The situation when the footage is inverted or has a wrong orientation, familiar to every smartphone owner, this can happen due to a temporary failure in the operation of the accelerometer, accidental rotation of the device during recording or the peculiarities of the operation of third-party applications. Owners of devices Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face the need to quickly correct the orientation of the frame so that the video is correctly displayed on the TV or on social networks.
Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS shells provide built-in basic editing tools that can solve this problem without installing additional software. However, in some cases, standard features may not be enough, and then specialized video editors come to the rescue. In this article, we will discuss all the ways available to correct the orientation of the image, from simple actions in the gallery to the use of advanced processing algorithms.
Before you start taking action, it's important to understand the nature of the problem, and if the video is turned right after you shoot it, it's probably because of sensor settings or blocking the orientation of the screen, and if the problem is manifested when you play it on another device, it's the metadata of the file that you need to change, and if you get the right reason, you can choose the most effective method of solving the problem and preserve the quality of the source material.
Checking the screen orientation lock
The first step in a video orientation diagnosis should be the state of the screen rotation blocking system. Often users accidentally activate this feature, after which the image in the camera viewfinder or when viewed in the gallery ceases to respond to the turns of the smartphone. On Xiaomi devices, this parameter is controlled through the control center or quick settings panel.
To check the status, swipe down from the top right or left corner of the screen to open the control panel. Find an icon that looks like a lock with arrows around it. If this icon is illuminated, then the orientation lock function is active, in which mode the screen will be fixed in the current position, regardless of how you hold the phone in your hands.
- 📱 Click on the lock icon to deactivate it if it burns.
- 🔄 Turn the device horizontally and check the interface response.
- ⚙️ Make sure that the camera settings do not have orientation restrictions.
- 🎥 Try to make a test recording by holding your phone vertically and horizontally.
⚠️ Attention: If the screen does not turn after the orientation lock is removed, the gravity sensor (accelerometer) may not be working, and the sensors will need to be calibrated or repaired.
Sometimes the system can stick in a certain state, especially if you have used the phone in an unusual position before, for example, lying on your side. In this situation, it helps to simply restart the device or re-enable and turn off the orientation lock. It is also worth checking whether the one-hand mode or other accessibility functions that can force the orientation of the interface are turned on.
Video editing in the standard Xiaomi gallery
The built-in Gallery app on Xiaomi smartphones has powerful enough functionality for basic editing, including image rotation. This method is the fastest and does not require an Internet connection or installing unnecessary applications. The algorithm is the same for most versions of the shells MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS.
To start, open the Gallery app and find the video you want. Click on it to open in full screen view. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a toolbar where you select Change (an icon with sliders or a magic wand). Once you go into editor mode, find the Trip or Turn tool, which is usually represented by an icon with two arrows forming a circle.
☑️ Gallery's turn algorithm
By pressing the turn button, you will cycle around 90 degrees. Continue pressing until the video is in the correct position. It is important to note that if you save the changes, the original file can be overwritten or saved as a copy, depending on the gallery settings.
If the standard turn tool doesn't work or the video is saved with black fields on the sides, try using the Cover tool. You can manually select the area of the video you want to leave and save only that area, and this also removes the extra black bars that often appear when you're not orientationd correctly.
Using Google Photos to Correct
Google Photos is preinstalled on most modern Xiaomi smartphones and is a great alternative to the standard gallery. its editor is often more stable and offers a more predictable result while saving file metadata. Google Photos automatically syncs changes to the cloud, allowing you to get corrected video on other devices.
Open the video in the Google Photos app and click on the Change button at the bottom of the screen. In the menu that appears, select the Tools tab (the slider icon) where you will find a turn button that allows you to rotate the image. The advantage of this editor is that it often better recognizes the original orientation of the video and offers automatic fixes.
Once you've turned the video in the right direction, click Save as a copy. This is a critical step, because it allows you to save the original file unchanged in case you don't like the result. Google Photos also allows you to apply filters and improve image quality, but for the task of flipping the video, these features can be skipped.
In some cases, Google Photos may offer a "Auto-Improving" feature that will try to correct orientation itself, but you shouldn't rely on automation, especially if the video is shot in non-standard conditions, but you should manually monitor the rotation process to make sure that the top and bottom of the video are true.
Third-party video editing applications
If the built-in tools don’t work well or you need more complex processing (like turning only part of the frame or adding a background), specialized apps will come to the rescue. The Google Play store features a variety of free and paid editors that work great on the Snapdragon and MediaTek processors used in Xiaomi phones.
One of the most popular and functional solutions is the CapCut app or VN Video Editor, which allows you not only to turn a video, but also to work with multiple tracks, add music and effects. For a simple turn, you just need to import a video into a project, highlight a clip on a timeline and choose a Transform tool or Twirl tool.
| Annex | Type | Difficulty | Watermark |
|---|---|---|---|
| VN Video Editor | Professional | Medium | No (can be removed) |
| CapCut | Half-pro | Low. | Got it (removed) |
| Video Rotate & Flip | Utilitarian | Very low. | No. |
| InShot | For social media | Low. | Got it (advertising) |
When using third-party apps, it’s important to pay attention to export settings. Make sure you choose high resolution and bitrate to keep the quality of the original video from being lost. Some lightweight apps can compress video more than necessary, leading to artifacts.
Why can video slow down in the editor?
Technical reasons for inverted video
Understanding the technical aspects helps prevent problems in the future. The orientation of the video is determined by the metadata that is written to the file at the time of shooting. This data is read from the accelerometer and gyroscope. If the sensors sent the wrong signal at the time of recording, for example, the phone was lying on the desk and you took it while you were recording, the video can be saved inverted.
Another reason could be software conflicts: Third-party launchers, widgets or camera apps from other manufacturers (such as Open Camera) can intercept sensor control and transmit incorrect data to a standard Xiaomi camera app, in which cases cleaning the Camera app cache through the settings menu helps.
- 📉 Failure of the gyroscope can lead to accidental coups.
- 📱 Using magnet covers can affect sensors.
- 💾 File system errors sometimes distort metadata.
- 🔄 Conflicts of Android versions and shells MIUI/HyperOS.
In rare cases, the problem is with the codec. Some old or specific codecs may misinterpret the orientation tag. If you plan to edit a video on a computer, make sure your player or editor correctly reads the H.264 or HEVC standards that are used in modern smartphones.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to rename video files or change their extension manually (e.g., with a video file.mp4 on.avi) in the file manager. This won't turn the video over, but it can cause the file to stop opening.
Prevention and calibration of sensors
To prevent the issue of inverted video from bothering you in the future, it is recommended to periodically check the operation of the smartphone sensors. Xiaomi phones have a hidden engineering menu that allows you to test all the sensors. This is especially true if the phone has recently fallen or been exposed to moisture.
To enter the engineering menu, dial the Phone app command ##6484##. From the menu that opens, select Accelerometer or Gyroscope. Follow the instructions on the screen: you will need to put the phone on different faces so that the system calibrates the position of zero. After successful calibration, the sensors will work more accurately.
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Before calibrating the sensors, place the phone on a perfectly flat horizontal surface, which will ensure maximum accuracy in the accelerometer setting and prevent orientation errors in the future.
It’s also worth updating the Camera and System Software app to the latest version. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix metadata and sensor errors. You can check for updates in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version.
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Regularly calibrating sensors through the engineering menu is the best way to prevent problems with the orientation of the screen and video in the long run.