Have you ever faced a situation where the screen of a Xiaomi smartphone suddenly flips over like in a mirror? Or you wanted to connect your phone to a TV but the image was displayed backwards? This is not a system failure, but a special feature - SLR. In this article, we will discuss in detail what this mode is, where it is used and how to set it up correctly on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices.
Mirror display may seem like a useless feature, but in practice it solves several problems at once: from the correct display of the image on the external screens to the convenient self-photo from the front camera. The main thing is to understand when and how to use it. We analyzed the function on different models (from Xiaomi 11T Pro to the budget Redmi Note 12) and collected all the nuances in one guide.
What is a mirror mode and why it is needed
Mirror mode is a feature that horizontally reflects the image on the smartphone screen, like in a mirror, which is activated either automatically when connected to external devices or manually in the camera/system settings.
- 🔄 Connect to a TV or projector – without mirror mode, text and interface on the external screen can be displayed “upside down” or backwards.
- 📸 Selfies from the front camera – many users are used to seeing themselves in a “mirror” form, as in a reflection.
- 🎮 Game controllers – some gamepads require mirror display to work properly with mobile games.
- 🔧 Diagnostics and repairs – in the service menu, mirror mode helps to check the display.
It's important to distinguish between mirror mode and autorotate screens, one that changes the display horizontally (left → right), and the other that just rotates the picture when the device changes orientation, and on Xiaomi, these functions work independently of each other.
Where is the mirror mode in Xiaomi phones used
The mirror function is integrated into several key MIUI components, and consider each of them:
| System component | Where it's on | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| Camera. | Camera settings → Additional → Mirror self-photo | Displaying selfies in the “habitual” mirror image |
| Wireless transmission (Miracast) | Settings → Connection and Sharing → Transfer to the Screen | Correct output on TV/projector |
| Developer mode | For developers → debugging → Mirror display | Testing interfaces and games |
| Playing space | Game Turbo → Screen settings | Compatibility with gamepads |
The most popular mirror mode when connected to a TV, without which text on the external screen can be read from right to left, and controls can be placed in illogical places, for example, when watching movies through Miracast without mirroring, the subtitles will appear in reverse order.
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If the image is “inverted” when connecting to the TV, check the mirror settings in the screen transfer menu first, rather than physically rotating the phone!
How to turn on mirror mode on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions
The way you activate depends on what task you need mirror image for. Let's look at two main scenarios:
1. Mirror display for camera (selfie)
Open the Camera app
Switch to the front camera (up/down swipe or tap on the icon)
Put it on the gear. ⚙️ top-corner
Select Additional → Mirror self-photo
Activate the switch.-->
Once this option is enabled, all photos and videos from the front camera will be saved in mirrored form. Please note that on some models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi K60) this setting is hidden in the Camera Lab section.
2. Mirror mode when transmitted to an external screen
For correct display on the TV or projector:
- Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Transfer to the screen.
- Select the target device (TV, projector) from the list of available devices.
- After connecting, tap on the icon ⚙️ near-name.
- Activate the option Mirror display (or Screen Rotation on some firmware).
If the option is not in the menu, try to enable it through the developer mode:
Settings → About the phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times)
Back to the Settings → Additional → For Developers
Find "Mirror Display" and turn onWhat to do if the mirror mode is not maintained?
Common Problems and Their Solutions
Despite the simplicity of the function, users often face difficulties when working with mirror mode, here are the most typical situations and ways to eliminate them:
⚠️ On devices with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro) SLR when transmitted to the screen may not work stable due to the characteristics of the drivers, in this case, it is recommended to use alternative ways of connecting (for example, through Google Cast instead of Miracast).
- 🔴 Mirror mode is not included in the camera settings Reason: on some regional firmware, the option is hidden. EU-version MIUI or use ADB-Adb shell settings put global camera_mirror_selfie 1
- 🔴 Image by TV It's shown inverted, even though the DSLR is on. TV Find the Picture Mode or Display button and select Just Scan or 1:1 Pixel Mapping.
- 🔴 Mirror mode automatically turns off when you record video Reason: CPU constraint Solution: lower video resolution in camera settings to 1080p.
If the problem persists, check firmware compatibility with your device model. For example, on the Xiaomi Mi 10 with MIUI 14, the mirror mode in the camera works differently than on the same model with MIUI 13.
Comparison of mirror mode on different models Xiaomi
The functionality of the mirror display may vary depending on the smartphone model and the version of MIUI. We tested several popular devices:
| Model | Mirror mode in the camera | Miracast mirroring | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | There (included in the Camera Lab) | Automatic. | Supports mirroring for 8K video |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | There (standard setting) | Manual activation | Bugs with mirroring in games |
| POCO F5 | There is (hidden in the extended settings) | Automatic. | No mirroring for a wide-angle camera |
| Xiaomi Pad 6 | No. | There (in the screen transfer settings) | Mirror works only on HDMI. |
On Xiaomi tablets, the camera’s SLR mode is not available by default, but it can be activated via ADB or installing a modified camera app (such as GCam).
When a mirror mode can harm
While useful, this feature has a downside, and there are situations where it's best to turn it off:
- 📊 Working with documents – mirroring the text on the external screen will make it unreadable.
- 🎮 Multiplayer Games – in shooters or races, mirroring distorts control.
- 📐 Use of the AR-Apps – Augmented reality features require correct camera orientation.
- 🔧 Display Diagnostics – When testing the matrix, mirroring can hide defects.
⚠️ Attention! On some models (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K50 Gaming) mirror mode in games can cause increased heat of the processor due to the additional load on the GPU. If you notice overheating, turn off the function in Game Turbo.
Alternative ways to mirror the screen
If standard MIUI settings do not fit, you can use third-party solutions:
- Mirror applications: ApowerMirror supports mirror display when transmitted to a PC. TeamViewer QuickSupport allows you to mirror the screen with additional settings.
ADB-team
adb shell settings put global mirror_display 1 # Insert
adb shell settings put global mirror_display 0 # DisableModified firmware
- Pixel Experience – offers advanced mirroring settings.
- LineageOS – allows you to configure mirror mode separately for each application.