How to turn the image on Xiomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to change the orientation of the image, which may be due to the desire to take a selfie in a non-standard angle, view a full-screen video or fix the situation when the picture on the display is “stuck” in a horizontal position. MIUI system (or HyperOS in new models) provides several tools to control this setting, but they are scattered on different menus.

Orientation problems can occur both software-based and randomly locked sensors. Understanding the mechanics of the accelerometer and gyroscope in your device will help you navigate your settings quickly. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to control the rotation of the screen and graphics files.

Some users confuse the rotation of the image in the gallery with the rotation of the system interface. It is important to distinguish between these concepts, because the methods of solving the problem will be radically different. We will look at both scenarios so that you can apply the desired algorithm of actions in a particular situation.

Automatic Screen Rotation in MIUI

The most common task is to make the screen respond to a change in the position of the phone body. By default, in many versions of Xiaomi firmware, the autorotation function can be turned off or hidden in the curtains foldable menu.

Find an icon that looks like a lock in a circle or arrows forming a circle. If the icon is illuminated in blue or orange, the orientation lock mode is on and the screen will not turn, and disabling this lock is the first step to normal interface functioning.

In some cases, the standard switch may not be available in the quick access, so you go to the deep settings menu, and the path usually looks like this: Settings → Screen → Screen Orientation, and you can force the Album or Book mode to be selected, ignoring the sensor readings.

⚠️ Note: If you have turned on Do Not Turn over or have fixed your orientation, some apps (such as YouTube or maps) may not work properly because they require a change of format to display additional content.

To fine-tune the settings, you can use the extra settings in the Advanced Settings menu, and sometimes you have the desktop rotating option, and the launcher allows you to hold your icons vertically even if you flip your phone, which is convenient when you watch videos in multitasking mode.

Using the built-in gallery for photo editing

If your goal is to rotate an already taken photo or saved image, Xiaomi’s standard Gallery app offers a powerful built-in editor. Open the desired photo and click on the Change button (usually an icon with three sliders or a pencil at the bottom of the screen).

In the tool menu that opens, select the Cut tab (an icon with two intersecting corners) and the 90-degree clockwise and counter-turn buttons, and the Reflect button allows you to mirror a picture, which is often required for a selfie.

Once you make changes, be sure to click the Save button, and the system will offer two options: save the changes to the current file or create a copy. Creating a copy is a safer option, since the original will remain unchanged in case the edit result does not suit you.

The editor also allows you to rotate freely. If you pinch the area inside the framing frame, you can rotate the image at any angle, aligning the horizon or correcting blocked lines. The accuracy of the alignment is controlled by a grid overlaid on top of the photo.

Rotate images through Google Photos and third-party apps

Not everyone is happy with the standard MIUI gallery. Many people prefer Google Photos, which is pre-installed on most certified devices. The way it works is the same: open a photo, click Change, select Cut and Turn. Google's interface is often more minimal and intuitive.

For batch processing or complex manipulation, it is better to install specialized applications from the Play Market. Programs like Photo & Picture Resizer or XnView allow you not only to rotate, but also to change. EXIF-file data by forcefully specifying the orientation that the system reads.

• 📸 Google Photos – Reliable, synced to the cloud, simple interface.
• 🎨 Snapseed – a professional tool that allows you to rotate with accuracy to a degree.
• ⚙️ Image Pipe – ideal for batch resizing and orientation of multiple photos at once.

Third-party software is especially relevant if the standard gallery is buggy or can’t see some file formats. Third-party applications often ignore system limitations and work directly with the file structure of the image.

Solving problems with the hung screen rotation

There are times when the screen sticks horizontally and doesn't respond to the phone flipping back, and this is a frequent software failure in the MIUI shell. First of all, try to force the application that has the problem to close with a swipe from the bottom up in the menu of running tasks.

If the problem is global and it affects the entire interface, a simple reboot of the sensors will help. To do this, turn on and off autorotation mode through the notification curtain. If that doesn't work, try restarting your smartphone. Restarting the system resets temporary accelerometer errors.

In rare cases, the cause may be a magnetic case. If there's a magnetic latch on the inside of the case, it can knock down the magnetic sensor, which is involved in determining orientation in space. Take off the case and check the screen.

Table: Comparison of turning methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have organized the methods into a table that will help you quickly navigate which tool to use depending on your specific task and version of the system.

Specifics of working with video files

Rotating video is a more challenging task, as video files have a rigid encoding structure. Xiaomi's standard gallery allows you to rotate video, but this process can take time, as the file is actually recoded. Open the video, click Change, and select the rotating tool.

When you watch video on online services (YouTube, VK, Telegram), the turn depends on the app itself and the position of the phone. If the video is shot vertically and you want to watch it on the full screen, you often have to turn the phone itself. Horizontal mode for vertical videos is usually not available without cropping the frame.

⚠️ Note: When you save rotated video, make sure there is enough free space on the disk. The saving process creates a new file, and if memory is scarce, the operation may be interrupted, damaging the source.

For professional video work on your phone, you should use apps like KineMaster or CapCut, which allow you not only to rotate the entire video, but also change the aspect ratio by adding a blurred background or black fields to make vertical video look good on the horizontal screen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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To quickly solve 90% of orientation problems, simply reboot your smartphone or reconnect sensors through the settings menu.