Where in the phone Xiaomi is the button to enable the scanner and how to use it

Scanner in Xiaomi smartphones is a universal tool that allows you to quickly read QR-But many users are faced with the problem of where exactly is the button for enabling this feature, POCO, Mi) and firmware versions MIUI The location may vary, and in some cases the scanner is hidden in non-obvious menus.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to activate a scanner on Xiaomi, from the standard Camera app to hidden features in Quick Settings and third-party utilities, learn how to enable scanning without installing additional programs, which models support hardware acceleration of recognition (for example, through an infrared port), and what to do if the scanner Suddenly disappeared after a system update, and we’ll also look at typical errors that cause the device to not see the codes, and give recommendations for optimization of work.

Where in Xiaomi is the standard scanner QR-code

In most Xiaomi smartphones, the scanner is built directly into the Camera app, and to activate it, you just need to open the camera and perform one of the following actions:

• 📷 Point the lens at QR-code – if the function is enabled, a notification will appear with a suggestion to click on the link.
• 🔍 Click on the Scanner icon (usually located in the upper right corner or side menu).
• ⚙️ In some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Xiaomi) 12T) First, you need to go to the "Documents" or "Professional Mode" mode".

If the scanner icon is not available, check the camera settings:

1. Open the camera. → press on ⚙ Settings (cogs).
2. Find the "QR Scanner" or "Code Recognition" section and activate the slider.
3. Restart the app.

On some devices (e.g. POCO F3 or Xiaomi 11 Lite), the scanner can be inserted into a separate scanner app (an icon with a magnifier).

• 📱 In the menu of all applications (scroll the screen to the right).
• 🔎 Through search by system (swipe down on the main screen) → enter "scanner").

How to enable the scanner through Quick Settings (notification panel)

MIUI 12-14 firmware has a hidden option to add a scanner button directly to Quick Settings (notification curtain), which is convenient if you scan codes often and do not want to open the camera every time.

1. Turn the notification bar (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
2. Click on the icon. ✏ Edit (pencil).
3. Find it in the "Scanner" list. QR" (may be called "QR-code" or "Code reader").
4. Drag it to the active area (up).

Now the button will be available in one touch, and note that some models (Redmi 9A, POCO M3) may not have this option, so use alternative methods.

Make sure the code is not crumpled and well-lit.

Turn off energy saving for the camera in the settings

Update the Camera app to the latest version

- Check the camera permissions in the security settings-->

If the button is not in the quick settings list, try updating MIUI to the latest version or resetting the notification bar settings:

Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Quick settings → Reset

Scanner in Xiaomi via Google Lens and other third-party apps

If the built-in scanner is unstable or not, alternative solutions can be used, and the most reliable is the Google Lens, which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi devices with Google services.

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G").
2. Click on the Google Lens icon (square with a dot inside) in the search bar.
3. Put the camera on QR-code.

The advantages of Google Lens:

• 🌍 Not only does it recognize codes, but it also recognizes text per 100.+ language.
• 🛒 Can search for products by barcode in online stores.
• 📚 Keeps the scan history.

Other popular scanning apps:

⚠️ Note: When using third-party scanners, check application permissions. Some may request access to Contacts or Locations without needing to – this is a potential risk of data leakage.

Document and text scanner on Xiaomi: hidden features

Few people know, but Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in document scanner that allows you to recognize text from photos and save it in editable form, a feature hidden in the Notes app or the Camera (Document mode).

How to scan a document:

1. Open the camera. → Select the "Document" mode (or "Professional" mode" → "AI-document").
2. Point the camera at the text (passport, receipt, book).
3. Press the capture button – the system will automatically straighten the perspective and improve clarity.
4. Save the result to the gallery or export it to PDF.

For text recognition:

• 📄 Open the scanned document in the Gallery.
• 🔍 Click "Take Text" (or use Google Lens).
• 📋 Copy the text or edit it.

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If there is no Document mode, update the Camera app via Google Play or install the MIUI Camera from the official Xiaomi Store (GetApps).

Some flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Mix Fold 2) are available AI-supportive:

• 📊 Tables (save in Excel).
• 🖼️ Business card (automatic addition to contacts).
• 📑 Multi-page documents (glue into one) PDF).

Xiaomi Scanner Problems: Why It Doesn’t Work and How to Fix It

If the scanner has stopped recognizing the codes or does not turn on at all, the reasons may be as follows:

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the built-in Xiaomi scanner may not work. In this case, install third-party apps or return to the official one. MIUI.

If the problem persists, reset the camera settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Camera → Storage → Clear data

Scanner through the infrared port: features of Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi smartphones (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi) 9T) equipped with an infrared port that can be used for scanning special IR-But it's not going to replace the standard code. QR-Scanner – This requires a separate software.

How to scan. IR-code:

1. Install the IR Blaster Test or Mi Remote app (official from Xiaomi).
2. Select the "Learn" mode.
3. Hover the IR port (usually located at the top of the case) at the source of the signal (for example, the remote control from the TV).
4. Save the code and assign it an action.

⚠️ Attention: Infrared scanner works only with analog signals (remotes, some smart home systems). QR-codes are useless!

How to optimize the scanner on Xiaomi

To make the scanner work quickly and without failure, follow these tips:

• 🔋 Turn off the power saving mode for the Camera app:
• 📱 Update regularly MIUI and the Camera appendix.
• 🧹 Clean the camera cache once a month (see instructions above).
• 🔍 For complex codes (such as small print), use manual focusing (tap on the code in camera mode).

If you scan documents frequently, set up automatic cloud saves:

1. Open the camera → Settings → “Save to the cloud”.
2. Choose Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
3. Activate the option "Autoloading documents".

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On devices with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processor (such as the Xiaomi 12S Ultra), the scanner is 30% faster thanks to hardware acceleration of AI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the scanner on Xiaomi