Why a smart camera in Yandex Browser can interfere, and how to properly deactivate it on Xiaomi
Smart camera function in Yandex Browser designed to simplify the process of scanning QR-But on Xiaomi smartphones (especially on models with a high-end model) MIUI 12+ and HyperOS) this option often works unstable: spontaneously activates, slows down the interface or conflicts with system resolutions.+ and POCO F5 complain that the browser requests access to the camera even when the application is closed, which leads to accelerated battery discharge and heating of the processor.
In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn off a smart camera, from standard browser settings to deep changes in the system. We will focus on the nuances for Xiaomi, where standard methods often fail due to the features of the firmware. If you find that the function turns on itself after updating the browser or resetting, here you will find a solution.
Before you start, check out the Yandex Browser version (relevant to 23.7+) and your Xiaomi model.Some techniques may not work on devices with MIUI Global due to regional restrictions.
Method 1: Disconnecting the smart camera through the settings of Yandex Browser
The most obvious and safe method is to deactivate the function directly from the browser menu, but on Xiaomi this path does not always work due to conflict with the system services miui.camera.
- Open Yandex Browser and tap on the icon "Three dots»** (⋮) lower-right.
- Select Settings → Smart camera.
- Translate the slider "Allow a smart camera"** to the position Off.
If the function continues to work after these actions, then the browser receives permissions from the MIUI system.
☑️ Preparing to turn off the smart camera
Method 2: Reset camera resolution for Yandex Browser in MIUI
MIUI firmware (and its new version of HyperOS) aggressively manages application permissions, sometimes ignoring the settings inside the programs themselves, to completely block the browser from accessing the camera:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find Yandex Browser in the list and tap on it.
- Select Permissions → Camera.
- Set the value of Prohibit (or Ask each time if you want to leave the option of manually enabled).
Important: Some models (Xiaomi 13T, Redmi K60) may have a notification after resetting permissions, saying, "MIUI system restricted the application." That's OK -- just ignore it.
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If the permission list doesn't have a Camera, then the browser has never requested access. Try first to manually run the smart camera so that the item appears.
Method 3: Disconnecting through "Special Features" (for MIUI 14+)
The latest versions of MIUI (starting with 14.0.3) introduced a hidden mechanism for managing camera services through a special feature menu, which works even if the standard browser settings are ignored:
- Find the Yandex Browser (or Yandex Browser on English firmware) in the list.
This method blocks all browser background processes associated with the camera, including scanning. QR-- codes through the widget on the main screen.
What if Yandex Browser is not on the list of special features?
Method 4: Deep Shutdown via ADB (for Advanced Users)
If all previous methods have failed, the radical way is to turn off permissions via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and executing commands.
Instructions:
- Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
- Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm revoke com.yandex.browser android.permission.CAMERA
Once you've completed the command, restart the device. To return access, use:
adb shell pm grant com.yandex.browser android.permission.CAMERA⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) after use ADB The encryption certificate may be reset, and we recommend backing up the data before executing the commands.
Method 5: Remove updates to Yandex Browser (if the function appeared after the update)
Often, the smart camera starts working after automatically updating the browser, and if you do not need new features, you can roll back to the factory version:
- Go to Settings. → Annexes → Yandex Browser → Three points (⋮) → Remove updates.
- Confirm the action. The browser will return to the version preinstalled in MIUI.
- Turn off automatic browser updates in Google Play.
Note that other features (such as dark theme or account sync) may be lost after a rollback, which is suitable if the smart camera is new and didn’t exist before.
| Method of disconnection | Difficulty | Works for MIUI. | It's powered by HyperOS. | PC required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browser settings | ⭐ | Yeah (not always) | Yeah (not always) | No. |
| Resetting permits in MIUI | ⭐⭐ | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
| Special facilities | ⭐⭐ | Yes (MIUI 14+) | Yes. | No. |
| ADB-team | ⭐⭐⭐ | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Removal of updates | ⭐⭐ | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after the smart camera is turned off, Xiaomi users are facing a number of problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
- 🔄 The function turns on itself after the reboot: Check if the browser is installed as a system application. If so, delete it and reinstall it from Google Play.
- 📱 Scan't work. QR-codes through the widget: This is normal — the widget uses the same camera. QR-codes (e.g. codes, QR & Barcode Scanner).
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption after disconnection: Perhaps the browser continues to work in the background. → Battery → Battery use and limit background activity of Yandex Browser.
- 🛠️ No permission settings are saved: This is a bug MIUI. Helps reset all permissions for the application through Settings → Annexes → Yandex Browser → Permits → Reset permits.
⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the Photo Search feature in other applications (e.g. Google Lens) may stop working after the smart camera is disabled. The solution is to use alternative browsers (e.g. Chrome or Firefox).
Alternative browsers without a smart camera for Xiaomi
If the fight against the smart camera in Yandex Browser was unsuccessful, consider switching to another browser. Here are the best options for Xiaomi, where there is no built-in scanning function through the camera:
- 🌐 Google Chrome: No built-in smart camera, but supports crawl extensions QR-code.
- 🦊 Mozilla Firefox: Fully open source, no background processes with camera.
- 🛡️ Brave Browser: Focus on privacy – blocks all implicit requests to the camera.
- 🔍 DuckDuckGo Browser: Minimalist browser with no unnecessary features, ideal for privacy.
When switching to another browser, do not forget:
- Export bookmarks from Yandex Browser (via Settings → Import / Export).
- Disable notifications from the old browser in Settings → Notifications.
- Delete Yandex Browser cache if it takes up a lot of space (Settings → Storage → Clear cache).
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If the scanning function is critical QR-codes, but do not need a smart camera in the browser – use separate applications like QR Code Reader or Kaspersky QR Scanner. They don't conflict with system permissions. MIUI.