How to remove mirror reflection on Xiaomi Android

The problem of mirror reflection on the screens of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones is one of the most common complaints of users who have just purchased a device or updated a version of the operating system MIUI or HyperOS. Most often it is not about the physical breakdown of the matrix, but about the software interface settings that by default can behave differently from what most people are used to, especially in the front camera, where the face is displayed inverted horizontally, which causes discomfort when getting stuck on text or makeup.

There are several scenarios for this "anomaly." In the first case, mirror reflection is a feature for the front camera, designed to facilitate framing of selfies. In the second, it is the result of random activation of special features for people with disabilities. And in the third, a system bug after a firmware update, requiring interference with hidden settings. To understand what option is relevant for you, will help detailed guide below.

It's important to understand that image inversion and mirror image are different things from a technical point of view, although visually the user often confuses these concepts. If the screen is turned upside down, it's a matter of autorotation, and if the left one is turned right, it's the work of video processing algorithms. In this article, we will look at all aspects of eliminating incorrect display of the picture on your gadget.

Setting up mirror mode in the built-in camera application

The most common reason users are looking for a way to remove mirror reflection is because of the settings of the standard Camera app. By default, many global versions of MIUI firmware have an option that shows the preview (what you see on the screen before you press the down button) in mirror image, which is done for convenience: when you look at yourself, you are more accustomed to seeing the reflection, like in a normal mirror, when you raise your right hand, you see it on the right screen.

But the final image is saved in the correct, not inverted form, so that the text on the clothes reads normally. If you are annoyed by the process of targeting when the movements do not match the expectation, this feature can be easily deactivated.

Note that the location of this switch may vary depending on the shell version. In the new HyperOS updates, the menu logic has been reworked and some items have been moved to subcategories. If you don't find the right switch at once, carefully check all tabs in the Camera section, including hidden menus caused by long pressing.

⚠️ Warning: Turning off mirror previews won't change the photos you've taken, it only affects how you see yourself on screen when you're shooting.

After you get to the basic settings, many users find that the problem can be deeper, in the accessibility system features that we will discuss later, but first make sure that your version of the camera has such a switch at all, since it is often missing by default in Chinese versions of firmware.

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If a standard camera doesn’t allow you to change your reflection settings, try installing the Google Camera (GCam) app, which often works more stably and independently of regional firmware.

Eliminating inversion through special features

Sometimes the screen of a Xiaomi smartphone becomes completely mirrored not only in the camera, but throughout the interface: icons, text and menus are displayed inverted horizontally.This is not a system bug, but an activated feature for the visually impaired or for use scenarios that could turn on accidentally when cleaning pockets or playing with a child’s phone.

To get things back to normal, you'll need access to the Special Features section. This path may differ on different versions of Android, but the general logic is maintained. You need to find the section that's responsible for displaying images or visual effects, and disable the active switches associated with color inversion or mirror reflection.

In some cases, especially on older versions of MIUI, this feature is called "Inversion" and is in the quick settings menu. If you can't figure out the menu because it's upside down and unfamiliar, you can feel it or use memory to rely on the location of the icons. Usually, the item you want is at the bottom of the list or in the Visual Effects section.

• 📱 Open Settings and scroll down to Advanced Settings or Additional.
• ♿ Find the Accessibility section and enter it.
• 👁️ Select the Vision tab or Visual Effects.
• ❌ Find the Inversion or Mirror Reflection switch and make sure it is turned off.

Once these steps are done, the interface should instantly return to normal, and if the problem persists, it may be a third-party application that intercepts screen control, or a more serious system failure that requires a reboot.

Solving the problem in third-party applications and video

Special attention should be paid to the situation when mirror reflection appears only in specific applications, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Zoom or Instagram. In this case, the settings of the Xiaomi smartphone have nothing to do with the settings, since each application has its own video stream processing engine. The logic here often duplicates the camera settings: the preview is mirrored, and the interlocutor sees you normally.

