Modern Xiaomi smartphones have long ceased to be just devices for calls and have turned into powerful pocket offices capable of solving tasks that previously required bulky equipment. One of the most sought-after features is the ability to quickly and efficiently scan an important document, textbook or handwritten note directly from the main camera. Redmi owners often look for a way to turn text photos into readable ones. PDF-Files without loss of quality and distortion.
Unlike standard photography, scanning automatically aligns perspective, removes shadows and increases contrast, making text look like a digital original. Image processing algorithms in MIUI and third-party applications work wonders to produce results comparable to those of a professional office scanner, especially for students, office workers and anyone who leads an active digital lifestyle.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available scanning methods on Xiaomi devices, from built-in tools to specialized applications. You will learn how to set up the camera for maximum quality, which file formats are best used for storing documents and how to recognize text using OCR technology. The key advantage of Xiaomi smartphones is the presence of native Documents mode in the standard Camera application, which does not require the installation of additional software.
Built-in scanning mode in the Camera app
The fastest way to get a quality copy of a document is to use the standard Camera app, which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi device. The developers of the MIUI shell have integrated a special mode that is optimized specifically for working with text documents and tables. To activate this feature, the user does not need to download anything, just open the application and switch to the appropriate mode.
When you hover your lens over a piece of paper, the system automatically recognizes the boundaries of the document and highlights them with a yellow or blue frame, which helps keep the phone flat and avoid blockages of the horizon, which is critical for later image alignment. Once you press the shutter button, the image is instantly processed: the background is leveled, glare is removed, and font sharpness is increased.
To access the advanced settings, you need to open the option menu by swiping right or clicking on the "More" icon, where you will find Documents mode, which is designed specifically for scanning printed text, in which the camera automatically detects the edges of the sheet and suggests adjusting the scan area before saving.
- 📸 Documents mode automatically aligns perspective even when shooting at an angle.
- 📄 Support for batch scanning allows you to save several pages in one file.
- 🔍 Automatically improve readability of text by increasing contrast.
☑️ Checking camera settings
⚠️ Note: When using Documents mode, try to avoid getting your own shadow on a piece of paper, as the algorithm may misdetect the boundaries of the object.
Using Google Lens for smart scanning
If the built-in tools don't seem functional enough, Google Lens, which is deeply integrated into the Android ecosystem and is available on all Redmi smartphones, comes to the rescue. It's not just a scanner, but a powerful computer vision tool that can not only copy text, but also translate it, search for information about products and recognize handwriting, and you can run it through a widget on your desktop, through the Google Photos app or directly from the search widget.
The main feature of Google Lens is that you can instantly copy text from paper to the clipboard of your smartphone. You don't have to take a picture, save it and then open it -- just point the camera, and the system will allocate the text blocks, and then you can paste it into any application, whether it's a messenger, notes or a text editor, and you can save the formatting.
To fully scan documents in the Google Photos app or in the Lens-enabled Camera interface, select Documents mode. PDF-It's a format that's very convenient for sending multi-page contracts or notes, and it's processed in the cloud, so some of the features require an active Internet connection.
- 🌐 Translation of text in real time with preservation of structure.
- 📝 Recognition of handwritten text with high accuracy.
- 📤 Directly send a scanned document to Gmail or Google Drive.
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Use Google Lens to scan business cards: It automatically recognizes name, phone and email, prompting you to immediately save contact to the phone book.
Third-party scanner apps from Google Play
Despite the rich functionality of standard tools, many users prefer to install specialized applications that offer finer configuration of image parameters and cloud synchronization, the leaders in this niche are Adobe Scan, CamScanner and Microsoft Lens. These programs use their own processing algorithms, which often work better than standard ones, especially in poor lighting.
Adobe Scan stands out for its ability to automatically determine the type of document and select the best filtering settings. The application is free and watermarked, making it an ideal choice for students and freelancers. It also knows how to recognize text (OCR) and turn scanned pages into editable files, although working with Russian sometimes requires downloading additional language packages.
