How to turn on the mirror camera mode on Xiaomi: instructions for all models

The camera mirror mode on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature that allows you to display an image in real time as you see yourself in a mirror, especially for selfies, video calls or page shoots when you need to control a frame composition, but many users are not even aware of its existence or have difficulty turning it on.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to activate SLR on different Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, from budget to flagship. You’ll learn where to look for settings in a standard camera app, how to turn on a mirror through the MIUI Camera, and what to do if the function Suddenly disappeared after an update. We’ll also look at alternative methods for devices where the SLR mode is disabled by default.

Important: The instructions are valid for MIUI 12-15 and Android 10-14. If your smartphone is running on an older version of the firmware, some menu items may differ.

What is a mirror mode and why it is needed

Mirror mode is an option that reflects the image from the front camera horizontally, mimicking the reflection in the mirror. Without this mode, the camera shows you in the way that other people see, which can be confusing when creating content.

🔹 Where will the mirror mode be useful:

• 📸 Selfies and streams – it is more convenient to control the composition if the image is not inverted.
• 🎥 Video calls (Zoom, WhatsApp, Telegram) – your interlocutor will see you as you used to see yourself.
• 💄 Makeup and style – it’s easier to wear makeup or check your hair if the picture isn’t inverted.
• 📱 Social Media Content Creation – Many platforms (TikTok, Instagram) automatically reflect videos, and mirror mode helps avoid double-ups.

On most Xiaomi smartphones, SLR mode is disabled by default for the front camera, but it is easy to activate manually, with the exception of some models for the Chinese market, where the feature can be blocked at the firmware level.

How to turn on mirror mode in a standard camera Xiaomi

The easiest way is to take advantage of the built-in Camera app settings. The instructions are suitable for most models, including the Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/11, POCO F5/X5 and others.

📌 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Camera app on your smartphone.
2. Switch to the front camera (swipe down or tap on the camera switch icon).
3. Touch the gears. ⚙️ in the upper right corner to open the camera settings.
4. Scroll down to the Additional or Shooting Modes section.
5. Find the Mirror display (or Mirror selfie in English firmware) and activate the switch.

💡 If the item is not on the menu, try it:

• 🔍 Check the Camera app updates in Google Play.
• 📱 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes settings are reset after the update MIUI.
• 🌐 Change the firmware region (if you have a global version, try switching to the new version). EEA India).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi) K50 Pro) SLR mode can only work in photo mode, not in video. To enable it for recording, you will need to use third-party applications.

Mirror mode for video calls (WhatsApp, Zoom, Telegram)

If you want your image to be mirrored during video calls, you have to look for the settings in the messenger itself. Most apps (including WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet) show you by default the way people see you, but that can be changed.

🔧 How to turn on a mirror in popular applications:

⚠️ Note: On Instagram and TikTok, mirror mode is automatically turned on when you record stories or Reels, but it may not be available in live streams. To get around this, record the video in a standard camera with the mirror on, and then upload it to the social network.

Hidden settings: how to turn on the mirror through the MIUI Camera

If the standard camera settings do not have a mirror option, you can try activating it through the hidden developer menu or MIUI Camera (an alternative camera app from Xiaomi).

🛠 Method 1: MIUI Camera (for firmware with unlocked bootloader)

1. Download. APK-file MIUI Camera from the official Xiaomi forum (e.g. xiaomi.eu).
2. Install the application by pre-allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Access).
3. Open MIUI Camera, go to Settings →
4. Activate the Mirror front camera.

🛠 Method 2: through the engineering menu (power users only!)

1. Open the Phone app and type ##4636##.


2. Go to the section "Equipment Testing".




3. Select "Front Camera".




4. Enable the option "Mirror mode" (if available).

⚠️ Warning: Changes to the engineering menu can cause camera malfunctions. on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra: This method blocks the front camera autofocus before restarting.

💡

If after activating the mirror mode, the camera began to brake, clear its cache in the application settings (Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear the cache).

What to do if the mirror mode does not work

Sometimes a feature may disappear after a MIUI update or reset, and here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

🔍 Problem 1: No "Mirror display" item in the settings

• 📌 Solution: Update the firmware to the latest version. MIUI 14+ Option moved to Settings → Modes of shooting → Additionally.
• 📌 If the update didn’t help, try resetting your camera settings: Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Reset the settings.

🔍 Problem 2: The mirror works in photos, but not in videos

• 📌 Solution: Use third-party applications such as Open Camera (with support for mirror mode for video) Footage (for professional shooting).

🔍 Problem 3: After the mirror is turned on, the camera emits an error

• 📌 Solution: This may be due to a conflict of camera modules. Try: Clear the Camera app data. AI-Improvements in camera settings. Install modified firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu).