Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to quickly scan a document or count. QR-And unlike many other manufacturers, they've integrated the powerful Mi Scanner tool directly into the shell. MIUI However, by default, this feature can be hidden or deactivated in the main menus, which causes confusion among users who are used to looking for a separate application.
Turning on the scanner does not require installing third-party software, since the system components already contain all the necessary image processing algorithms. You only need to correctly activate the desired switches in the settings or add a widget to the desktop. Xiaomi system scanner is able to recognize text (OCR) and translate it in real time without connecting to the Internet, making it a more functional analogue of simple code readers.
This article will explain how to find and run a scanner on your device using the built-in capabilities of the system. We will look at various activation methods, from standard camera settings to hidden search bar functions. Understanding these nuances will allow you to maximize the potential of your smartphone for working with paper and digital data.
Functionality of the built-in MIUI scanner
Before you start setting up, itβs important to understand what Xiaomiβs ecosystem offers to users: the built-in scanner is not just a barcode reader, but a comprehensive image-reading tool; it can recognize text, translate labels, copy Wi-Fi data, and even identify products in stores; intelligent recognition relies on neural networks built into smartphone processors.
The main advantage is that it's very integrated with the system, so you don't have to open a separate application, wait for it to load, and then point the camera, and it's available from almost anywhere in the interface, which saves time. And Mi AI algorithms allow you to automatically define the boundaries of a document and improve readability, removing shadows and leveling perspective.
- π Scanning documents: creating clear PDF-files with automatic cropping of fields and improving text contrast.
- π Translator: Instant translation of text from a photo into any supported language, while saving formatting.
- π Product search: object recognition and search for analogues in online stores by image.
- πΆ Connecting to Wi-Fi: Reading QR-codes for automatic password entry and network connection.
β οΈ Note: Translation and recognition of complex objects may require an active Internet connection, as some of the calculations are performed on cloud servers.
Users often underestimate the capabilities of this tool by continuing to use third-party ad apps.The system solution is devoid of intrusive banners and has access to camera hardware acceleration, which allows for faster processing speeds.The Redmi Note and older models cope with the task almost instantly.
Activation through the settings of the Camera application
The easiest and most obvious way to turn on the scanner is to activate the appropriate mode in the standard Camera application. However, in many regions and firmware versions, this mode is hidden by default or replaced with Documents mode. To access the full functionality, you need to check the settings of the application itself.
Open the Camera app and swipe your finger down the lower mode bar to the right or left to find "More" or "More." In the menu that opens, you can often find a Scanner or Google Lens switch. If you only see Documents mode, then the full Mi Scanner scanner is not activated as the primary tool.
π‘
For quick access to the scanner, add the Scanner widget to your desktop or control center if your version of MIUI supports customization of widgets.
In some cases, it is necessary to manually enable the display QR-Go to the camera settings (three-lane icon or gears in the corner) and find the section related to code recognition. QR-The codes are in the active position, so that the camera can automatically focus on the codes and suggest actions when they are detected.
If the camera menu doesn't explicitly mention the document scanner, try switching to Photo mode and getting stuck the lens over text or code. In the upper right corner, you may see a T-square icon or a magnifier, and tapping it activates smart scanning mode. On Redmi K models and flagships, this process happens automatically thanks to the ISP chip.
Use of widgets and desktop shortcuts
For those who need to use the scanner frequently, the best solution is to display the function on the desktop. The MIUI shell allows you to create shortcuts for specific actions, avoiding the need to open applications. This is especially convenient when you need to urgently read code from a computer screen or paper media.
To create a shortcut, click on the empty space on your desktop and select "Widgets." In the list that opens, look for the category "Tools" or "Systems." Among the many icons, you're interested in a widget called "Scanner" or "Mi Scanner." Drag it to the free screen space.
βοΈ Creating a scanner label
An alternative method is to use the Tools folder, which is preinstalled on most Xiaomi smartphones, and it often already has the Scanner icon inside of it. If it's not there, you can add the app manually. You can find the Scanner program (which can be called Scanner) on the menu of all the apps, pinch it and drag it to your desktop or utilities folder.
