The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a protection against accidental clicks, but also quick access to key features. One of them is the camera icon, which allows you to take a picture in just a second without even unlocking the device. However, for many users, this feature becomes a source of irritation: accidental positives, the risk of leaking confidential data or simply not wanting to see extra elements on the screen.
In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to turn off the camera on the lock screen for Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices based on MIUI 12, 13 and 14. Importantly, not all methods are universal - some require superuser rights (root), others work only on certain versions of the firmware. We will note the nuances for each option so that you can choose the best one.
If you're worried about security or just want to clean your screen of unnecessary items, read on. We'll also tell you how to get your camera back if you change your mind.
Why can a camera on a lock screen be dangerous?
At first glance, fast access to the camera is a convenient feature, but it also has a downside:
- π Risk of random shots: one awkward motion in your pocket or bag is enough for the camera to go off, especially for devices with a sensitive sensor (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro).+).
- π€ Privacy threat: If your phone falls into the wrong hands, an attacker can take photos of your documents, password screen, or personal moments without unlocking your device.
- π± System load: on weak devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) background camera operation can consume additional resources, reducing battery life.
- π― Visual noise: Extra icons on the lock screen distract from the basic information β time, notifications and widgets.
According to a 2023 Kaspersky study, more than 30 percent of smartphone data breaches occur through unauthorized camera access, and 15 percent of those attacks used a quick lock screen launch feature.
β οΈ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Black Shark 5) Disabling the camera on the lock screen can cause the Always-on Display gestures to fail. Before making changes, check if your firmware supports alternative ways to launch the camera.
Method 1: Standard disabling via MIUI settings (without root)
The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI settings. Unfortunately, it does not work on all firmware versions and models. For example, on the Xiaomi Mi 11 with MIUI 13, this option may not be available, and on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 12.5, it may be available.
Instructions:
- Open Settings β Lock screen (or Lock and Protection on some models).
- Scroll down to the Shortcuts or Quick Actions section.
- Find the Camera option and move the slider to the off position.
- Confirm the changes if necessary.
If there is no such item, try an alternative path:
Settings β Applications β Permissions β Additional permissions β Launch from the lock screenYou can turn off camera access for all applications, including system.
Check the version of MIUI in Settings β About the phone
Make a backup copy of important data
The battery should be at least 30% charged.
Make sure there are no important unfinished tasks on the device (e.g. software updates)
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β οΈ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO F4 or POCO X5 Pro) after the camera is turned off through the settings, you may lose the ability to quickly start Google Assistant from the lock screen. To return the function, you will have to reset the lock screen settings to the factory.
Method 2: Use of the ADB-Teams (for experienced users)
If the standard method didn't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which does not require root, but requires connecting the phone to a computer.
Step-by-step:
- Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings β About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI until the notification "You're a developer" appears.
USB debugging
- Back to Settings β Additionally. β For developers.
- Find the USB Debugging and turn it on.
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_camera 0 adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_show_camera 0
- Reset the device.
- Open the file in the text editor and find the line: key 212 CAMERA Replace it with: #key 212 CAMERA (the # character at the beginning of the line will comment on it).
- Save the changes, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---) and restart the device.
If the camera is still active after rebooting, check other files in the same folder β sometimes the settings are duplicated.
What if the phone does not turn on after editing system files?
Method 4: Using third-party applications (without root)
If previous methods donβt work, you can use third-party utilities, such as the Lock Screen Camera Disabler app (available on Google Play) that lets you turn off the camera on the lock screen without root on some Xiaomi devices.
How it works:
- π± The app creates a surface overlay that blocks access to the camera icon.
- π It does not require any deep changes in the system, so it is safe for most models.
- βοΈ Supports Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and some other brands based on Android 10+.
However, this method has disadvantages:
- β οΈ It may conflict with other overlays (such as Facebook Messenger or banking apps).
- π After updating MIUI You may need to re-configure.
- π΅ On some devices (such as the Xiaomi 12 Lite), the app doesnβt block the physical camera button if itβs there.
Alternative annexes:
- QuickShortcutMaker β allows you to hide the camera shortcut by creating an empty shortcut on top of it.
- Nova Launcher β In some versions, you can turn off system widgets, including the camera on the lock screen.
Standard settings MIUI|ADB-commands | Editing system files (root) | Application side | I do not turn off the camera-->
Method 5: Reset the lock screen settings (extreme case)
If none of these methods worked, the radical solution is to reset the lock screen settings, which will bring all the settings back to factory settings, including shortcuts, and the only way to do that is to reconfigure the fingerprints, the pattern lock, and other security settings.
How to perform the reset:
- Go to Settings β System and device β Resetting.
- Select Reset lock settings (on some models, the item may be called Reset lock screen).
- Confirm the action by entering the current password or PIN-code.
- After restarting, set up the lock screen again, but without the camera label.
β οΈ Attention: On devices with MIUI For global firmware (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite) 5G NE) Resetting lock settings can result in deleting all data from internal memory if the Privacy Protection function was not enabled!
What if the camera is still working?
If after all the manipulations the camera on the lock screen continues to display, check the following points:
- π Update your firmware: on some devices (e.g. Redmi) K50 Pro) camera display bugs are fixed in new versions MIUI.
- π οΈ Check conflicting apps: Some launchers (like Lawnchair) or Magisk modules can override lock screen settings.
- π± Make sure there is no hardware camera button: on Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Black Shark 4 Pro, a physical button can be triggered that cannot be turned off software.
- π Try another locking method: sometimes the camera disappears if you change the type of lock (for example, with a camera lock). PIN graphical key).
If the problem persists, it may be related to custom firmware or modified boot.img. In this case, only a complete flashing of the device through Fastboot will help.
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On devices with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi 10 2022), disabling the camera via ADB or system files can be blocked by manufacturer policies, in which case the only option is to use third-party launchers or physically close the camera (e.g., with a sticker).