Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 smartphone often face a situation where an unwanted text stamp automatically appears on the taken pictures. This introductory sign contains information about the device model, date and time of shooting, which may violate the composition of the frame or simply do not correspond to the aesthetic preferences of the user. The standard MIUI camera by default activates this feature to identify the device, but for most photographers this is unnecessary data that requires deletion.
Fortunately, Android’s MIUI shell provides a built-in mechanism to manage this option without the need to install third-party software. The deactivation process takes literally a few seconds and requires only logging into the appropriate settings menu. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to get rid of the label, and also look at related settings that will help improve the quality of your photos.
Sometimes people confuse the watermark of a model with a time stamp or geolocation, so it's important to understand the difference between these elements. We'll also touch on the topic of post-processing if a picture has already been taken, and explain why deleting the stamp software on a finished file is not the best solution. Let's figure out how to set up the camera correctly the first time.
Setting up the built-in watermark in the chamber
The main and easiest way to remove the intrusive label is to use the regular tools of the Camera app. Xiaomi engineers have provided a separate switch that controls the display of the logo and technical data. You do not need to have superuser rights or connect your smartphone to your computer.
To start, open the standard app, which usually has an icon with a lens image on the home screen or in the Tools folder. Turn your smartphone horizontally or leave vertically - the settings interface is available in both modes. In the upper right corner, you will see a menu button represented by three horizontal bars.
Click on this icon to expand the list of available actions. Among the options "Modes", "Settings" and "Scanner", you are interested in Settings, and clicking on this section gives access to all the parameters of the camera module, including resolution, framing grid and the watermark we are interested in.
- 📸 Open the Camera app on your Redmi Note 9.
- ⚙️ Click on the three-bar menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
- 🔍 Select the "Settings" item in the drop-down list.
- 🚫 Find the Watermark switch and put it in an inactive state.
After doing this, the words "Shot on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9" will stop appearing in new images. It is important to note that the change takes effect instantly, and you do not need to restart the device. If the switch has already been turned off and the stamp appears, it may be the problem with using a certain shooting mode.
Differences between shooting modes and stamps
Consider that there are different types of labels that can be superimposed on the MIUI shell, and besides the standard model watermark, the camera can add a time stamp, date, or even logos of special modes such as Portrait or Night, understanding these differences will help you fine-tune the information you display.
In some firmware versions, watermark settings can be broken down into different subsections, such as the main switch removing the brand logo, but a separate option, Timetamp, is responsible for the date digits. Be careful when you look at the menu so you don't miss the right switch.
There are also scenario modes where the stamp can be part of the filter, and if you're using Short Video mode or specific beauty filters, they can have their own settings, and in such cases, you need to look for settings within the specific mode you select, rather than the general menu.
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party apps from Google Play to shoot (such as Open Camera or Google Play) VSCO), Xiaomi's built-in camera settings don't affect them. You'll have to look for a watermark option inside the interface of the third-party app itself.
For users who like to experiment, it is possible to add their own watermarks through third-party software, but this is already beyond the standard functionality. The standard Redmi Note 9 camera allows you to only turn on or off the factory stamp, without providing opportunities for editing its text or font.
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If you want to leave only a date without a phone model, check for a separate Time Label switch in the same camera settings menu.
Table of comparison of types of labels in the photo
To better navigate the settings, it’s helpful to understand what data can be recorded in a photo. Below is a table showing the main types of tags and how to manage them in a standard interface.
| Type of tag | Contents | Location of settings | Editing capability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model watermark | Xiaomi logo and the name Redmi Note 9 | Settings → Watermark | Only on/off |
| Time stamp | Date and time of shooting (numbers) | Settings → Time stamp | Only on/off |
| Geolocation | GPS coordinates (in EXIF data) | Settings → Save geodata | On/off |
| Effects of filters | Frames or stylized text | Filter/effects menu | Depends on the filter. |
As you can see from the table, most of the settings are binary, you can only allow or prevent the system from adding a particular item. Deep customization, such as changing the font or color of the watermark text, is not provided in the stock chamber.
