How to turn on the camera in WhatsApp on Xiaomi smartphones: instructions for all models

You try to take a photo or video on WhatsApp on your Xiaomi, but instead of a camera image, you see a black screen or a “No access” error? The problem most often lies not in the messenger itself, but in the security settings of MIUI – the proprietary shell of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones. In this article, we will analyze all possible reasons why the camera does not turn on in Watsap, and give step-by-step solutions for models based on Android 10-14.

Xiaomi’s aggressive privacy policy is a feature: the system by default blocks apps from accessing the camera, microphone and storage unless they are added to the whitelist. Even if you have already allowed access to the camera in Android settings, MIUI can additionally request confirmation through Permissions → Special Access. We will show you where to look for these settings and how to set them correctly to avoid crashes.

Important: the instruction is relevant for all modern Xiaomi devices, including Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Mi 11/12/13 and other models on MIUI 13-14. If you have outdated firmware (for example, MIUI 12 and below), some menu items may differ - we will mention this too.

Why the camera doesn’t work on WhatsApp on Xiaomi: the main reasons

Before we get to the settings, let's figure out what's stopping the camera from starting.-5 Reasons Why Xiaomi Camera May Not Be Included in Vatsapa:

• 🔒 There is no resolution in Android settings or MIUI (Even if you gave it before, a reset or update could reset it).
• 🛡️ Background access blocking — MIUI Default limits applications in the background, including camera access.
• 🔄 Conflict with other apps using the camera (for example, if TikTok or Instagram are open at the same time).
• 📱 Failure of the camera module – especially relevant after drops or firmware updates.
• 🐞 Error in WhatsApp itself (for example, after a recent update to the messenger).

80 percent of the time, the problem is solved by setting up permissions or restarting the camera, but if you've recently dropped your phone or wet your phone, it could be a hardware malfunction, in which case you'll need a diagnostic at the service center.

Check the permissions for WhatsApp in Android settings

Make sure the camera works in other applications (e.g. the standard Camera app).

Reboot your smartphone

Update WhatsApp to the latest version

Try to clear the WhatsApp app cache-->

If at least one of the items is not met, first eliminate it — perhaps no further action will be required. If all is well, proceed to the detailed instructions.

Step 1: Give permission to the camera in Android settings

The first thing you need to do is check the basic permissions for WhatsApp on the system.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the list, find WhatsApp and tap it.
4. Select the Permission.
5. Make sure that the Camera is marked "Allowed" and if not, tap the item and select "Allow".

On some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi 10A or POCO M4 Pro), the path may be slightly different: Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions → Camera.

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If the permission list does not include Camera, try updating WhatsApp first through Google Play. Sometimes older versions of the messenger do not ask for all the necessary permissions.

Once the permissions have changed, be sure to restart WhatsApp (close it in the multitasking menu and reopen it).If the camera still doesn't work, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Set up special access to MIUI

MIUI has an additional layer of protection called Special Access, which often locks the camera for third-party applications, to configure it:

1. Open Settings → Privacy (or Privacy Protection on newer versions).
2. Select Special Access (or Application Permissions).
3. Find the access point to the camera and tap it.
4. In the list of applications, find WhatsApp and turn on the switch.

On MIUI 14, the path might look like this: Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Access to the camera.

If WhatsApp is not on this menu, it means that the app has not yet requested access to the camera. Try clicking on the camera icon in the chat in the messenger itself, the system must issue a request for permission. If the request does not appear, move to the next section.

Step 3: Check WhatsApp Background Activity

MIUI actively saves battery power by limiting the use of apps in the background. If WhatsApp is blocked, the camera may not start.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Choose Application Battery Consumption Management (or Battery Optimization).
3. Find WhatsApp in the list and select No Limits.
4. Also turn on the AutoRun switch for WhatsApp (this will allow the app to run in the background).

On POCO and some Redmi, the path may be different: Settings → Battery → App selection → WhatsApp → No restrictions.

After these changes, restart your smartphone to help you apply the settings correctly, and if the camera still doesn't work, check if it conflicts with other apps.

Step 4: Solve conflicts with other applications

If the camera is running a standard Xiaomi app but not included in WhatsApp, the problem may be a resource conflict, for example, if another app using the camera is opened simultaneously with the messenger (for example, Instagram, TikTok or Google Meet), the system may block access.

To check it out:

1. Close all applications in the multitasking menu (swipe up each window).
2. Open WhatsApp and try to turn the camera back on.
3. If the camera is running, it means the problem was the conflict, so you can open one app at a time to identify the culprit.

On some firmware, MIUI is assisted by forced stop of the conflicting application: Settings → Applications → [Application name] → Forced stop.

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If the camera doesn’t work in any application (including the standard one), the problem is likely hardware, in which case, check the camera module for physical damage or contact the service center.

It’s also worth checking if the camera is blocked by an antivirus or an optimizer (such as Xiaomi’s Security or Clean Master), go to the settings of these apps and add WhatsApp to the exceptions.

Step 5: Clear WhatsApp cache and data

If all permissions are set correctly, but the camera still doesn't turn on, the problem may be in the damaged app cache.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find WhatsApp and tap it.
3. Choose Warehouse.
4. Click Clear Cache (this is secure and won't delete your messages).
5. If it doesn’t work, try to clean up the data (⚠️ It'll delete the whole chat history!).

Once the data is cleared, you will need to log in to WhatsApp again (enter your phone number and confirm the code). If you did not back up, your message history will be lost.

⚠️ WARNING: Before clearing WhatsApp data, make sure you have a backup of the chats. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup and create a copy in Google Drive.

If the camera is running after cleaning the cache, but the problem has returned after a while, try reinstalling WhatsApp:

1. Remove the app through Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Delete.
2. Download the latest version from Google Play and install it again.
3. At the first start, give all the necessary permissions.

Step 6: Checking the camera's hardware health

If none of the previous methods worked, there may be a problem with the camera module itself.

1. Open the standard Camera app (camera icon on the home screen).
2. Try to take a photo on the main and front cameras.
3. If the image is blurry, with artifacts or the camera doesn’t turn on at all, it indicates a hardware malfunction.

Typical signs of camera breakdown:

• 📸 Black screen when you try to turn on the camera (in any application).
• 🔍 Image blurred or with colored stripes.
• 💥 The camera app is suddenly shutting down.
• 🔊 Extraneous sounds (squeaking, crackling) when focusing.

If you see at least one of these symptoms, you’ll likely need to repair or replace the camera module. On new Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 14), the camera is integrated into the motherboard, and replacing it can be expensive. On older devices (like the Redmi 9 or POCO X3), the camera module is often removable and it’s cheaper to replace.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi smartphone fell or came into contact with water, do not try to disassemble it yourself - this may lead to additional damage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the camera on WhatsApp on Xiaomi