Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to quickly scan QR-code for authenticating in the messenger, paying for a purchase or connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi integrated the scanning function directly into the system shell. MIUI And HyperOS, making it available in different interfaces, but sometimes users can't find it or it's turned off by default in the privacy settings.
Understanding where the code scanner is located on your device saves time and doesn’t search for third-party apps on Google Play. Standard tools are faster, consume less power, and have access to system features that are not available to third-party software. In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to activate and use the scanner on Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices.
It's worth noting that the location of the switches may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system. If you upgrade to the latest version of Android, some menu items may have been moved. We'll look at the current action algorithms that will help you set up your device correctly.
Built-in scanner in the Camera app
The fastest way to activate the code readout is to use the standard Camera app, which is already built-in on most modern Xiaomi models, but requires manual activation in the settings menu, and is done for security reasons so that applications cannot stealthily read information without the user's knowledge.
To start, you need to open the Camera app and go to the settings menu, usually represented by three horizontal lines in the upper right corner.In the list of parameters that opens, you should find an item that can be called Code Scanner, Google Lens or QR Recognition. Activation of this switch adds a special mode or button to the viewfinder interface.
⚠️ Note: Some global versions of the firmware MIUI Instead of native Xiaomi scanner, the Google Lens module can be preinstalled. In this case, the functionality will depend on Google services, and not on the system settings of the shell.
When you turn on the function, you'll see a yellow frame or a special button that signals you're ready to go. QR-The code or barcode device automatically recognizes the content and prompts you to perform the appropriate action, whether it is clicking on a link or adding a contact.
A separate application "Scanner" in the system
In addition to camera integration, MIUI-based Android often features a separate system application called the Scanner, which has enhanced functionality compared to the camera, allowing not only to read codes, but also to translate text, recognize goods and scan documents.
To find this tool, scroll through your desktop or open the Tools folder. The app icon is usually a square with a beam or a barcode. If you can't see it, it may be hidden or deleted, in the latter case it can be returned by resetting the launcher settings or finding it in the system folders.
Inside the application, various modes of operation are available, which are switched by swipe or through the menu:
- 📷 Scanner: Basic mode for QR and barcodes.
- 📄 Documents: creation PDF or edge-aligned images.
- 🌐 Translation: instant translation of text from the camera.
- 🛍️ Products: search for analogues in online stores by image.
Using a separate application is preferable if you need to scan complex or corrupted code that the camera can barely recognize.The algorithms in a specialized application often have higher sensitivity to contrast and tilt angles.
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For quick access to the scanner without unlocking the phone, add the Scanner widget to the lock screen via the theme or lock screen settings.
Setting up scanning through the side panel
The MIUI and HyperOS shell offers a handy sidebar (or floating windows) feature that lets you run popular apps on top of others, ideal for those who need to scan codes frequently while in another application, such as a browser or messenger.
To set up, go to Settings → Additional Features → Sidebar. You need to activate the switch and add the Scanner or Camera app to your favorites list, and then a swipe from the edge of the screen will show a floating menu with selected apps.
The advantage of this method is multitasking: you can keep the dialogue on Telegram or WhatsApp open and scan codes simultaneously without switching between windows, which is especially useful when working with documents or correspondence, where frequent verification is required.
But remember, you need to keep in mind the resource consumption: Multiple active windows can drain the battery faster, especially on entry-level models, and if the phone starts to slow down, you better close the background processes.
☑️ Setting up the sidebar
Scanning of documents and text
Xiaomi’s modern smartphones can replace full-fledged document scanners, and with high resolution matrices and image processing algorithms, you can create digital copies of documents in PDF format right in the Scanner app.
When you switch to Documents mode, the camera automatically detects the edges of the piece of paper. After shooting, the system suggests improving the quality: removing shadows, aligning perspective and increasing text contrast, which is critical for clearly displaying fine details when sending a file.
It uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to help you convert an image of text into an editable format, so you can copy text from a photo and paste it into notes, or send it by message, which eliminates the need to reprint large amounts of information manually.
| Mode of work | Format of withdrawal | Best application |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | PDF / JPG | Passports, contracts, certificates |
| Text | Text file | Books, articles, signs |
| QR-code | Reference/Text | Payment, Wi-Fi, contacts |
The quality of the final file is directly dependent on lighting and hand stability. It is recommended to use a tripod or elbow against a hard surface when scanning multi-page documents to avoid lubrication of frames.
Why can't the scanner see the text?
Solving Access and Permits Issues
A common cause of scanner failure is the lack of necessary permissions from the application. Android system strictly controls access to the camera and storage, so the first run of the scanner must confirm all requests.
You can check and change settings through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps → Scanner (or Camera) → Permissions. Make sure that access to the camera is set to “Allow Always” or “Allow Only When Used” mode. Without this, scanning is physically impossible.
⚠️ Note: If the scanner stopped working after the system update, try clearing the app cache. To do this, select Storage in the app menu and click Clear Cache without deleting user data.
Problems can also arise from conflicts with installed third-party launchers or themes, some modified themes may hide system buttons or change paths to executable files, in which case returning to a standard theme often solves the problem.
If nothing helps, it makes sense to check for updates for Google's system components and the MIUI shell itself. Errors in older versions of camera drivers can block secondary features like pattern recognition from working.
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90% of scanner problems are solved by checking permissions in privacy settings or cleaning the app’s cache.
Use of third-party solutions
In the rare cases where Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t meet user requirements (e.g., batch code processing or specific barcoding formats are needed), it makes sense to turn to third-party developers.
Popular alternatives include apps from well-known antivirus vendors or specialized utilities for retail.They can store scan history in the cloud, sync data with Excel or have a built-in editor to create their own customized scans. QR-code.
- 🔒 Security: Choose apps with high ratings and a lot of downloads.
- 🚫 Advertising: Free versions are often overloaded with ads, which is annoying when used frequently.
- ⚙️ Settings: Third-party scanners allow you to adjust sound, vibration and output format more flexible than system scanners.
But for most household tasks, the capabilities built into MIUI are enough: they are manufacturer-optimized, do not waste battery power, and are guaranteed to be compatible with the hardware of your smartphone.