In popular instant messengers, the settings are usually right in the video call window. When you talk, click on the screen to see the control menu, and find the camera icon or video settings. There's often a "Reflect" or "Flip" button that changes the display mode locally without affecting the transmitted stream.

Instagram and TikTok are more complicated, and when shooting Stories or Reels, mirror reflection can be turned on automatically for the front camera, and to fix this, you need to look for settings inside the shooting mode, often hidden in the side menu or called by a swipe, and in some versions of the applications, this feature is blocked and not changeable.

If you use your smartphone to stream via OBS or similar programs via USB, the mirror image can be turned on in the software itself on your computer, not on your phone, in which case checking the settings of the video source on your PC is a priority, since the phone simply broadcasts the raw signal.

⚠️ Note: In some video applications (e.g. Skype), the “Reflect My Video” setting only affects what you see.

Comparison of settings in MIUI and HyperOS

With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, which gradually replaces MIUI on Xiaomi devices, the menu structure has undergone significant changes. Users accustomed to the old interface can look for familiar switches for a long time. The main differences are in the grouping of camera settings and the transfer of certain functions into separate subsections.

In MIUI 14 and earlier, mirroring settings were often on the general camera settings list, and in HyperOS, the developers decided to separate the settings for photos and videos, and to add some features to the “More” menu, which led to the usual path becoming longer, but more logical for new users.

Below is a table comparing the paths to settings and how the system behaves across different shell versions, which will help you navigate faster if you’ve recently upgraded or switched from a different smartphone.

As you can see from the table, the way it works is the same, only the terminology and the location of the items change. If you can't find the right parameter, try searching by settings by entering the keyword "camera" or "mirror".

Use of engineering menus and hidden codes

For advanced users who haven’t found a solution in the standard menu, Xiaomi’s engineering menu is a powerful diagnostic tool that allows you to manage hardware components, including sensor calibration and display settings, but should be used with extreme caution.

In the engineering menu, you can find LCD and Camera tests, where you can sometimes programmatically calibrate the matrix. If the mirror reflection is caused by a failure at the driver level (which is rare, but happens after unsuccessful experiments with root rights), resetting the parameters in this menu can help.

To enter the engineering menu, you usually use the code ##6484## or ##4636##. Once you enter the code, you will see a list of tests. We are interested in the section related to versions or settings of the display. Do not change the values that you are not sure about, as this can lead to unstable operation of the device.

##6484##

Entering this code opens the CIT menu (iron testing)


Look for items related to LCD Test or Camera Test

If you accidentally change a setting and the screen is not working properly, don't panic. Usually, rebooting the device returns the drivers to the default state. If the problem persists, you may need a complete data reset.

Resetting settings and radical solutions

When the software settings don’t help, and the mirror image persists even after the reboot, the last software method is resetting, which can be either resetting the camera app itself or completely resetting the device to the factory settings.

Start with a less radical method: clear the camera app data. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Camera → Memory and click Clear Data and Clear Cache. This will return the camera settings to the post-purchase state, removing all your changes, including errors.

If that doesn't work, check if you have a third-party app that controls your camera or screen (blue light filters, selfie apps). Try to start your phone in Safe Mode. To do this, press the off button, and when the off icon appears on the screen, click on it and hold it until you have a suggestion to go to Safe Mode.

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → About the phone and make a few clicks on the build number to activate the developer menu (if necessary).
• 🗑️ Reset the Camera app settings through the application management menu.
• 🛡️ Check your phone in safe mode to rule out viruses or third-party software.
• 💣 In extreme cases, perform a full reset (Wipe Data), pre-saving important files.

Remember that a full reset will remove all data from your phone, so be sure to back up to the Xiaomi Cloud or your computer before you start the procedure.

⚠️ Warning: A full Hard Reset will permanently delete all photos, contacts and apps. Make sure you have an up-to-date backup before confirming the action.

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In 95% of cases, mirroring is solved by simply setting up the camera app, and radical methods are rarely required and usually indicate a software conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)