How to find and turn on the scanner in the Xiaomi phone: QR, barcodes and NFC

Scanner in Xiaomi smartphones is a universal tool that allows you to quickly read QR-codes, barcodes, and in some models, even work with NFC-But not everyone knows where the feature is hiding, especially if it's not displayed on the home screen or in the Quick Settings Panel. In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can find the scanner on Redmi devices, POCO and Mi, including hidden settings and alternative methods.

It is important to understand that the location of the scanner depends on the version of the MIUI firmware and the phone model. For example, in the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the function is integrated into the standard camera, and in the budget Redmi Note 12, you may need to install an additional application. We will consider all options from built-in solutions to third-party utilities, and also give tips for solving typical problems (for example, when the scanner does not recognize codes or works with delays).

1. Built-in scanner QR-codes in the Xiaomi camera

The easiest way to scan QR-code - use the standard Camera app, a feature available on all modern Xiaomi smartphones (starting with the latest Xiaomi phones). MIUI 10 and later) and doesn't require any additional software installation. Here's how to activate it:

• 📷 Open the Camera app (the icon on the home screen or menu).
• 🔍 Point the lens at QR-If the function is enabled, a notification will appear on the screen asking you to click on the link.
• 🔗 Tap the pop-up banner to open the code contents in the browser or other application.

If the scanner does not work automatically, check the camera settings:

1. Open the camera. → Settings (cogs) → Scanner. QR-code.
2. Make sure that the slider scans QR-codes included (should be blue).
3. If you do not have an option, upgrade your MIUI firmware to the latest version.

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On some models (such as the POCO X5 Pro), the QR scanner only works in photo mode, not video. Switch to the main camera if the function is not responding.

2. Barcode scanner: where to look and how to use

Unlike in the QR-Codes, barcodes (e.g. on products or books) are not always recognized by a standard Xiaomi camera. MIUI. Let's look at both options.

Method 1: Scanner application (built into MIUI)

• 🔎 Open the application menu and find the Scanner utility (a icon with a magnifying glass and a barcode).
• 📦 Point the camera at the barcode – the program will automatically determine the type of code and offer actions (for example, search for goods on the Internet).
• 🛒 If the app is not available, you can install it via Google Play (search for "Mi Scanner").

Method 2: Third-party applications

If the built-in scanner fails to perform the task (for example, does not recognize corrupted codes), install one of the tested applications:

3. NFC-Scanner: How to turn on and use

Xiaomi mid- and premium models (e.g. Xiaomi 14, Redmi K60 Pro) are equipped with an NFC chip that allows you to read tags, pay for purchases and transfer data.

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → NFC.
2. Turn on the NFC slider.
3. To pay, add a bank card to Google Pay or Mi Pay.

To scan. NFC-tag (for example, on a transport card or smart bracelet):

• 📱 Hold the top of the phone (where it is located) NFC-chip) to the tag at a distance of 1-2 cm.
• 🔔 Wait for the sound signal or vibration – a notification with the tag data will appear on the screen.
• 🔄 If the scan fails, check if the case is blocking the signal.

⚠️ Note: On budget models (e.g. Redmi) A2 or POCO C55) NFC Check the specifications of your device on the official Xiaomi website.

4. Hidden scanner features in MIUI

MIUI hides some of the most useful features of the scanner that not all users know about, and here are the most interesting ones:

• 🔄 Lock screen scanning: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) readable QR-To do this, swipe down the lock screen and tap the scanner icon in the lower right corner.
• 📋 Scan History: The Scanner app (embedded) has a History section where all scanned codes from the last 30 days are stored.
• 🔍 Image search: If you click on the scanned barcode of a product, the system will prompt you to find it in online stores (for example, on AliExpress or Wildberries).

To include these functions:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Scanner. QR-code.
2. Activate Quick Access and Save History.

On the lock screen appeared the scanner icon|The last 10 codes are still in history.|When scanning the barcode, a search for goods is offered-->

5 Problems with the scanner and their solutions

If the scanner in your Xiaomi is not working correctly (does not recognize codes, gives errors or is not in the menu), use this instruction:

If after all the manipulations, the scanner still doesn’t work, reset the camera settings: go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Camera → Storage → Clear the data. This will return factory settings without deleting photos.

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (like LineageOS), Xiaomi’s built-in scanner may not work. In this case, use third-party apps from Google Play.

6. Alternative scanning methods

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t suit you, consider these options:

• 🌐 Online crawlers: Upload a photo of the code to sites like ZXing Decoder – they recognize the code without installing programs.
• 📱 Google Lens: Keep your finger on your finger QR-code in Google Photos → Choose Search with Lens.
• 💻 Scanning from a PC: Connect your phone to your computer and use programs like QR Code Desktop Reader.

For advanced users, there is another way – using ADB-commands to force the scanner to turn on, for example, to activate a hidden scanning function from the lock screen, perform:

adb shell settings put global qr_scanner_lockscreen_enabled 1

This command runs on MIUI 12-14 firmware, but requires an unlocked bootloader and developer rights.

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The side of the app often offers more features than Xiaomi's built-in scanner, but may request unnecessary permissions (like access to contacts).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the scanner in Xiaomi