Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro have evolved into powerful multimedia hubs where the browser is a window into the digital world. Often users are faced with a situation where a website requires access to a camera for video calls, scanning, and video. QR-Identity verification, but the system blocks that activity. MIUI, which prevents applications from using device sensors uncontrollably.
It can be difficult to understand the maze of settings, especially given the multilayered shell interface from Xiaomi. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to correctly configure the permissions for the built-in Mi Browser. You will learn how to manage access to hardware modules, which will allow you to comfortably use web services without constant pop-ups requesting access.
We will not only look at the standard paths through the settings menu, but also the specific features of the Guard security system, which will help you avoid the typical errors when the application formally has access but cannot physically start the camera module due to system limitations.
Why does the browser access the camera and how does MIUI protection work?
Many users mistakenly believe that the browser only needs access to the camera for entertainment, in fact, it is a critical feature for banking services, government portals and two-factor authorization systems. The Android operating system, which runs Redmi 9 Pro, has strict restrictions on access to sensors.
The MIUI shell adds an additional layer of abstraction and security, and even if you've given permission to the site inside the browser itself, the operating system can block the video stream from being transmitted at the application level, which is done to prevent covert surveillance, but sometimes interferes with legitimate use of the functionality.
There are several levels of access control. The first level is the global settings of the application itself in the system. The second level is the internal settings of each particular website. And the third, often ignored, level is the privacy settings in the special Security app.
- 🔒 Global Permits Determine If an Application Can Run a Camera at All.
- 🌐 Site settings regulate access for a particular page (e.g. zoom.us or government services).
- 🛡️ System Guard can block access to background processes or unoptimized web scripts.
It is important to understand the difference between these levels, as an error in either step will cause you to see a black screen instead of a camera image or an error message.
Basic setting of permissions through the smartphone menu
The most direct and reliable way to grant the necessary rights is to use the system settings menu of Redmi 9 Pro. Here you manage the rights at the operating system level, which is a priority for all running processes.
You first need to find the Mi Browser itself in the application list, and you can do this in two ways: either through a general list of all programs or through the application management menu. Depending on the version of MIUI, the interface may differ slightly, but the logic remains the same.
Once you log into the app menu, you'll see a list of all the possible actions that the program can take, and we're interested in the item associated with the camera, and it's often hidden in the "Other Permissions" sub-menu if the system doesn't think it's critical to the basic work.
⚠️ Note: If you see a "Not allowed" or "Ask" status, change it to "Allowed" but remember that perpetual access gives the app the right to activate the camera at any time, which may not be secure.
Don't forget to check the microphone permissions, too, because for video, the two components work together, and the lack of audio access will make video calling impossible even if the image is broadcast.
☑️ Checking basic settings
Setting up rights through the Security app
Xiaomi devices have a separate system module that duplicates and extends the functions of a standard Android.The Security app has its own permission manager, which sometimes rewrites system settings.
Go to the Security app and find the Permissions or Privacy section, which displays the access matrix of all installed programs to sensitive data, and search the Mi Browser list and make sure that the slider in front of the camera is activated.
The feature of this section is that it can block access even if the basic Android settings allow everything, which often happens after a system update or the browser itself, when new security rules apply automatically.
Also on this menu, you can see usage statistics on when and how often the app has accessed the camera, a useful tool to audit the security of your Redmi 9 Pro.
- 📱 Open the Security app (green icon with shield).
- 🔐 Go to the section "Permissions» → «Camera».
- ✅ Find Mi Browser in the list and make sure it is worth the tick.
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Check this section periodically after major MIUI updates, as the system may reset access rights for older versions of applications for security purposes.
Internal privacy settings of Mi Browser
The browser itself also has its own set of privacy settings that work over system constraints, and if the system permissions are given but the site says "Access is denied," the problem may be here.
Open your browser, click on three dots (menu) and select Settings. Then go to Privacy and Security. This is where you manage your site settings.
It's important to distinguish between the global browser settings and the specific site settings. In the Site Settings menu, you can see a list of all the resources that have ever requested access to the camera. If the site you want is on the blocked list, you need to find it and change the status.
And there's also Incognito Mode, which is the default browser that doesn't save permissions, and every time you run a private tab, you'll have to reconfirm your camera access for each site.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Description of the impact |
|---|---|---|
| Camera. | Ask (or allow) | Determines the behavior when requesting from the site |
| Microphone | Ask | It is necessary for the transmission of sound |
| Geoposition | Ask | Often required with a card camera |
| Notifications | If you wish, | It does not affect the camera, but it is important for the job. |
Problem Solving: The camera is not working or the black screen is not working
There are times when all settings are checked, access is allowed, but instead of the image, the user sees a black screen or an error, which may indicate a conflict of processes in MIUI or that the camera is occupied by another application.
The first thing to do is to check if another app that uses a camera is running (such as Zoom, Skype, or the standard Camera).
The second common cause is a crowded browser cache: accumulated temporary files can cause modules to crash. Clearing the cache often solves the problem without losing personal data such as passwords or history.
⚠️ Warning: When you clean up the data (not just the cache, but the Data), you reset your browser settings to factory settings. Be ready to re-authorize on sites.
If the problem persists, try restarting your smartphone. On the Redmi 9 Pro, this helps reset the camera's hanging services that may have incorrectly ended up in the background.
Hidden systemic conflicts
Features of working with sites and access requests
Modern web standards require explicit user confirmation before launching the camera, and even with all permissions, the browser will display a pop-up asking “Let the site access to your camera?”.
It is important to click "Allow" at the time of the request. If you accidentally click "Block", the browser will remember this choice for the given domain. To fix this, you need to click on the padlock icon or settings in the address bar and change the decision manually.
Some sites use old protocols or incorrect scripts that Mi Browser may find unsafe, and in such cases, switching the browser mode (for example, turning on or off the ad blocker) can help.
- 🔍 Pay attention to the address bar: the camera icon there means an active video stream.
- 🚫 If the icon is crossed out, access is blocked at the page level.
- 🔄 Page update (F5) frequently resets erroneous request statuses.
Additional settings and optimization of work
For owners of Redmi 9 Pro, battery optimization is a topical topic. Aggressive power saving settings can “kill” the browser process when it tries to access the camera, especially if the screen goes out or the application is folded.
It is recommended to add Mi Browser to the list of exceptions or set the battery mode "No restrictions", which ensures that the video stream is not interrupted due to a lack of dedicated power to the processor.
It’s also worth making sure you have the latest version of your browser installed from the GetApps store or Google Play. Developers regularly release patches that fix compatibility with newer versions of Android.
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A comprehensive approach to setting permissions (System + Security + Browser) ensures the stable operation of video services by 99%.
If you use third-party launchers or themes, they can theoretically affect the display of the system windows for requesting rights. If you have problems, try switching to a standard theme.