Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have powerful cameras and high-resolution screens, making them the perfect tool for creating and viewing multimedia content. However, users often face a situation where the footage is played in the wrong orientation or the interface does not respond to the device’s rotation. This can occur for various reasons, from accidental sensor locking to software failures in the MIUI shell or HyperOS.
Solving this problem usually doesn't require any technical knowledge or flashing, and in most cases, just change the settings in a standard player or system. It's important to understand that there are two types of situations: when you need to rotate a file you've already made and when the screen doesn't rotate in real time when you're viewing, and we'll look at both options so you can quickly fix the situation and enjoy the content.
Why the video doesn’t turn on Xiaomi
Before you start taking action to change the orientation of the frame, you need to understand the causes of the problem. Often users try to spin the phone, but the picture remains static. This is because the system has activated the orientation lock. This feature is useful when you are lying in bed, but it interferes with watching videos. You can check this in the notification curtain by finding the lock icon or arrows.
Another common reason is that the application works, and some video players ignore the system's rotation settings if the file itself has metadata that compels the orientation, for example, if the video is shot vertically and you want to watch it horizontally, the standard player may not want to stretch it, and in these cases, third-party solutions or built-in editing tools come to the rescue.
Also worth mentioning is the possible failure of the accelerometer, the sensor responsible for determining the position of the device in space. If after rebooting the smartphone, the problem with turning the interface and video persists in all applications, it may be necessary to calibrate the sensors or update the software to the current version.
⚠️ Note: If the screen stopped turning after the phone fell or moisture hit, this may indicate physical damage to the accelerometer, in which case software methods will not help, and you will need a diagnosis in the service center.
How to deploy video in the Xiaomi Gallery
The standard Gallery app in MIUI and HyperOS has a built-in video editor that allows you to change the orientation of an already recorded video without losing quality. It is the safest and fastest way to fix a vertical video that you want to show on a horizontal screen, or vice versa.
To start, open the file you want in the gallery and click on the Change button (usually a pencil or slider icon). From the bottom tool menu, select the Edit Video section or immediately find the framing/rotation icon. By clicking on the turn icon, you will change the frame orientation 90 degrees clockwise.
☑️ The rotation algorithm in the Gallery
It's important to note that when you save the edited video, you make a copy of it, and the original remains the same, so you can go back to the original file at any time if you don't like the result, and the built-in editor allows you not only to rotate the image, but also to trim the black bars that often appear when you change the proportions of the frame.
If the standard gallery doesn’t display the rotating tool for some reason (which happens on very old versions of Android), you can use the Google Photos app, which is often pre-installed on smartphones. The algorithm for actions there is similar: the Change button, selecting the cropping tool and rotating the image to the desired position.
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When saving a rotated video, make sure that the phone has enough free memory, as a new copy of the file is created that takes up space on the disk.
Setting up the autoturn of the screen in the system
If the video is not rotated while playing in online cinemas or a browser, the problem lies in the system settings. First of all, you need to make sure that the autorotation function is active. In new versions of the Xiaomi shell, the control of this parameter is brought to the control center, which is called by a swipe down from the upper right corner of the screen.
Find an icon that might be called "Orientation" or "Autoturn." If it's gray or crossed out, the function is disabled. Click on it to activate. Some versions of the firmware use orientation lock instead of a separate button: if the lock is on, the screen won't turn. Unlock it for proper operation.
You can also check the settings in the deep menu of the system. Go to Settings → Screen → Screen Orientation. Here you can adjust the behavior of the device in more detail. For example, some models allow you to prevent turning only on the desktop, leaving it active for applications.
⚠️ Attention: Some models with a cutout in the screen (camera hole) when turning to horizontal mode, the speaker may overlap with your fingers.
There is also a hidden feature in the Developer Menu that allows you to force the orientation change, but ordinary users are better off not touching these settings without having to break the interface’s workbar.
Use of third-party video players
Staff tools don’t always work with all video file formats, especially if they’re non-standard bitrate or codec files, and in those cases, specialized applications like VLC for Android, MX Player or KMPlayer come to the rescue, and these players have their own rendering algorithms and often ignore system limitations.
In most third-party players, the rotation is controlled by a double tap on the screen or through the playback settings menu. For example, in VLC, you can click on the rectangle icon with arrows to cyclically change orientation. This is convenient when you need to watch video taken from an inverted camera (for example, from a DVR or an action camera).
The advantage of third-party players is that they support hardware acceleration, which means that even heavy players can be used to accelerate their hardware. 4K-The rollers will scroll smoothly and the rotating function will work without delay, and they also allow you to save the rotation settings for specific files, which eliminates the need to configure each time again.
Why is VLC better than a regular player?
You can install such a player through the Google Play store. After installing the video, the system may ask how to open the file when you start the video - select the installed application and click "Always" to associate this format with the new player.
Comparison of video rotation methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right way to solve a problem, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you understand which method is best used depending on your specific situation and goals.
| Method | Difficulty | Quality preservation | Speed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Gallery | Low. | High (no loss) | Instantly. |
| Third-party player | Low. | Reference | Instantly. |
| Online services | Medium | Perhaps compression | Depends on the Internet. |
| Editors (CapCut) | Tall. | Depends on exports | Long time. |
As you can see from the table, for household use, built-in gallery facilities or installing a quality player are best suited. Online services and complex video editors should only be used if you need to impose additional effects or filters.
Frequent problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the video on social networks (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts) is displayed incorrectly, this is due to the fact that these platforms are sharpened to a vertical format. If you upload horizontal video, it can be displayed with black fields, in such cases, you do not need to deploy the phone, but use the zoom functions inside the application or edit the video before downloading.
Another problem is orientation sticking, and the screen doesn't go back upright after watching the video, and it's solved by a simple action: lock the orientation, turn the phone in the right direction, unlock it, and turn it around again, and that will restart the sensor calibration in real time.
If nothing helps and the interface is chaotic, try resetting the display settings. To do this, you can find the option “Sensor Calibration” in the Settings menu → Advanced Settings → Special features (the availability depends on the model) and also help banal reboot the device, which clears the temporary cache of system processes.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use magnets or metal objects near the top of your smartphone to “calibrate” sensors, a myth that can lead to magnetization of internal components and deterioration of speakers.
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In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by removing the orientation lock in the notification curtain or restarting the player application.