There's also a hidden quick-start feature through search. Swipe down the center of the screen to open a global Google or Yandex search. The search bar often displays a camera or scanner icon. By clicking on it, you'll immediately go into scan mode. This works even if the main camera app is closed.
Configure via the Applications menu and Hidden functions
Sometimes the scanner icon disappears from the app menu, which can confuse the user. On the Android system on which Redmi is based, applications can be hidden or disabled. To regain access, you need to check the list of installed programs and display settings.
Go to Settings β Applications β All apps. In the list, find the Scanner or Mi Scanner app. If found, click on it and make sure it's not disabled. In the same menu, you can clear the cache if the scanner is not working correctly or crashes when you start. Reset the application settings often solves problems with the recognition module freeze.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended value | Impact on work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera resolution | Automobile | Maximum. | Improves clarity of text |
| Maintaining format | JPG | PDF (for documents) | Convenience of archiving |
| Text recognition | Included. | Included. | Necessary for OCR |
| Auto-cutting | Included. | Included. | Cleans up the extra fields. |
New versions of HyperOS have the ability to customize the scanner behavior in the Special Features section, where you can adjust the sensitivity of recognition and actions performed after scanning, for example, you can set automatically saving all scanned documents to a specific folder in the Mi Cloud cloud storage.
β οΈ Note: When you disable the Scanner system application, some camera features, such as real-time translation, may stop working correctly.
If you can't find an app with standard methods, search in the settings. Type the word "Scanner" into the search bar at the top of the settings menu. It will tell you where the item is hidden and let you click on it with a single click. It's a universal way of navigation for all Xiaomi devices.
Work with document scanner and translator
One of the most useful features is the document scanner mode, which allows you to turn your smartphone into a portable copier, and when you hover the camera over the text, the system automatically determines the boundaries of the sheet, aligns the image and removes the lights, which is critical for making readable copies of passports, contracts and checks.
To work with text, use Documents or Text mode. When you press the shutter button, you get a series of images that the algorithm uses to create. AI It glues into a single file. You can choose the color (color, black and white, gray) and the save format. It supports batch scanning, where multiple pages are saved to one. PDF-file.
Secrets of high-quality scanning
The interpreter function works in conjunction with the camera. Point the lens over foreign text, and the translated version will appear on the screen on top of the image, this is convenient when reading menus in restaurants or technical instructions, it is supported offline mode for major languages, which saves traffic in roaming.
Once scanned, you can copy the text to the clipboard, and then when you view the scanned document, click the copy button (letter icon) and the system recognizes the characters and allows you to paste them into any other application, such as messenger or notes, and the accuracy of Russian and English is 98%.
Solving common problems and errors
Despite the stability of the work, users can face problems: the scanner does not see the codes, the camera focuses on the background or the application closes. Often the cause lies in the contamination of the lens or the wrong distance to the object.
If the scanner has stopped responding to QR-In the privacy settings, make sure that Scanner and Camera have access to storage (to save photos) and geolocation (to maps.
- πΈ Fuzzy image: Remove the protective glass or case if they overlap part of the lens or create glare.
- π¦ Poor lighting: Turn on the flash in scanner mode or use an external light source to illuminate the document.
- π Hang: Force the application to close through the menu of running tasks and open it again.
- π Low performance: Close background apps if scanning is slow on older Redmi models.
In rare cases, resetting the camera to factory settings helps. In the camera settings menu, find the "Restore Default Settings" button, which returns all focus and exposure settings to their original state, which often eliminates software failures of the image processing module.
If the problem persists after all the manipulations, it may be a hardware malfunction of the camera module, in which case it is worth checking the camera in other modes, if ordinary photos are also blurred or have artifacts, you will need a diagnosis in the service center.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I scan documents without the Internet on Xiaomi?
Where are the scanned documents stored?
Why the scanner doesn't read QR-screencode?
How to scan multiple pages into a single file?
Is it safe to use a built-in scanner for bank codes?
π‘
Xiaomiβs built-in scanner is a versatile tool that replaces the need to install a dozen separate apps to work with text and code.