How to disable the watermark on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face an intrusive brand logo that automatically appears on every snapshot taken, a feature that is conceived as a marketing ploy that often interferes with the perception of the photo, especially if you plan to further process or print the image, and you can remove this stamp with regular system tools without resorting to complex manipulation of superuser rights.

To make matters worse, in the latest versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, developers periodically change the location of the switches or hide them in the depths of the engineering menu. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of deleting inscriptions, including hidden settings that are not visible to the average user without prior activation.

You'll learn why the standard switch sometimes disappears and how to get it back, and consider more radical but effective ways to clean up the camera interface. We'll touch on the watermarks in the gallery that can be annoying when watching albums, and answer frequent questions about how the camera module works.

Standard disabling of the stamp in the Camera app

The easiest and safest way to remove a logo is to use the app's built-in settings, which in most cases takes less than a minute and requires no technical knowledge, but the interface may vary depending on the firmware version, so it's important to keep a close eye on the menu item names.

To start, open the standard Camera app and go to Photo Mode. In the upper right corner of the screen, you will see a menu icon represented by three horizontal lines. Clicking on this element will open a drop-down list where you need to select the Settings item indicated by the gear.

In the menu that opens, scroll down to the Additional Settings section, and that's where the Watermark switch is hidden. If it's active, the slider will burn blue or orange, put it inactive, and the system will stop applying the logo to new images.

β˜‘οΈ Checking camera settings

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It is worth noting that disabling this setting only affects new photos, previously taken pictures with the already applied logo will remain unchanged, since the watermark is sewn into the image file at the time of shooting and is not a separate layer.

Hidden Camera Developer Menu via Code

There are times when the standard settings menu simply does not have the option "Watermark" in it, which is often found in global firmware versions or after certain system updates. USSD-code.

To activate the advanced features, you need to open the Phone app and type the combination ##6484##. This command will instantly run a hidden hardware testing menu known as CIT (Customer Interactive Testing).

In the test list, find Camera or FrontCamera (depending on which camera you want to configure) and click on it. In the camera testing interface that opens, look for the More or Settings button. In the list that appears, look for the Watermark or Front Watermark option and turn it off.

⚠️ Note: Do not change other options in the engineering menu CIT, If you are not sure about their purpose, resetting sensor calibrations or changing frequency ranges can lead to malfunctioning of the equipment.

After making changes to the hidden menu, it is recommended to close the camera application completely through the Task Manager and start it again, which ensures that the new configuration files are successfully loaded by the system.

Besides the camera itself, watermarks can appear in the Gallery app, usually small inscriptions in the lower corner when viewing photos or logos when creating collages and videos, and these settings are also managed in the general settings menu.

Go to the Gallery app and go to the Album tab. Click on the menu icon (three dots or stripes) in the top corner and select Settings. Here, look for the section related to displaying file information or watermarks.

Often users confuse the watermark of the camera and the metadata that is displayed on top of the photo (date, time, phone model). To remove technical information when viewing, you need to tap the photo once or swipe your finger from the bottom up, hiding the layer of information.

πŸ“Š Where do you find the logo most annoying?
In the corner of the screen when shooting: In the gallery when viewing: I am satisfied

If you're talking about a video editor inside a gallery, if you save the video, the system may suggest adding a final slide with a logotip. Watch the export screen carefully and uncheck the Add End box to keep the video clean.

The problem of the missing switch in new versions

Owners of devices with the MIUI 14 shell and the first versions of HyperOS often complain that the watermark switch has disappeared from the camera settings menu. This is not a bug, but a feature of regional settings. In some regions (for example, India or Europe), the company is obliged to hide the branding by default or, conversely, make it undeleteable without crutches.

The solution is to change the region of the device. Go to Settings β†’ Additional settings β†’ Region. Try temporarily changing the region to India or Nepal. After changing the region, go to the camera settings - often the desired switch appears there.

In some cases, cleaning the camera app data helps. Go to Settings β†’ Apps β†’ All apps β†’ Camera β†’ Memory and press Clean. This will reset the camera settings to factory settings, and the switch can return to its rightful place.

MIUI/HyperOS versionSwitch locationIs the region's reset needed?Access via CIT
MIUI 12 / 13Camera settings β†’ WatermarkNo.Not required
MIUI 14 (Global)Camera settings β†’ AdditionalOftenMaybe.
HyperOS 1.0Hidden / Engineering menuYes (India/Nepal)Required.
Chinese versionCamera settings β†’ WatermarkNo.Not required

It's important to understand that once you turn on the desired function, you can turn the region back, but if the switch goes missing again, you have to leave the region changed or use alternative methods.

Use of third-party applications and GCam

If the standard methods don’t help or the camera interface seems overloaded, a great solution would be to install a portable version of the Google Camera (GCam), a modified version of the camera from Pixel smartphones, adapted to work on Xiaomi devices.

The main advantage of GCam is the absence of any intrusive default logos and a significantly improved photo processing algorithm (HDR+, Night Sight, you need to download it to install it. APK-File that is suitable for your processor (Snapdragon or MediaTek) from a verified resource.

Where to find a safe GCam?
Look for ports from well-known developers on the 4PDA forum or Telegram channels dedicated to your phone model. Avoid random sites to avoid bringing viruses.

There are also third-party camera apps from the Play Market, such as Open Camera or HedgeCam, which can be configured in detail with watermarks: add your own, change the font, color, position or completely disable any labels.

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party APK-Allow installation only from trusted sources, as the camera has access to your personal data and geolocation.

Technical features and file formats

It’s worth mentioning the file format. If you shoot in RAW (DNG) format, the Xiaomi camera watermark is never applied to such files, since RAW is a raw array of data from the matrix. The logo only appears on the final JPEG or HEIF image that the processor generates.

Professional photographers often use this nuance: they include shooting in the RAW+JPEG, remove JPEG with a logo, and RAW-The file is converted into an editor, obtaining a perfectly clean image of maximum quality.

Also, watermarks can appear when using certain modes, such as Portrait or Night, even if it is disabled in normal mode. Check the settings of each mode separately by entering them through the top camera menu.

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Use PRO (manual) mode for shooting: watermarks are often not automatically applied, and you get full control of the exposure.

Understanding how the software processes the image helps to better deal with unwanted artifacts, and remember that software interpolation and noise reduction also influence the final look of the photo.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I remove the logo from the finished photos?
Automatically, no, because the logo is part of the pixel grid of the image, but you can use Photoshop or retouch apps (like Snapseed with Points or Magic Eraser) to manually paint over the inscription.
Does disabling the watermark affect the guarantee?
No, changing the settings in the camera menu or even entering the engineering menu through codes is not a violation of warranty terms, since you do not change the firmware code and do not get root rights.
Why did the firmware updates reset?
When major Android or MIUI updates are made, the system often resets app user preferences to factory values. After a major update, always check the camera settings again.
Is there a difference between a model watermark and just a Xiaomi logo?
Yes. There are often two things in the settings: one adds just the "Shot on Xiaomi" logo, and the other adds the full model name (e.g., "Xiaomi 13 Pro"), and you need to turn off both if you want a completely clean frame.

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The most reliable way is to combine the region to India and check the settings in each shooting mode separately.