Xiaomi Camera Not Showing Video? Here's What to Do
It can be alarming when you open the Mi Home app to check on your property and are met with a black screen, an endless loading symbol, or an 'Offline' message from your Xiaomi camera. A camera that doesn't provide a video feed is a serious security gap.
Fortunately, the reason for a lack of video is usually related to one of three things: power, network connectivity, or the app itself. This guide will provide you with a clear set of troubleshooting steps to diagnose the problem and get your camera streaming again.
Step 1: Check the Camera's Power and Status Light
Before assuming there's a complex network issue, let's start with the basics.
- Verify Power Supply: Ensure the USB cable is securely connected to the camera and the power adapter. Plug the adapter into a wall socket that you know is working—test it with another device if you're unsure.
- Inspect the Status LED: The small LED light on the front of your Xiaomi camera is a key indicator of its status.
- Solid Blue: This typically means the camera is powered on and connected to the network successfully. If you see this but have no video, the issue is likely with the app or your phone's connection.
- Flashing Blue: The camera is trying to connect to the network.
- Flashing Orange/Yellow: The camera is in pairing mode or has lost its network configuration. It's waiting to be set up.
- No Light: The camera is not receiving power. Check the cable and power adapter immediately.
How to Troubleshoot a Xiaomi Camera Video Connection
If the camera appears to have power but you still can't see the video, follow these connectivity and software steps.
2. Troubleshoot Your Network Connection
A stable Wi-Fi connection is essential for your camera to stream video to the app.
- Reboot Your Router: This is one of the most effective troubleshooting steps for any internet-connected device. Unplug your Wi-Fi router from the wall, wait for 60 seconds, and plug it back in. Give it a few minutes to fully restart.
- Restart the Camera: While the router is rebooting, do the same for your camera. Unplug its power cable, wait a minute, and reconnect it. This forces the camera to establish a fresh connection to your newly restarted router.
- Check Wi-Fi Signal: Is the camera located far from the router? Walls, floors, and other electronic devices can weaken the signal. Try temporarily moving the camera closer to the router to see if the video feed appears. If it does, you may need a Wi-Fi extender for a permanent solution.
3. Troubleshoot the Mi Home App
Sometimes the camera is working perfectly, but the app on your phone is the source of the problem.
- Force Close and Reopen: Completely close the Mi Home app. On iOS, swipe up from the bottom; on Android, open the recent apps view and swipe the app away. Then, relaunch it and check the camera feed again.
- Switch Your Connection: If you are on Wi-Fi on your phone, switch to your mobile data (4G/5G). If you are on mobile data, try connecting to a Wi-Fi network. If the video works on one but not the other, it points to a problem with your phone's specific connection.
- Clear App Cache (Android): On Android devices, you can go to
Settings > Apps > Mi Home > Storageand tapClear Cache. This can resolve issues caused by temporary data corruption within the app without deleting your settings. - Check for App Updates: Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and ensure you have the latest version of the Mi Home app installed.
4. Re-add the Camera
If all else fails, you may need to reset the camera and add it back to your Mi Home app.
- Reset the Camera: Locate the small reset button on your camera (you may need a paperclip or SIM-eject tool). Press and hold it until the camera gives an audible confirmation or the status light changes.
- Add the Camera: In the Mi Home app, tap the '+' icon to add a new device and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your camera again.
Following these steps methodically will almost always resolve the 'no video' issue with your Xiaomi camera.