Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the company’s obsession with getting users to use the standard Mi Camera app. Despite the fact that many enthusiasts install the famous Google Camera (GCam) for improved dynamic range and night shooting, the MIUI system stubbornly returns stock software as the main one.
The problem is not just aesthetics, but functionality. QR-If you use a third-party app to code or open a camera, the system ignores your preferences and triggers the heavy-duty Mi Camera interface, which is annoying, especially given that Google’s processing algorithms often give you a more natural color and better detail in challenging environments.
In this article, we will look at not just installation, but application default status. We will look at the system limitations of Android in the MIUI shell, methods of bypassing hidden settings and creating shortcuts that guarantee you will start the desired shooting module in any situation.
Why MIUI Ignores User Choice
The MIUI shell and its new version of HyperOS are built on deep integration of native services. The system is designed to give priority to native Xiaomi applications. Even if you manually select Google Camera in the Android settings, after rebooting or updating background processes, priority can be reset.
Technically, this is related to how MIUI When another application asks you to open the camera, the system first checks the preference list, MIUI It automatically substitutes its product, and it also has some system components, like a scanner. QR-codes in the browser or security services, have a rigid binding to the stock camera.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the Mi Camera system camera completely without root permissions can cause system instability. Some features, such as face unlock or the scanner in the quick action menu, may stop working correctly.
Users often notice that after a firmware update, all settings are reset, which is normal behavior for the Xiaomi ecosystem, which seeks to return the user to the “native” environment, so it is important to understand that the setup may require a repeat after each major system update.
Basic Priority Setup in Android
The first step should always be the standard setup procedure built into Android, which, while it doesn't work perfectly in MIUI, you can't ignore it, and that's where the primary behavior vector of the system is set when you request to open the lens.
You need to find the partition that manages applications. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), but the logic remains the same. You need to find the item "Default Apps".
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Go to your smartphone settings.
- 🔍 Find the Application section and select All Apps.
- ⚙️ Click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select the Default Apps.
- 📷 In the list, find the Camera and select the Google Camera.
If Google Camera is not listed in the list of available cameras, then the version is APK-The file is not installed correctly or does not support your CPU architecture, so you need to switch to another GCam build that is compatible with your Snapdragon or MediaTek chipset.
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Use official GCam builds from BSG or BigKaka for maximum compatibility, and they are often correctly recorded in the system as a full-fledged replacement for drain.
Method with a widget for guaranteed start
Since MIUI system settings can be volatile, the most reliable way to always have a Google Camera on hand is to create a special widget on the desktop, which allows you to bypass a standard camera call through the volume button or double tap if they are rigidly tied to the drain.
The essence of the method is to create a shortcut that forcibly launches a specific package com.google.android.GoogleCamera. Unlike a regular icon, the widget can have advanced settings, although in the case of the camera, the main thing is direct access.
To do this, follow the following steps:
- 🖐️ Hold your finger on an empty desktop space.
- ➕ Select the Widgets (or "Add Widgets").
- 📸 Find the Google Camera (Can be called GCam).
- ✅ Drag the widget to the main screen.
Now you have an entry point that will always open GCam, and you can rename that widget to avoid confusion by calling it, for example, "Primary Camera," which is especially convenient on lock screens or in folders with utilities.
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A desktop widget is the only 100% way to avoid accidentally running Mi Cameras through the system hotkeys.
Comparison of features: GCam vs. Mi Camera
Before you finally abandon the native solution, it is worth objectively assessing the differences. Google Camera is famous for its algorithms of computational photography, but Xiaomi stock software also has its advantages, especially in working with specific hardware.
Below is a table comparing the key performance parameters of both apps on a typical Xiaomi device:
| Parameter | Google Camera (GCam) | Mi Camera (Stoke) |
|---|---|---|
| HDR mode mode mode | Excellent (HDR+) | Medium, often overlight |
| Night shooting | Night mode (Night Sight) | Night mode (depending on the model) |
| Portrait | Natural bokeh | Strong blur, effects |
| Macro | Depends on the configuration. | Full support for macro lens |
| Stability | Possible departures | High stability |
As you can see from the table, the GCam wins in dynamic range and color reproduction, but can lose in access to all camera modules (for example, an ultra-wire or TV can work incorrectly without the correct color). XML-configuration).
The stock camera is better at video calls and quick start-ups because it is optimized for a specific processor model. Google Camera is a versatile solution that requires fine-tuning for each sensor.
Solving launch and departure problems
A common problem when trying to make GCam the main one is unstable work, the application can fly when you switch lenses or refuse to open through third-party requests, this is due to a conflict of access rights and MIUI libraries.
First of all, check permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Google Camera → Permissions. Make sure that access to the camera, microphone and storage is allowed. Also, it is worth removing background restrictions, if any.
If the problem persists, try the following diagnostic checklist:
☑️ Diagnostics of GCam
Special attention should be paid XML-These are settings files that adapt the GCam interface and algorithms to your Xiaomi specific matrix, without which the application runs in base mode, which often leads to errors.
⚠️ Attention: Download XML-Configurations only from verified sources (forums) 4PDA, XDA, Telegram Developer Channels: Files from unknown sources may contain malicious code.
Where to find XML-configuration?
Alternative launchers and third-party solutions
If the built-in MIUI mechanisms are too strong to resist, you can resort to third-party launchers, and replacing the standard desktop with Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher gives you deeper control over the behavior of widgets and gestures.
In the third-party launcher settings, you can assign a double tap on the screen or swipe to launch a specific application.This way, you can set up Google Camera to launch on a dual tap, completely ignoring the system setting of the power or volume button.
There are also specialized assistant apps like Camera Switcher (root rights required for full functionality) that intercept the system request to the camera and redirect it to your chosen APK. For users without root rights, there are simplified versions that work through accessibility services.
Using a third-party launcher is a radical but effective step: it not only solves the camera problem, but also eliminates the visual debris of MIUI, making the interface cleaner and faster.