Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer users many convenient features for quick access to applications, but sometimes these same features become a source of irritation, in particular, many device owners face a situation when a camera widget appears on a locked screen, which can block important notifications or simply interfere with visual perception.
This is especially true for those who are used to minimalism and a clean interface, where unnecessary elements distract from the main content, such as time, date or notifications of messengers. Remove the camera from the lock screen Xiaomi is a task that can be solved in several ways depending on the version of the shell MIUI or the new HyperOS.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for hiding icons and widgets, and you will learn how to configure the system settings so that the interface works exactly as convenient for you, not by default.
Itβs worth noting that Xiaomiβs shell interface is constantly updated, and the location of some menu items may change, but the basic principles of setting up security and lock screen have remained similar for many years.
Why does the camera appear on a locked screen?
Xiaomi's Quick Start Camera feature is designed to make it easier for users to take a snapshot instantly without unlocking the device, which often saves them in situations where there is an urgent need to capture a moment, but for many, this option becomes unnecessary, especially if the phone is often in your pocket and the camera is activated accidentally.
In older versions of MIUI, the camera icon was a fixed interface element, and it was impossible to remove it with standard means, users had to look for workarounds or put up with the presence of an extra element, which changed with the release of newer versions of the operating system.
Modern MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS algorithms allow you to flexibly adjust the appearance of the lock screen, you can choose which shortcuts to display and which to hide, which gives you complete control over what you see before you enter a password or fingerprint.
β οΈ Warning: Disabling the Quick Access feature completely can reduce the speed of an application launch in emergency situations when the count goes by seconds.
In addition, having a widget on the lock screen consumes minimal, but still the amount of system resources to track touches in a particular area of the display. For some users, every percent of autonomy is important.
It is also worth considering that random taps in your pocket can lead to the recording of unnecessary videos or a series of photos, which then have to be deleted, freeing up space in the deviceβs memory.
Set up via the security menu and passwords
The main way to control the elements on a locked screen is in the settings section responsible for the security of the device, and this is where the key parameters that affect what actions can be performed without unlocking are concentrated.
To start, you need to go to the main settings menu of your Xiaomi smartphone. Find a item called Passwords and Security or simply Security depending on the localization and firmware version. Inside this section, you need to look for the subsection associated with the lock screen.
The interface may differ, but the logic remains the same: the system seeks to protect user data by restricting access to features.
- π± Open Settings and go to Passwords and Security.
- π Select Lock Screen or Screen Lock.
- βοΈ Find the shortcuts option or Quick access to apps.
- β Turn off the switch next to the camera icon.
Once you do this, the icon should disappear. If you haven't found a switch, it's possible that your version of the shell doesn't support direct shutdown, and you'll need to use alternative methods, which will be discussed below.
βοΈ Checking security settings
In some cases, the changes don't take effect immediately, and you may need to lock and unlock the screen to update the interface and apply new configuration options.
Control widgets in the style of blocking MIUI
Starting with MIUI 12.5 and especially MIUI 13/14, the company introduced a new style of lock screen that allows you to edit widgets.
To access editing, you often need to pinch your finger on a locked screen (if the option is enabled) or go to the theme settings, a feature called Lock Style in some regions.
So here you can not only remove the camera, but you can also change the font of the watch, add weather widgets or pedometers, and that turns the lock screen into a personalized dashboard.
| Function | Where to find out. | Possibility of disconnection |
|---|---|---|
| Camera tag (left) | Passwords and security | Yes. |
| Lantern tag (right) | Passwords and security | Yes. |
| Music widget | Locking style | Partially. |
| Notifications | Notifications and control centre | No (only content concealment) |
Note that in the new lock style, elements can be grouped together, so by removing one widget, you can make room for another element that is more useful to you.
If you can't get rid of the item by standard means, you can try changing the theme, and some third-party themes have their own lock screen structure, where the camera may not be available by default.
How to change the theme of the lock screen?
Use of third-party applications for customization
When the built-in features of the system are exhausted, applications from the Google Play store come to the rescue, which allows you to completely replace the standard lock screen with a custom one, where you decide what to display.
Popular launchers and lock-in apps like Hi Locker or KLCK Kustom Lock Screen Maker offer almost limitless possibilities. You can create a design from scratch or download a ready-made one.
However, using such solutions has its consequences: Third-party applications can consume more battery power, as they must constantly run in the background, monitoring the condition of the phone.
- π Increased battery consumption due to background activity.
- π‘οΈ Possible conflicts with system security functions.
- π Delay in unlocking the device on weak processors.
When you install an app, Android will ask for a lot of permissions, you need to be careful and only provide access to the necessary features, so as not to compromit your personal data.
β οΈ Note: When using third-party lock screens, Xiaomiβs standard security features, such as face unlocking in certain scenarios, may not work properly.
However, for power users, it's a great way to get a unique interface, and you can adjust your response to touch, animation, and the location of all the elements down to the pixel.
Hidden settings and engineering menu
For advanced users, there is access to hidden system settings through an engineering menu or special codes, a method not recommended for beginners, as carelessly changing the parameters can lead to unstable system operation.
To get into the debugging menu, a set of code is often used in the Phone app. For example, code ##6484### opens an engineering menu where you can test different modules, but directly disable UI-elements are rare there.
It can be more effective to use the adb command via a computer, and by connecting the phone to a PC and enabling USB debugging, you can send a command to hide certain packages or interface components.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.screenrecorderIt is important to understand that the command above is for example working with a package, and for a camera or lock screen, packets will be called differently (often contain the words keyguard or lockscreen).
Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to disable system applications without superuser rights (Root).
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Before using ADB commands, make sure to back up the data. Disabling system components can lead to a cyclic bootloop.
Impact of System Updates on the Interface
Xiaomi regularly releases security updates and new shell versions. With each major update (for example, the transition from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14 or HyperOS), the logic of the interface can change.
What you can't remove in one version can become editable in the next, so if you're facing limitations, it makes sense to check for system updates.
Go to Settings β About the phone and click on the system version. If a new update is available, the system will prompt you to download it.
Often newer versions fix interface bugs and add long-awaited features like shortcut selection, which is the safest and most official way to get new controls.
| MIUI version | Editing of labels | Locking style |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11 | No. | Standard. |
| MIUI 12 | Partially. | Basic |
| MIUI 13/14 | Yes. | Expanded |
| HyperOS | Complete. | Modular |
However, it is worth remembering that on older models of smartphones, new firmware versions may not come officially, in which case users often turn to custom firmware.
Problems and Solutions in Setup
Even following the instructions, users may encounter difficulties, such as the switch may be inactive (gray), or settings may be reset after a reboot.
One of the common reasons is activated Pocket mode or special modes for children / elderly people, which block the change of some interface parameters.
Problems can also arise when using informal firmware assemblies or after obtaining Root rights, in which cases the system can behave unpredictably.
- π Try resetting the lock screen settings to factory.
- π§Ή Clear the cache of the "Security" and "Themes" app".
- π± Make sure your device has enough free memory to apply the changes.
If nothing works, you may need to reset your device completely, which is a radical measure, but it is guaranteed to return the system to its original state, where you can often reconfigure all the parameters.
β οΈ Warning: Full Hard Reset will delete all your data, photos and contacts. be sure to back up before this procedure.
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Systematic approach to configuration: from standard menus to third-party solutions is the key to success in customizing the Xiaomi interface.