Xiaomi Motion Detection Too Sensitive? How to Fix It

Is Your Xiaomi Camera Sending Too Many Notifications?

It can be frustrating when your security camera, which is meant to provide peace of mind, becomes a source of constant, unnecessary alerts. If your Xiaomi camera’s motion detection is too sensitive, it can trigger notifications for everything from a passing car to a rustling leaf. This guide will walk you through the steps to fine-tune your camera's settings, ensuring you only get alerted to what truly matters.

This guide applies to most Xiaomi and Mi Home security cameras. We will be using the Mi Home app to adjust the settings.

## Understanding Why Your Xiaomi Camera Is Being Overly Sensitive

Before diving into the fixes, it’s helpful to understand what might be causing the issue. The primary reasons for overly sensitive motion detection are usually related to software settings or the camera's environment.

• High Sensitivity Setting: The most obvious reason. Your camera's detection sensitivity may simply be set too high by default.
• Busy Environment: The camera might be aimed at an area with constant movement, such as a busy pavement, a road, or trees and bushes that sway in the wind.
• Light and Shadow Changes: Rapid changes in lighting conditions, like clouds passing or car headlights at night, can be misinterpreted as motion.
• Insects and Debris: Small insects crawling across the lens or dust particles floating close by can sometimes trigger an alert.
• Outdated Firmware: The camera's software may have bugs that are causing the sensor to be too reactive.

## Step-by-Step Guide to Reducing False Alarms

Let's get your Xiaomi camera's notifications under control. Follow these steps within the Mi Home application on your smartphone.

### 1. Adjust Motion Detection Sensitivity

This is your first and most effective tool for combating excessive alerts.

1. Open the Mi Home app.
2. Select the camera you want to adjust from your device list.
3. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
4. Go to "Camera settings".
5. Select "Motion detection settings".
6. You will see a setting for "Sensitivity". If it's set to "High", try changing it to "Medium" or "Low".
7. Monitor the camera for a day or two. If you are still getting too many alerts, choose "Low". If you find it’s now missing important events, you can set it back to "Medium".

### 2. Set a Detection Interval

Setting an interval between alerts prevents your phone from buzzing continuously for a single, ongoing event (like a tree branch swaying).

1. In the same "Motion detection settings" menu, find "Detection interval".
2. Choose an interval, such as 3 minutes or 5 minutes.
3. This means that after detecting motion and sending an alert, the camera will wait for the specified period before it can send another one.

### 3. Configure a Detection Schedule

Do you only need to be alerted at certain times, like when you’re not home or during the night? A schedule is the perfect solution.

1. Navigate back to "Motion detection settings".
2. Find the "Detection schedule" or "Monitoring schedule" option.
3. Set a start and end time for when you want motion detection to be active. For example, you could set it to be active from 10 PM to 7 AM.
4. Outside of these hours, the camera will still record (if you have storage set up) but won't send you push notifications for motion.

### 4. Optimise Camera Placement

Sometimes, the solution isn't in the settings but in the camera's physical position.

• Angle the Camera Down: Point the camera slightly downwards to focus on your property and exclude public pavements or roads.
• Avoid High-Contrast Areas: Try to avoid pointing the camera at areas with dramatic shifts between bright sun and deep shadow.
• Check for Reflections: Ensure the camera isn't pointing at a window or reflective surface, as this can cause false triggers.

## Final Checks and Maintenance

If you're still experiencing issues after trying the steps above, here are a few final things to check:

• Update Firmware: In the camera's settings menu, check for a "Firmware update" option and install any available updates.
• Clean the Lens: Gently wipe the camera lens with a clean, dry microfibre cloth to remove any dust, smudges, or cobwebs that could be triggering the sensor.
• Restart the Camera: A simple reboot can often resolve temporary glitches. You can usually do this through the app settings or by unplugging the camera for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.

By systematically working through these adjustments, you can significantly improve the accuracy of your Xiaomi security camera's motion detection, transforming it from a nuisance into a genuinely helpful security tool.