How to Make Google Camera by Default on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the desire to replace the standard shooting app with a more functional counterpart from Google. Despite the fact that the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer many settings, the built-in camera sometimes inferior in detail and processing algorithms HDR. Installing Google Camera (GCam) allows you to significantly improve the quality of images, but the Android system by default does not allow you to simply change the main application.

The process of assigning a third-party application to the primary photography tool requires understanding the operating system. Unlike launchers, where the default choice is made in one click, the situation is more complicated here, you will have to use special methods to prevent the system from opening the “native” camera when you press the lock screen or widget button.

In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, from simple menu settings to advanced methods using debugging by USB. You'll learn how to get around the limitations of the system and get your smartphone to use the software you choose, and the key is that without root rights or use. ADB-commands to do this by regular means in most versions MIUI impossible.

Why Google Camera is Better Than Standard Camera on Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s standard camera app is often criticized for aggressively smoothing and unnatural color reproduction. Image processing algorithms aim to make photos brighter, sometimes at the expense of realism. Google Camera takes a very different approach, relying on machine learning and powerful processing capabilities.

The main advantage lies in night shooting and portrait modes. Where a standard camera creates a porridge of noise, the GCam pulls out details even in very low light. In addition, the dynamic range in the Google app is often wider, allowing you to save details in shadows and light areas at the same time.

• 📸 HDR+ Enhanced: A mode that takes multiple shots with different exposures and combines them into one perfect photo.
• 🌙 Night Sight: Night mode, working without a tripod and taking bright, clear pictures in the dark.
• 👤 Portrait Mode: More accurate background blur and natural skin colors thanks to better definition of object boundaries.

However, it is easy to install APK-To enjoy these benefits all the time, you need to have the app run automatically, otherwise you'll have to manually search for the GCam icon on the menu every time, which negates all the convenience.

Preparation: Installation and Configuring GCam Ports

Before you try to make the application default, you need to make sure that the Google Camera itself is installed and works correctly on your device.There is no official app in the Play Market for all models, so so so-called "ports" from independent developers are used.

You need to find a version that is designed specifically for your Snapdragon or MediaTek processor. There are no universal solutions, and installing an inappropriate version will lead to constant departures or a black screen. BSG, Arnova8G2 or BigKaka.

Once installed, be sure to give the app all the permissions you want, without access to the microphone, storage and camera module itself, it’s not going to work, and it’s also worth downloading a configuration file (.xml) for your model, if it’s available, to unlock the full potential of the sensor.

⚠️ Note: When installing GCam ports from unverified sources, there is a risk of malware infecting the device. APK-files only from official developer channels or verified forums, such as 4PDA or XDA Developers.

Method of disabling a standard camera through settings

The easiest, but not always the most effective, way is to try to disable the system app, which in some versions of MIUI allows the system to automatically switch to an alternative when calling the camera, but in recent security updates, Xiaomi blocks the complete shutdown of its services.

To start, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Camera (usually with the Mi or Redmi logo) if the Disable or Delete button is active, try pressing it. The system will warn you of the possible consequences, but it is often necessary for Google Cameras to work.

If you can't turn off (Gray button), move to the next step, reset the default settings. Go to the app menu and find "Start by default." Click "Delete default settings." This action will not make GCam the main one, but will allow the system to "forget" the old choice and offer a new one the next time you start.

Using ADB to Change the Default Application

The most reliable way to get Xiaomi to use Google Camera as its primary is to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which does not require root rights, but necessitates connecting to a computer and executing multiple commands in the terminal.

First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI 7 times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on “Debugging over USB.” When you connect to a PC, confirm the resolution on the smartphone screen.

To change an application, we need to know the exact name of the GCam package, which usually looks like com.google.android.GoogleCamera or com.google.android.apps.camera.

adb shell pm set-home-activity --user 0 com.google.android.GoogleCamera

But the camera uses a slightly different syntax, because it's not a launcher. We need to change the preferred intents handler.

adb shell pm set-default-activity com.google.android.GoogleCamera

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB The wrong command can cause no camera to open.Always have a way to reset settings through the receptacles or a full reset if the system stops responding.

If the direct command didn't work, you can try the "cheat" path by removing preferences for a standard camera.Look for the name of the standard camera package (often com.android.camera) and do:

adb shell pm clear com.android.camera

After that, when you first start the camera, the system can ask which app to use. Select Google Camera and click Always. This will anchor until the next settings reset or system update.

💡

Use ADB wireless debugging if you have Android 11 or higher, and this will allow you to execute commands wirelessly, directly from your phone, using a terminal app that supports local ADB.

Compatibility issues and possible errors

Even after a successful setup, you may encounter unstable work.Google Camera is very hardware-intensive.Budget models of Redmi and POCO with Helio processors or older Snapdragon can have shutter delays or departures.

A common problem is that GCam ports often only have a primary sensor and sometimes an ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses and macro cameras can be ignored by port developers because of the complexity of the drivers.

• 📉 Low performance: Photos are processed for a long time, the interface slows down. Solution: use lighter versions of GCam (Go edition) or lower the resolution of shots.
• 🔒 Lockdown DRM: In some banking applications or streaming services, the camera may stop working if a modified system or a dangerous application is used.
• 🔋 Battery consumption: Google algorithms require more processing power, resulting in faster battery discharge when shooting actively.

Also, you should consider that after a major update to MIUI or HyperOS settings can fly. The system often resets application preferences to factory values, in which case the procedure with ADB or reset settings by default will have to be repeated.

💡

The stability of the GCam is directly dependent on the version of Android and the specific processor. Don’t expect to work perfectly on older devices, but even there, the quality gains can be noticeable.

Alternative solutions and conclusions

If ADB seems too complicated and the standard camera doesn't work, there are alternatives. You can use third-party launchers that have camera widgets that call GCam. This doesn't change the default system app, but it lets you run the right camera in one click from your desktop.

Another option is to use switching apps that redirect camera calls. However, they often run unstable and can conflict with Android security updates. The cleanest and most reliable method is to manually configure through a computer.

In conclusion, replacing the standard camera with Google Camera on Xiaomi smartphones is a great way to make the most of it without buying a new flagship. Despite some technical difficulties with the default app designation, the result in quality photos is worth it.