Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face the need to quickly read information from a product pack, book or ticket. Unlike older button phones, modern Android devices have become powerful tools for recognizing graphics. You no longer need to search for a separate app to find out the price or characteristics of a product.
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer a variety of built-in features that are hidden in the depth of the menu or activated automatically. Understanding how to scan the barcode on Xiaomi will save you time and allow you to instantly jump to buying products from online stores or get technical information about the device.
In this article, we will explore all possible ways to read the jacks, from a standard camera to specialized utilities, you will learn why the built-in scanner can work better than third-party software and how to set up automatic recognition without unnecessary actions.
Use of built-in scanner in the Camera application
The most obvious and quick way is to use the camera app, which Xiaomi engineers have integrated QR and barcode recognition right into the shoot interface, so you don't have to install any additional software, you just have to open a standard app.
Hover the lens over the code, and the system will automatically try to recognize it. If a pop-up with a link or information appears on the screen, then the function is active. In some versions of MIUI firmware, you need to manually switch the shooting mode to Scanner or Documents so that the algorithm begins active scanning.
Sometimes automatic recognition doesn't work the first time, and it could be due to poor lighting, dirty lens, or too small a print on the package, so try changing the distance to the object or rubbing the camera with a soft cloth.
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Keep your phone parallel to the code surface to avoid glare and distortion that interferes with the algorithm’s focus.
It is important to note that the built-in scanner in the camera is often set to prioritize reading. QR-codes, and the usual barcodes (EAN-13) It can ignore if they don't lead to a web page. It's better to use a specialized mode to work with commodity articles.
Scanner application: hidden system function
Every Xiaomi smartphone has a system app called the Scanner, which is in the Tools folder on the desktop, and it's more powerful than just a camera, because it can not only read, but also analyze data.
When you run the Scanner, you'll see a viewfinder with a central frame. You'll point the camera at the barcode. The utility will instantly determine the type of encoding and suggest the appropriate actions: open a link, show text, add a contact or find a product in online stores.
One of the key features of this application is the ability to work with recognition algorithms without an Internet connection for simple text codes, but to search for goods in databases (Yandex, Google, Taobao) you will need an active network connection.
In the scanner settings, you can enable the feature "Recognize objects", in which the artificial intelligence will try to determine what is in the frame, even if the object is not explicitly barcoding, useful for identifying plants, dog breeds or attractions.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful when scanning codes from unknown sources.The link may lead to a phishing site that attempts to steal your personal data or infect your device with a virus.
Google Lens: a universal solution from the search engine
If Xiaomi’s standard tools don’t seem functional enough, Google Lens comes to the rescue, pre-installed on most certified devices and deeply integrated into Android.
You can run Google Lens in a number of ways: through a desktop widget, through Google search, or directly from the camera interface if the manufacturer has allowed this integration. Google's algorithms are considered among the best in the world for speed and accuracy of recognition.
- 🔍 Instant translation of text from images in real time.
- 🛒 Search for products by photo to compare prices in different stores.
- 🍽️ Recognition of dishes in the menu of restaurants with a display of calorie content.
- 📱 Copying text from paper media to the clipboard.
The main advantage of Google Lens is that it has a huge database, and when you scan a barcode, it looks for matches not only in stores, but also in news, reviews and forums, and it can find rare or specific products that don't show up in regular directories.
It can also remember the latest scans, so you can go back to your search history and re-open the link or copy the text, even if the Internet was not available at the time of the scan (the data is stored locally).
Why Google Lens May Not Work
Third-party apps from Google Play Store
The Google Play app store offers thousands of alternative scanners. Why do you need them when you have built-in tools? The fact is that third-party software is often devoid of advertising, has more flexible settings, and supports rare encoding formats.
Popular applications like QR & Barcode Scanner or Binary Eye (open source) allow you to create your own databases of scanned code, export data to CSV or Excel, and generate your own barcodes.
| Annex | Advertising | History | Creation of codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| System scanner | No. | There is. | No. |
| Google lens | No. | Got it (in the account) | No. |
| Binary Eye | No. | There is. | Yes. |
| QR Scanner Pro | There is. | There is. | Yes. |
When choosing a third-party application, pay attention to the permissions requested. A simple scanner does not need access to your contacts, geolocation or microphone. If the application requires unnecessary rights, you should prefer not to install it for security reasons.
Some professional utilities allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the camera and use the flash in constant mode, which is critical for working in dark warehouses or poorly lit rooms.
Automatic recognition settings and widgets
For maximum convenience, the scanning process can be automated, and the MIUI and HyperOS shells have handy widgets that are displayed on the desktop or lock screen, which allows you to run the scanner in one click, bypassing unlocking the phone and searching for the icon.
To add a widget, press the empty space on your desktop, select "Widgets" and find "Scanner" or "Camera." Drag the icon onto the screen, and then you tap it and you immediately open the code hover interface.
☑️ Quick access settings
It’s also worth checking the permission settings for the camera app. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Camera → Permissions. Make sure that access to the camera is always allowed, and file access (if you need to save scans) is also activated.
Newer firmware versions have introduced the camera quick start feature, which is usually activated by double-clicking the volume button when the screen is off, and if the camera settings prioritize scanner, double-clicking will immediately open the scan mode, bypassing the photo mode.
⚠️ Attention: Double-pressing buttons when the screen is locked can cause the camera to accidentally start in your pocket.
Problem Solving: What to do if the camera can't see the code
Despite the perfect algorithms, there are times when Xiaomi refuses to recognize the obvious code. First, check the focus. Touch the area of the screen where the code is to force sharpness. Macrographing is often required for very small barcodes on electronics.
The second common cause is damage to the code itself. If the barcode is rubbed, drenched with liquid, or pasted onto a shiny, glaring surface, the camera won't be able to read the sequence of stripes. Try changing the angle of the phone to remove the glare.
If the problem is only with a specific type of code (e.g., DataMatrix or PDF417), it is possible that the standard scanner has disabled support for this format. In the Scanner app, click three dots in the corner of the screen and check the format settings - all ticks should be active.
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Clean camera lens is responsible for 80% of focus problems.
As a last resort, if the built-in tools are not working properly, you can always use a third-party application with manual exposure and zoom settings. Sometimes software zoom helps to bring blurry code to readable state.