How to increase zoom on Xiaomi phone: everything from gestures to hidden features MIUI

Scaling up on the screen of Xiaomi smartphone is a challenge that users of all ages face: someone wants to better see the small text in the browser, someone needs to zoom in on the map in the navigator, and some are just used to working with a larger interface. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to zoom the screen on Redmi devices, POCO, Black Shark and other brand lines โ€“ from standard gestures to hidden firmware features MIUI.

It's important to understand that "zoom" on a smartphone can mean two things: temporarily enlarging a part of the screen (like a magnifier) or constantly scaling the entire interface. We'll look at both options, and we'll also talk about how to adjust gesture sensitivity and avoid accidental positives. If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS), some of the instructions may differ - we'll mention this, too.

Before you start settings, check the version. MIUI You can use your device. To do that, go to Settings. โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Version. MIUI. Up-to-date versions (14 and later) support all the features described below, whereas on older firmwares, the newer versions support all the features described below (MIUI 12 and below) some options may be missing or may work differently.

1. Standard gesture of magnification (three fingers)

The fastest way to temporarily zoom in on a screen is to use the built-in three-finger zoom gesture, which works out of the box on all modern Xiaomi smartphones and requires no additional settings.

To activate the magnifying glass:

  1. Touch the screen with three fingers at once and slightly spread them to the sides (as if stretching the image).
  2. The screen will increase by 2-4 times (depending on the model). To move around the enlarged area, just drag your fingers.
  3. To return to normal scale, bring three fingers together or touch the screen with one finger.

This method is convenient for reading small text in messengers, viewing details in photos or working with tables. However, it has a limitation: the gesture works only in applications that support zooming (for example, in Chrome or Gallery, but not in Settings).

๐Ÿ’ก

If the gesture doesn't work, check if the feature is disabled in the special features settings. โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ Enlarge the gestures and turn on the switch.

2. Continuously increasing the scale of the interface

If you want to zoom in on the entire system interface (icons, fonts, menus) rather than just individual elements, use display scale settings, which are suitable for visually impaired users or those who prefer large controls.

Instructions:

  1. Open the Settings โ†’ Screen.
  2. Select Text Size and Display (Screen Size may be called on some models).
  3. Move the slider display size to the right to zoom in. Available values range from Small (75%) to Very Large (150%).
  4. Click Apply to save the changes. The phone will reboot.

Note that as you zoom in, some elements may crop or not fit on the screen. For example, on YouTube or Instagram, some buttons may be hidden behind the edges of the display, in which case try intermediate values (for example, 125%) or use one-hand mode (which we will discuss below).

What if the interface elements are lost after the scale change?
If after zooming in, some of the buttons or text become invisible, try it: 1. Return the scale to the standard value (100%) and use temporary magnification gestures. 2. Include in the developer settings the option Debugging by USB through ADB change display_size_forced (technical skills). 3. Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) that supports flexible customization of icon scale.

One-hand mode and lateral control

For owners of smartphones with large screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) And what you'll find useful is that you can use a one-handed mode function, which is not zooming in the classical sense, but it narrows down the active area of the screen, making it more manageable.

How to turn on:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Go to Settings. โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ One-hand mode.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Select the screen size reduction option: Standard (up to 70% of the original size) or Mini (up to 50%).
  • ๐Ÿ‘† Activate the function with a gesture: swipe your finger on the touch button "Home" (if it is on) or twice touch the power button.

In this mode, the screen is compressed to one of the edges (left or right, depending on the setting), and the top of the interface is lowered down, which is especially convenient for reaching the elements at the top of the screen (for example, the notification panel) without using the second hand.

๐Ÿ“Š What is the screen size of your Xiaomi smartphone?
Up to 6.0 inches.
6.1-6.5 inches
6.6-7.0 inches
More than 7.0 inches

4.Increase in specific annexes

Many applications have their own zoom settings that work independently of system settings.

