How to Open a Scanner on Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have long since ceased to be just call devices, becoming powerful tools for working with information. One of the most popular features is a built-in scanner that allows you to instantly read. QR-Users often search for ways to open a scanner on a Xiaomi phone to quickly access Wi-Fi, click on a link or copy text without having to print it manually. MIUI And the new HyperOS, this tool is integrated deep into the system, making it available in just one click.

Despite the obviousness of the feature, however, many owners of Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi devices are unaware of all the hidden capabilities of the standard application. The system scanner is able not only to read codes, but also translate phrases in real time, as well as recognize products in stores. Understanding how to properly activate and configure this module saves time in everyday life. In this article, we will examine all possible ways to launch, from desktop widgets to voice commands, and also consider settings that are often overlooked.

It's worth noting that the shell interface can vary depending on the firmware version and region. Some icons may be simply called "Scanner" and some may be part of a Security or Camera app. The recognition algorithms in newer versions of Android work faster and more accurately, requiring minimal user intervention. Let's take a look at how to find and run this useful tool on your device.

Launching through the System Security Application

The most traditional and reliable way to find a scanner on Xiaomi devices is to use the built-in Security app, which is preinstalled on all the brand’s smartphones and serves as the control center for the system. Inside this application, there are a whole range of utilities, including memory cleanup, antivirus and, of course, a code scanner, and to run you need to open the application with a green shield icon and find the appropriate section in the tool list.

Once you open the partition, you'll see an interface ready to go, the camera automatically focuses on the object, and the system tries to recognize the type of content. Unlike third-party software, Xiaomi's system scanner doesn't require additional permissions on its first run, since it already has access to the camera at the system level, which ensures instant availability without unnecessary requests.

⚠️ Note: If you use a global firmware version, the app may be called “Security” or “Cleaner”, but the functionality inside remains identical to the Chinese version.

For those who prefer voice control, there's an alternative activation method. You can just say, "OK, Google, open the scanner," and the system will launch the app itself. This is especially convenient when your hands are busy or your smartphone screen is locked, but OK, Google is activated.

• 🔍 Open the Security app (green shield) on your desktop.
• 📱 Find the Scanner icon in the top row of tools or in the Tools menu».
• 📸 Put the camera on QR-code or text for instant recognition.
• ⚙️ If necessary, switch the mode of operation in the upper corner of the screen (code, document, translation).

Using the scanner widget on the desktop

For maximum convenience, Xiaomi allows you to bring the scan function directly to the main screen. This eliminates the need to search for an application in menus or folders. The scanner widget can be presented as a separate icon or be part of the Tools widget. Adding a widget takes only a few seconds and greatly speeds up access to the function.

To add a widget, you need to pinch an empty space on your desktop or pinch a two-finger to open the edit menu. In the menu that appears, select "Widgets." In the list, find the "Scanner" or "Tools" section. Drag the selected element to the free screen space. Now the scanner is launched with one touch.

There is also the option of customizing the scanning action. In some versions of the shell, you can choose what will happen after a successful code readout: clicking on a link, saving a contact or simply copying the text to the clipboard. The flexibility of the widgets customizes the smartphone to the individual needs of the user.

⚠️ Note: When you remove the widget from the desktop, the application itself is not deleted, it remains available through the menu of all applications or search.

• 🖐️ Press your finger on an empty section of the desktop to enter editing mode.
• 📂 Select the menu item "Widgets" at the bottom of the screen.
• 📥 Find the Scanner list and drag it to the main screen.

Scan directly through the Camera app

Many users don’t realize they don’t even have to open a separate app.The camera app on Xiaomi smartphones already has a built-in recognition module. QR-You just have to start the camera, like you do in a photo shoot, and you point the lens at the code, and the system automatically detects the code and suggests an action, like clicking on a link.