CamScanner, on the other hand, offers perhaps the best algorithm on the market to remove noise and equalize the color of paper, making even a photo from a crumpled sheet look like a fresh printout. However, the free version can add watermarks and have limits on the number of scans. Microsoft Lens is great for those who are actively using the Office suite, allowing you to immediately send scans to Word or PowerPoint for editing.
| Annex | Free of charge. | OCR (Recognition) | Watermarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Scan | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
| CamScanner | Partially. | Yes. | Got it (free) |
| Microsoft Lens | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
| Google Drive | Yes. | Basic | No. |
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party scanners, carefully monitor the permissions requested. Some applications may require access to contacts or geolocation, which is not necessary for scanning documents.
Why can third-party apps be better?
Customization of quality and preservation formats
The quality of the final scan depends on the resolution settings and the save format. In the standard Scanner app or Xiaomi gallery, you can choose between JPG and PDF formats. For text documents that are planned to be sent by email or uploaded to government portals, it is recommended to use PDF, as it preserves the structure of the document and prevents accidental editing.
If you scan photos or documents with fine print, where every detail is important, choose the maximum resolution. In the camera settings, make sure that you do not include strong compression of images. For color documents with graphs and diagrams, you should choose color scanning mode, and for black and white texts, you should choose the "Ch/B" or "Gray" mode, which significantly reduces the weight of the file.
An important parameter is DPI (dots per inch). For normal screen reading, 150-200 DPI is enough, but if a document is to be sent to print, the value should be set at least 300 DPI. In mobile applications, this is often governed by the choice of quality: "Standard", "High" or "Original".
- 📉 Use the format. JPG only for images that do not require a multi-page structure.
- 📄 PDF — Universal document standard supported by all devices.
- 🎨 Black and white scanning mode significantly reduces file size.
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The optimal balance between file quality and size is achieved by scanning in a PDF with a resolution of 300 DPI and using a black and white filter for text documents.
Text Recognition (OCR) and Document Translation
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology allows you to turn a picture of text into an editable digital format. On Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is implemented through Google and MIUI services. After scanning the document, the system analyzes the image, finds familiar letter patterns and converts them into typewritten text. The accuracy of the recognition of printed text in Russian and English reaches 95-98%.
This feature is especially useful when working with foreign documents or instructions. The built-in camera interpreter is able to replace text in an image in real time, overlaying the translation on top of the original lines. This allows you to instantly understand the essence of the document without resorting to dictionaries. For deeper work, the scanned text can be exported to Google Docs, where it will automatically pass recognition.
It should be noted that the quality of OCR depends on the clarity of the original image. Blurred photos, slashed lights or handwriting with poor handwriting can reduce the accuracy of recognition, in such cases, it is recommended to use the mode "Increase clarity" or take several pictures in different lighting.
Lighting and positioning tips for the perfect scan
Even the most advanced algorithm can't work wonders if the original image is shot in the dark or with strong glare. Lighting plays a crucial role as a scan. The ideal option is uniform daylight from the window, but without direct sunlight falling on the paper. Artificial light is better used diffuse, for example, from a ceiling chandelier, avoiding table lamps that create sharp shadows.
When shooting, keep your phone strictly parallel to the surface of the document. Sloping leads to distortion of proportions (trapezoidal), which, although corrected programmatically, can reduce the readability of text along the edges of the sheet. Use the grid on the camera screen to align horizontal and vertical lines of text.
If you're scanning pages from a book or a notebook, try to hold them with your fingers or a special weight to keep the page as flat as possible. Bending the page at the back of the book can cause the text in the center to be out of focus. In such cases, it's better to take two pictures of the left and right page separately.
⚠️ Warning: A flash of the phone when scanning glossy documents or laminated pages creates a powerful glare that makes part of the text unreadable.Always turn off the flash when scanning documents.