AnnexHow to scale upLimitations
Chrome/Mi BrowserPut two fingers together on the screen (the pinch gesture) for a fixed scale: โ‹ฎ โ†’ Settings โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ Page size.Some sites block zoom (for example, PC versions).
Google Maps/Yandex MapsSpread two fingers to zoom in. Double touch. + drag-and-drop up/down for smooth zoom.Maximum zoom depends on the map detailing for the region.
gallery/Google Photo PhotoSpread two fingers in the photo. In Google Photos: Double-touch for quick zoom.With a strong increase, the image quality deteriorates.
WhatsApp/TelegramIn chat rooms, spread two fingers on a message. In media, gestures like in a gallery.In Telegram, zoom works only for photos and videos, not for text.

For applications where the zoom is turned off by default (for example, in some games or banking programs), try:

  • ๐Ÿ” Use a system magnifying glass (three fingers as described in the first section).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฒ Install a third-party app for zoom (more on this in the next section).
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Connect your phone to your computer and use zoom on your PC (via Mi) PC Suite or scrcpy).

๐Ÿ’ก

In some applications (such as TikTok or Instagram Reels), the zoom is intentionally disabled by gestures, in which case the only way out is a system magnifier or third-party utilities.

5. Third-party applications for extended zoom

If the built-in functions MIUI Not enough, you can install specialized utilities from Google Play, which offer additional features: zoom with a customizable ratio, color filters for better readability, voice control and other chips.

Top.-3 screen-enhancement:

  1. Magnification Gestures (free, no advertising) ๐Ÿ”น Allows you to customize gestures for zoom (e.g. triple touching). ๐Ÿ”น Supports a โ€œfloating magnifierโ€ โ€“ an enlarged area follows the finger. ๐Ÿ”น Compatible with MIUI 12โ€“14 without conflict.
  2. Big Launcher (For Free) ๐Ÿ”น Completely redesigned interface with large icons and text. ๐Ÿ”น Built-in function of reading text aloud. ๐Ÿ”น Suitable for elderly users or people with visual impairments.
  3. Super Zoom (paid version with trial period) ๐Ÿ”น Increase to 16ร— Quality-preserving (using interpolation algorithms). ๐Ÿ”น It works on top of any application, including games. ๐Ÿ”น Supports Bluetooth control (useful for presentations).

Before installing third-party utilities, check their compatibility with your Xiaomi model. MIUI, Also note the permissions: if a program requests access to Special Features or Overlays on top of other applications, it's okay - without these permissions, the zoom won't work.

Check out the Android version (should be at least 8.0)

Download the app only from the official Google Play

Read the reviews on compatibility with MIUI

Make a backup copy of important data

Prepare for possible lags on weak devices-->

6. Hidden MIUI features for advanced users

Firmware MIUI It contains a few hidden options that allow you to flexibly configure scaling. These features are not documented and may vary depending on the firmware version, but they are useful for fine-tuning.

Method 1: Change the DPI through the developer settings

The Minimum Width Parameter (in the developer settings) allows you to manually set the pixel density (DPI), It's a big part of the interface, and the smaller the value, the bigger the icons and the text.

How to turn on:


1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings โ†’ About Phone and 7 times click on MIUI Version.




2. Return to Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ For developers.




3. Find the Minimum Width and set the value from 320 to 400 (standard for Xiaomi is 360-390).




4. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: ADB-commands for forced scaling

For experienced users, there is an opportunity to scale through ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method bypasses the limitations of standard settings, but requires a computer connection.

Major teams:

View the current scale



adb shell wm density




Set a new scale (e.g. 400 DPI)



adb shell wm density 400




Return the standard value



adb shell wm density reset

๐Ÿ’ก

After the change DPI through ADB Some applications (e.g. banking) may refuse to work by citing an โ€œuncertified deviceโ€ in which case return the standard settings or use the Magisk module to mask changes.

