem is in the software or hardware.

To enter the engineering menu:

1. Open the phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Go to the tab Information about the phone.
4. Scroll down and find Camera Testing (on some models it may be called Camera Test).
5. Select Front Camera and check if the image is displayed.

If the camera doesn't work on the engineering menu, it's hardware, and if it works, it's software (like the Camera app or the Camera app). MIUI).

For diagnosis through ADB:

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and turn on Debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the assembly number → Go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Open the command line in the adb folder and type in: adb shell dumpsys media.camera
4. If the camera list (mCameraDeviceNames) is not front-facing (usually labeled as 1 or front), the problem is with the driver or module.

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If in conclusion ADB If you see the line Camera device is in use, it means that some application is blocking the camera. → Annexes → Run and repeat the test.

7. When you can not do without the service: cost and guarantee

If you've tried all the methods, but the front camera on Xiaomi still doesn't work, it's just the service center.

• 🔧 Replacement of the plume is the most common failure. Cost: from 800 to 2,500 rubles (depending on the model).
• 📷 Replacement of the camera module - if the sensor itself is damaged. Cost: 1,500-4000 rubles.
• 💧 Cleaning from moisture - if the phone came into contact with water. Cost: 1000-3 000 rubles (depending on the degree of corrosion).
• 🔄 Firmware at the service level - if the problem is in the software, but independent methods did not help. Cost: 500-1 500 rubles.

Before the trip to the service:

1. Check if the warranty is valid (if the phone is not dropped and disassembled). On the official website of Xiaomi you can check the status of the warranty by serial number.
2. Make a backup data – the service can reset the phone to factory settings.
3. Check if the service uses original parts. On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) Unoriginal plumes quickly fail.

⚠️ Warning: If you have disassembled your phone yourself or installed custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), the warranty is canceled. In this case, it is better to contact informal services - they often take on repairing "non-warranty" devices cheaper.

Average prices for repairs in official and unofficial services (Moscow, 2026):

8.Alternative solutions: how to take a selfie without a front camera

While you are looking for a solution or waiting for repairs, you can use alternative ways to take selfies:

• 🔄 Back camera. + The easiest way to do this is to turn on the main camera, hold the phone to the mirror, and take the reflection.
• 📱 Remote applications such as Camera Remote (allows you to use the second phone as a remote for shooting).
• 🖥️ Camera Emulation on PC – if you need to make an urgent video call, you can connect the phone to your computer and use programs like DroidCam (it transmits an image from the rear camera).
• 🎥 External webcam – if you have one USB-The camera can be connected to the phone via OTG-Adapter (not working on all models).

For video calls (Zoom, WhatsApp, Skype), you can turn off the camera altogether and use only a microphone, or replace the image with an avatar:

1. At Zoom: Settings → Video → Turn off my video.
2. On WhatsApp: Before calling, click on the camera icon to turn it off.

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On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi) K40 Pro) you can use a wide-angle rear camera for selfies. In the Camera app, select Photo mode, then tap on the camera switch icon and select the ultra-wide module (120).°).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the broken front camera on Xiaomi