To activate this feature, you sometimes need to enable the appropriate option in the settings of the camera itself. Go to the camera settings (three bars in the corner), find the item "Document scanner" or "Recognition". QR-And then you have to go and make sure that the switch is active, and then the camera will be constantly monitoring the viewfinder for codes.

Also, the camera interface often has a separate Documents or Text mode, and by switching to this mode, you can take snapshots of documents that automatically align, become clearer, and translate into editable text. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) works surprisingly accurately even in imperfect lighting.

Using a scanning camera is especially convenient when you need to quickly check the product in a store or read menus in a restaurant. You don't need to look for an app icon, just unlock your phone and start the camera. The response rate in this mode is usually higher than when you start a separate scanner.

• 📷 Launch the standard Camera app on your Xiaomi.
• 🔎 Point the lens at QR-code-not-photo.
• 🔗 Wait for the yellow frame and pop-up notification with action.
• ⚙️ If the code is not read, check the camera settings and enable scan mode.

Setting up work modes: Text, Translation and Goods

Xiaomi's built-in scanner is a multifunctional harvester that can work in multiple modes, and as you switch between them, you change the image processing algorithm. There are usually three main modes: code scanning, text translation, and document recognition, each optimized for a specific task.

Translation mode allows you to point the camera at a foreign language text and see its translation in real time on top of the image. This is an indispensable feature for tourists. You can choose the source language and the target language, as well as the mode: translate the entire image at once or translate as you hover over individual words. Neural network algorithms cope with handwritten text and complex fonts.

The document mode is designed to digitize papers. It automatically trims the edges of the sheet, aligns perspective and improves the readability of the text, removing shadows and highlights. PDF-Document: Some versions have text recognition (OCR) with the ability to copy it to the clipboard.

The Product mode allows you to point the camera at the barcodes of products in supermarkets. The smartphone tries to find information about the product in databases by showing the average price, composition or reviews, which helps you quickly compare costs and choose the best options without a long study of labels.

Problem Solving: The scanner is not working or the code is not seeing

Despite the stability of the system, sometimes users are faced with situations where the scanner refuses to function properly: the code is not read, the camera focuses on the background or the application crashes. Most often the problem lies in a software failure or conflict of permissions. Rebooting a smartphone often solves 90% of such problems, resetting temporary errors in the operation of the camera module.

If a simple reboot didn’t work, check the app’s permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Scanner or Security and make sure the app has access to the camera. Without that permission, the scanner won’t be physically able to get the image for analysis. Also check if you’re using the translation feature.

⚠️ Note: If the scanner stopped working after the system update, try clearing the app cache through the settings without deleting user data.

Another cause may be the damage to itself. QR-Make sure the code is not dented and well lit. In low light, turn on the flash if you have it in the scanner interface. Sometimes it helps to change the distance to the object — slowly zoom in or out of the phone so that the camera can focus.

💡

For better scanning of old or damaged codes, try taking a regular photo through the gallery, then open the photo and use the “Search by Photo” function or copy text through Google Lens.

Alternative methods and voice assistant

Xiaomi's ecosystem offers another convenient way to run the scanner, through a voice assistant. You can use Google Assistant or Xiao AI (depending on the region). Just say the phrase "Open scanner" or "Scan QR code," and the phone will run the interface itself, which is especially true for people with disabilities or in situations where hand use is difficult.

And you should also mention the photo search feature in the gallery, and if you took a picture of a document or code, but you didn't scan it at the time of shooting, you don't have to take it again. Open the image in the gallery, click on the "More" button or the Google Lens icon, and the system will analyze the picture by finding text or code there. Integrating Google services makes this process seamless and very convenient.

For advanced users, there is the option of using third-party apps if standard functionality seems insufficient. However, for 95% of tasks, Xiaomi’s built-in tools are more than enough: they work faster, contain no advertising (in system versions), and are more deeply integrated into the operating system, which guarantees stability.

💡

Xiaomi’s built-in tools are often more effective than third-party counterparts due to deep integration into the system and the absence of the need to install additional software.