Method 3: Magisk modules for extended zoom

If your Xiaomi is unlocked and installed by Magisk, you can use modules like App Systemizer or MIUI Zoom Modifier, they allow:

  • ๐Ÿ”ง Customize zoom separately for each application.
  • ๐ŸŽจ Apply color filters when zooming (e.g., inversion for better readability).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Save zoom settings between reboots.

๐Ÿ’ก

Changes in system parameters (DPI, ADB, Magisk) can cause unstable operation of the device. Before experimenting, back up through Settings โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ Backup and reset.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you set up zoom on Xiaomi, users encounter common mistakes, and we've compiled the most common ones and how to fix them.

โš ๏ธ Note: If after the scale change the screen became blurred or artifacts appeared, this means that the selected value DPI not supported by a GPU. Return standard settings or select a value multiple of 40 (e.g. 360, 400, 440).

Problem 1: Three finger gestures don't work

  • ๐Ÿ”น Check if the function is included in the Settings โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ Increased gestures.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Make sure you touch the screen with three fingers (not two or four).
  • ๐Ÿ”น Restart your phone โ€“ sometimes gestures are reset after updates.
  • ๐Ÿ”น If you use a protective glass, try to remove it - some of the glasses block the multi-touch.

Problem 2: Apps don't support zoom

Some programs (e.g., SberBank Online or Public Services) block scaling for security reasons.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Use a system magnifying glass (three fingers).
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Connect your phone to your computer and zoom in on your PC screen.
  • ๐Ÿ” Install an alternative browser (such as Firefox) that ignores site restrictions.

Problem 3: After the scale change, the interface elements are lost

This is a typical situation when using non-standard values. DPI. To get it back in place:

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ Screen. โ†’ Text and display size and reset settings.
  2. If the interface is broken and does not allow you to return the settings, connect the phone to the computer and execute the command: adb shell wm density reset
  3. In extreme cases, reset the settings to factory (data will be deleted!).

โš ๏ธ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro or Redmi K50 Pro) Long-term use of maximum zoom can cause pixel burnout. Try not to keep static enlarged images longer than 5-10 minutes.

Can I increase the zoom by more than 4 times?
Standard facilities MIUI limit the increase to 4ร—. For a larger scale (up to 16)ร—) Use third-party apps like Super Zoom or Magnifying Glass, but keep in mind that if you zoom in, the image quality will deteriorate due to pixelation.
Why does zoom work only in some applications?
This depends on the app developerโ€™s policies, such as Instagram and TikTok blocking zoom in their apps to prevent users from circumventing content download restrictions, while in a browser, zoom usually works everywhere except for sites with a fixed layout (such as the web version of Telegram).
How to turn off the random activation of a zoom gesture?
If the phone responds to random touches with three fingers, follow the following steps: Go to Settings โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ Enlargement gestures. Turn off the option or increase the delay (if any). Check the sensitivity of the sensor in Settings โ†’ Screen. โ†’ Touch sensitivity: If you use a magnet case (for example, for wireless charging), try to remove it - the magnetic field can falsely activate gestures.
Is there a difference in zoom on POCO redmi?
There is no difference, since both lines are MIUI (or its modifications, like POCO Launcher. Exception: devices POCO with a clean Android One (for example, POCO X3 NFC), where MIUI In this case, for zoom, use the settings of the special Android features.
Can I zoom on a locked screen?
By default, no, because MIUI It blocks the magnification gestures on the lock screen: ๐Ÿ”“ Unlock your phone and use zoom in the Camera or Gallery app. ๐Ÿ“ธ If you want to zoom in on a locked screen, take a screenshot (triple touch gesture or Volume down buttons) + Power, then unlock your phone and open the screenshot. ๐Ÿ”ง On some firmware, you can activate the developer mode and enable the debugging option USB, afterward ADB Allow gestures on a locked screen (not recommended for security reasons).