How to scan text on Xiaomi: built-in tools and applications

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have evolved into powerful handheld computers that can instantly recognize and process visual information. Device owners often face the need to quickly transfer text from a paper, sign or monitor screen to digital format for further editing. Instead of searching for third-party programs or manually reprinting large amounts of data, take advantage of the built-in capabilities of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system.

The scanning process has become so integrated that it often doesn't even require you to unlock the device or open complex menus. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) works with high precision, supporting a variety of languages, including Russian, English and Chinese, making the procedure accessible to students, office workers and anyone who works with documents.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the ways you can extract text from your gadget’s camera, learn about the intricacies of Google Lens, the hidden features of the standard Camera app, and specialized tools from the manufacturer, and understand these tools will allow you to significantly improve your productivity with documents.

Using Google Lens for Recognition

The most versatile and powerful tool for working with text on any Android device, including Xiaomi, is the Google Lens service, which is deeply integrated into the system and is often available directly from the desktop search widget or through the Google app, which is ideal when you need to not just copy text, but also translate it or find information about it.

You just have to start the app and point the camera at the document, and it automatically defines the boundaries of the text and offers options, and if the image quality is good, recognition happens almost instantly, even saving the basic formatting of paragraphs.

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Use Text Mode in Google Lens for better handwriting recognition, as the algorithms are specially trained to work with handwriting.

Once scanned, text can be copied to a clipboard, sent directly to the Documents app, or translated into another language. Google Lens can recognize text even from curved surfaces or in low light, adjusting the perspective of the image, making it an indispensable tool for working with books and magazine clippings.

• 📸 High accuracy of recognition of printed and handwritten text due to neural networks.
• 🌐 Instant translation of scanned text with original markup.
• 📤 The ability to quickly export data to Google Docs or Gmail.
• 🔍 Search for goods and objects in the image in parallel with reading the text.

Scanning through the standard Camera app

Owners of Redmi and Poco smartphones often don’t know that their device already has a built-in scanner that doesn’t require Internet access for basic operations. In the MIUI shell, the camera’s functionality is extended with special modes that are activated by swipe or through the lens settings menu, which is the fastest way to simply copy a few lines.

To activate the mode, open the Camera app and find the "More" button or scanner icon in the corner of the screen. In some versions of the firmware, just point the camera at the text, and the system itself will suggest a "Text" or "Documents" button. Once you press, you take a picture, and the phone immediately highlights text areas.

It's important to note that the quality of recognition is directly dependent on the focus. Before you take a picture, tap the screen in the text area so that the camera is overflowing with the letters. Avoid moving your hands while you're shooting, or the text will become blurry and the algorithm will not be able to process it correctly.

Once you process the image, you get an interactive copy of the document, you can select a specific piece, copy it or send it to the messenger. Unlike third-party applications, Xiaomi's built-in scanner works locally, which guarantees the confidentiality of data without it being transferred to third-party servers.

Mi Scanner App and its capabilities

For those who need more advanced functionality, Xiaomi has developed a separate application Mi Scanner, which is often pre-installed or downloadable through GetApps. This tool is designed specifically for working with documents, allowing you to create multi-page applications. PDF-high-quality.

The main advantage of Mi Scanner is that it's smart to cut edges and automatically align perspective, and even if you take an angled photo of a document, it will virtually straighten the sheet and remove shadows, which is critical to making clean copies of passports, contracts or educational materials.

There's batch processing inside the application. You can scan dozens of pages of a book and then combine them into one file. Text recognition (OCR) is also present here and supports exporting to editable formats like Word or TXT.

• 📄 Creating multi-page PDF-automatic numbering.
• ✂️ Intelligent background removal and sheet geometry alignment.
• 🔒 Ability to set a password to created scans for data protection.
• ☁️ Synchronize with cloud storage Mi Cloud or Google Drive.

The Interpreter function in MIUI

Another hidden, but extremely useful tool is the system translator, which, unlike simple scanning, focuses on the instantaneous replacement of one language with another directly in the camera viewfinder, ideal for traveling or learning foreign languages.

You can activate the function through the Tools menu or call the voice assistant. If you select Camera mode and translation direction, you point the phone at the text. On the real-time screen, foreign letters are replaced with Russian, preserving the font and style of the original.

Although the main purpose here is translation, the feature also allows you to isolate and copy the source or translated text, which is convenient when you need to quickly understand the meaning of a sign, menu in a restaurant or instructions for a medicine without knowing the original language.

⚠️ Attention: Mobile traffic is consumed when using online camera translation mode. To save data, it is recommended to download language packages for offline work in advance.

Setting up quality and scanning permissions

The quality of the final result depends on the camera settings and shooting conditions. You can find resolution options in the settings menu of the Camera or Mi Scanner app. Text documents do not always need a maximum resolution of 108 MP, as this will create a heavy file that takes a long time to process.

The best choice is to balance the detail and file size. Make sure that the settings include scene recognition, which automatically switches the camera to Document mode, which increases contrast and sharpness of letters, making the text more readable for algorithms.

You should also pay attention to the format of the save. If you plan to just store a document, JPG will do. If the text is edited or sent to print, you should choose the PDF format or uncompressed PNG to keep the character boundaries clear.

Remember to wipe the camera lens before each use. Fat spots and dust create glare that algorithms can take for part of the text or, conversely, hide important details. A clean lens is the key to successful recognition the first time.

Comparison of scanning methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right tool for a particular task, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you understand when to use the built-in camera and when to run a specialized application.

Each method has its strengths. Google Lens wins in versatility and handwriting. Xiaomi's built-in tools are better suited for fast work without the Internet. Specialized applications are indispensable for creating professional multi-page documents.

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For one-time tasks and translation, a built-in camera is enough, but for archiving documents, it is better to use Mi Scanner or similar PDF-forming applications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)