However, the time and location data (EXIF) is stored in the file regardless of the visible labels, which means that even if you remove the visual stamp from the picture, the technical information will remain inside the file and will be available when viewing the image properties in the gallery or on the computer.
Using Google Camera (GCam) for Redmi Note 9
Many Android enthusiasts are installing a ported version of Google Camera (GCam) on their devices to improve photo quality, especially in low-light conditions. In this app, the logic of managing watermarks may differ from Xiaomi's stock camera.
In the GCam interface, settings are usually hidden in the optional menu, so to get there, you have to click on the blank area of the screen next to the shutter button or find the settings icon in the corner, and there you will find the Settings item or the device model, where you can turn off adding the name of the smartphone.
☑️ Checking GCam settings
The advantage of Google Cameras is that metadata management is more flexible, but it is worth remembering that installing modified versions of the software requires downloading. APK-Files from unverified sources, which carries certain security risks. Always download GCam ports from trusted forums, such as 4PDA or XDA Developers.
If the watermark still appears after GCam installation, it may be in the configuration file (XML) In this case, you will need to find and install an alternative model. XML-Settings file where this option will be disabled by the port developer.
Removal of the sign from already finished photos
If you find a watermark on the already taken pictures, it will be too late to change the camera settings - the new settings will not affect existing files, in which case you will have to use retouching or framing methods.
The easiest way is to crop a photo in a gallery, select an editing tool, and cut the bottom of the image, where the inscription usually sits, which is quick, but you lose some of the frame, which can disrupt the composition.
A more professional approach involves using retouch tools. In the standard MIUI editor or applications like Snapseed and Lightroom, there is a "Pinpoint" or "Recovery Brush" function, and by highlighting the area with text, the algorithm replaces it with the pixels of the surrounding background.
- 🖌️ Open the photo in the Snapseed editor.
- 🛠️ Select the “Healing” tool).
- 👆 Carefully paint over the area with the inscription "Redmi Note 9».
- 💾 Keep the result as a copy so you don’t lose the original.
The quality of the removal depends on the complexity of the background, if the inscription is on a monochromatic sky or wall, the traces will be invisible, but if the text overlaps the details of the face or complex pattern, it will be extremely difficult to remove it without artifacts, even a professional will be extremely difficult to remove it.
Why can’t you just cut the text in Paint?
Frequently encountered problems and their solution
Sometimes users complain that the setting “flys” or watermark appears in unexpected places, this can be due to a firmware update or failures in the camera application, in which cases, cleaning the cache helps.
Go to Settings, select Apps, search for Camera, and click Clear Data or Clear Cache, which will return the app's settings to factory settings, and then you'll need to turn off the watermark again. Don't worry, your photos won't be deleted.
⚠️ Warning: Clearing the camera app data will reset all your settings (resolution, grid, effects) to factory values.
Another reason may be the use of a design theme. Some third-party themes for MIUI may force certain interface elements or labels to be included. Try switching to a standard theme of "Classic" or "Default" to rule out this factor.
If nothing helps and the stamp appears even after resetting, there may be a virus or ad module installed in the system that inserts its tags. Check the phone with antivirus and remove the recently installed suspicious apps.
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Resetting the settings of the Camera application through the application management menu is the most effective way to fix software glitches with the display of the interface and tags.
Impact of MIUI Updates on Camera Functionality
Xiaomi regularly updates its smartphone software. With the release of new versions of MIUI (for example, the transition from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13 or 14), the location of the settings may change. The interface becomes more intuitive, but the usual items can be hidden in the submenu.
Recent shell versions have a trend towards minimalism, so some features, including watermarks, can be hidden deeper into the menu or renamed.See system updates as new patches often contain camera bug fixes.
And then there's the possibility that new firmware might change the image processing algorithm, and what used to look like a clear stamp, in the new version, might become translucent or change color, and that's part of the company's design philosophy, and it can only be affected by installing an alternative camera.
However, the basic functionality, including tag management, remains stable throughout the life cycle of the device.