Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Often faced with a situation where you need to quickly calculate QR-code or scan a document, but the standard scanner icon is not on the desktop. MIUI HyperOS, where system utilities are often hidden inside other applications or integrated into a camera without a separate icon.
It can take a long time to find the built-in tool if you don't know where exactly the developers hid it. In most cases, a separate application is called the Scanner, but it can be removed by a user accidentally or hidden in the Tools folder. Understanding the logic of the system will help you instantly activate the desired shooting mode.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible locations of the scanner, how to quickly launch it through the sidebar and how to restore the system application if it is lost, you will learn how to use Google Lens as a full-fledged alternative and what nuances are in different versions of the firmware.
Search for the system application "Scanner" in the menu
The first place to look for a native utility is the common menu of all installed apps. On Xiaomi smartphones, the system app is often called “Scanner” or “Scanner” and an icon that resembles a camera lens with a square inside. If you use a standard launcher, try using the search bar at the top of the menu screen.
Type in the word "Scanner" or "QR" and the system will give the result, but if the application was deleted or hidden, the search will not work, in which case it is worth checking the Tools folder, where the system utilities are grouped by default, sometimes users accidentally move the icon to another folder or to a second desktop, forgetting about it.
If you find an app but it doesn't work correctly, try clearing its cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Scanner and select Clean.This often solves the camera's freeze problems when you start.
⚠️ Note: If the Scanner app is not listed as installed, it may have been removed along with system components when the memory was cleared by third-party utilities, in which case you will need to reset or reinstall via the Mi Store.
Using the scanner widget on the desktop
The MIUI and HyperOS shells allow you to take scanning functions directly to the home screen as widgets of different sizes, which is the fastest way to access without requiring additional menus, and widgets can be either standard or from third-party applications, if they support this feature.
To add a widget, make a long tap (swipe up or pinch with two fingers, depending on the navigation settings) from the empty desktop area. In the bottom menu, select "Widgets." In the list that opens, find the category "Scanner" or "System tools."
You can find all sorts of design options, from simple buttons to information blocks, pick the right size and drag it to your desktop, and now you just need one touch to scan, which greatly speeds up the process of paying for or adding contacts.
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Use a large (2x2) widget if you need to scan different code types frequently – it often has a built-in mode selection menu (QR, document, text).
Scanner through the side panel and control center
One of the most convenient features of the Xiaomi ecosystem is the sidebar (formerly known as “floating windows”), which allows you to call a scanner on top of any open application, which is extremely useful when working with browsers or messengers, where you need to read code from another device.
To activate this feature, you must first enable it in the settings. Swipe your finger from the edge of the screen (usually left or right, depending on orientation) and hold it to push the panel. If the panel does not appear, check the settings in the Settings section. → Additional functions → Sidebar.
In the sidebar menu, find the Scanner icon. If it's not there, click on the setting icon (cog or three dots) inside the panel and add Scanner to your favorite tools list, and then it takes less than a second to call the function.
☑️ Setting up the sidebar
Scanning function in the Camera app
Modern versions of firmware MIUI often integrate recognition QR-And you can actually go directly to the standard Camera app, and you don't have to search for a separate app.
If automatic recognition doesn't work, look at the top of the screen or in the shooting mode menu, there may be a Documents icon or a special mode switch. In some Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi models, you need to switch to More mode to find the Scanner.
It's also worth checking the settings of the camera itself. In the upper right corner, there's often a menu with three stripes or a gear. Inside, there might be a "Recognition" item. QR-"codes" that you need to activate with a slider. Once turned on, the camera will automatically prompt you to click on the link when you hover over the code.
| Model/Series | Location of function | Nuances of work |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi 11 / 12 / 13 | Mode "More" → Scanner | Manual selection of the regime is required |
| Redmi Note 10-13 | Automatically in the viewfinder | Background recognition is working. |
| POCO F/X series | Separate annex or widget | Depends on the MIUI version. |
| Xiaomi 14 (HyperOS) | Integration in Google lens | Google's engine is used |
Google Lens as an Alternative to a Full-Time Scanner
In recent Android and HyperOS updates, Xiaomi is increasingly relying on Google technology. If a standard scanner seems uncomfortable or missing, the ideal replacement is Google Lens, which is built into the Google app or accessible through the search widget.
The advantage of Google Lens is that it can use powerful algorithms to recognize text, objects and translations in real time, not only read code, but also understand the context of an image, for example, it can copy text from a photo or solve a mathematical equation captured by a camera.
To get quick access, you can add a Google widget to your desktop. Clicking on a color box immediately triggers an augmented reality camera, a solution that often works faster and more accurately than standard Xiaomi system utilities.
Why Google Lens Could Be Better?
Recovery of Remote System Scanner
If you accidentally delete the Scanner app or it stops working after you upgrade, you can restore it without losing data. MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in GetApps app store (Mi Store) where all system components are available.
Open the app store, search for “Scanner” or “QR Scanner” and find an app from developer Xiaomi Inc. Click “Install” or “Update” button. The system automatically downloads and integrates the component into the menu.
In extreme cases, if the store doesn't see the app, you can reset the launcher settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Louncher (or System Launcher), select Clean → Clear Everything, which will return the icons and widgets to factory status.
⚠️ Attention: When cleaning the launcher data, the location of the icons on the desktop and the settings of the widgets may be confused. It is recommended to take a screenshot of the screen beforehand to remember the folder structure.
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The system scanner on Xiaomi is not just a separate application, but a module that can be integrated into a camera, sidebar or widgets, so you need to search for it comprehensively.