Can't Connect Your Xiaomi Camera to Google Home?
Integrating your Xiaomi smart camera with Google Home and Google Assistant allows you to use voice commands and stream your camera's feed directly to a Google Nest Hub or Chromecast-enabled display. It's a powerful way to unify your smart home. However, when the integration doesn't work as expected, it can be very frustrating. You might find that Google Home can't discover your camera, or that the video stream fails to load. This troubleshooting guide will help you diagnose and solve the most common issues that prevent your Xiaomi camera from working with Google Home.
Common Reasons for Integration Failure
Before we dive into the fixes, let's understand why the connection might be failing.
Using the Incorrect Mi Home Skill
This is a very common point of confusion. There are multiple 'skills' or 'actions' for linking smart home devices in the Google Home app. For Xiaomi devices, you must use the service named "Mi Home". If you link a different, similarly named service, it will not be able to find your devices.
Server and Account Mismatches
Your Mi Home app account is tied to a specific region or server (e.g., UK, Europe, China). The server selected in your Mi Home app must be the same one that the Google Home skill connects to. A mismatch will prevent your devices from being discovered.
Network Separation
For the initial discovery and for streaming to a smart display, your smartphone, your Xiaomi camera, and your Google Home/Nest device should all be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Some advanced router setups with guest networks or VLANs can prevent the devices from communicating with each other.
Device Incompatibility
While many Xiaomi cameras are compatible with Google Home, not all of them are. Older models or those intended for specific markets may not support the feature. It's always best to check the product's specifications to confirm compatibility.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing the Integration
Follow these steps carefully to establish a stable connection between your devices.
Step 1: Start with the Basics - Unlink and Relink
Often, the simplest fix is to start fresh. This clears any old or corrupt connection data.
- Open the Google Home app.
- Tap on Settings (the gear icon).
- Scroll down and tap on Works with Google.
- You should see Mi Home listed under 'Linked services'. Tap on it.
- Select Unlink account and confirm.
- Wait a full minute, and then go through the process of adding the Mi Home service again. Make sure you are signing in with the correct Mi Home account credentials.
Step 2: Verify You're Using the Correct "Mi Home" Service
When you re-link your account:
- In the 'Works with Google' section, tap the search icon.
- Type "Mi Home" into the search bar.
- Be sure to select the service with the standard Mi logo. Do not select other regional variations unless you are certain it's the correct one for your device.
Step 3: Check Your Server Region in the Mi Home App
This is a critical step.
- Open the Mi Home app.
- Go to your Profile.
- Select Settings.
- Look for the Region setting. Take note of what it is set to (e.g., United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore).
- While there is no way to directly select a server in the Google Home app, this information is crucial. If problems persist, sometimes changing your region in the Mi Home app to a more common European one (like Germany) and then relinking can solve discovery issues. Note: Changing your region may require you to set up your devices again.
Step 4: Ensure All Devices are on the Same Network
- Double-check that your phone, your Xiaomi camera, and your Google Nest Hub or Chromecast are all connected to the same Wi-Fi network name (SSID).
- If you have a dual-band router, ensure they are not split between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, as this can sometimes cause discovery problems. Try connecting them all to the 2.4GHz network for the most stability.
- Temporarily disable any VPNs on your phone during the setup process.
Step 5: Reboot Your Devices
If you've tried everything else, it's time for a classic reboot.
- Unplug your Google Home/Nest device.
- Unplug your Xiaomi camera.
- Unplug your Wi-Fi router.
- Wait 60 seconds.
- Plug your router back in first and wait for it to fully connect to the internet.
- Plug your Google Home/Nest device and your Xiaomi camera back in.
- Once they are back online, try the voice command again.
Conclusion
Getting your Xiaomi camera to work with Google Home can sometimes be tricky, but the problem is usually related to a simple configuration issue. By ensuring you are using the correct Mi Home service, verifying your account region, and placing all devices on the same network, you can solve the vast majority of integration problems. Once connected, you'll enjoy the convenience of a more integrated and voice-controlled smart home.