From Blurry to Brilliant: How to Fix Pixelated Video on Your Xiaomi Camera
You've set up your Xiaomi security camera to keep a watchful eye on your home, but when you check the live feed, the image is blocky, blurry, and pixelated. A low-quality video stream defeats the purpose of a security camera, as important details can be easily missed. Fortunately, this is a common issue that can usually be fixed with a few adjustments. This guide will walk you through the causes of pixelated video and how to resolve them.
Why Does My Camera's Video Look So Bad?
Understanding the root cause is the first step to fixing the problem. Here are the most common reasons for poor video quality on your Xiaomi camera:
- Weak Wi-Fi Signal: This is the number one culprit. If your camera has a poor connection to your router, it can't send a consistent, high-quality data stream.
- Low Internet Upload Speed: Your internet connection's upload speed is critical for streaming video from your camera. If it's too slow, the camera will be forced to compress the video, causing pixelation.
- Incorrect Quality Settings: The camera might be set to a lower resolution (like "Smooth" or "SD") in the Mi Home app to save data, rather than "HD" or "FHD".
- Network Congestion: If many other devices are using your Wi-Fi network at the same time (e.g., streaming 4K TV, online gaming), there might not be enough bandwidth left for your camera.
Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Video Quality
Let's troubleshoot the issue systematically. Follow these steps to enhance your camera's video stream.
1. Check the In-App Quality Settings
First, make sure you're not accidentally telling the camera to stream in low quality.
- Open the Mi Home app and select the camera you want to fix.
- On the live view screen, look for a quality setting indicator. It might say SD (Standard Definition) or HD (High Definition). Tap on this to switch to the highest available quality (e.g., 1080p or 2K).
- Next, tap the three dots in the top-right corner to open the camera's settings menu.
- Go to 'Video Settings' or 'Image Quality Settings'.
- Ensure that the resolution is set to the maximum and that any "Data Saving Mode" is turned off.
2. Analyse Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength
A weak Wi-Fi signal is the most common cause of pixelation.
- Check the Signal: In the camera's settings within the Mi Home app, there is usually a 'Network Info' or 'Wi-Fi Signal' section. Check this to see if the camera is reporting a weak signal.
- Move Your Router: If possible, try moving your Wi-Fi router to a more central location in your home, closer to the camera.
- Reposition the Camera: If you can't move the router, try moving the camera. Even a few feet can make a difference, especially if it means avoiding a thick wall or a large metal appliance.
- Invest in a Wi-Fi Extender: If the distance is too great, a Wi-Fi range extender or a mesh Wi-Fi system can be an effective way to boost the signal strength in the area where your camera is located.
3. Test Your Internet Upload Speed
Your camera sends video out to the internet, so your upload speed is what matters.
- Using a phone or laptop connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your camera, stand near the camera's location.
- Open a web browser and search for "internet speed test".
- Run the test and pay close attention to the "upload speed" result.
- For a single HD (1080p) camera, you should ideally have at least 2-4 Mbps of dedicated upload speed. If your speed is much lower than this, your internet plan may be the bottleneck.
4. Reboot Your Camera and Router
When in doubt, a simple restart can clear up temporary network glitches.
- Unplug your Wi-Fi router and your Xiaomi camera from the power source.
- Wait for about 30 seconds.
- Plug the router back in first and wait for it to fully connect to the internet.
- Plug your camera back in and allow it to reconnect.
By following these steps, you can systematically identify and fix the cause of your pixelated video, ensuring your Xiaomi camera provides the clear, detailed footage you need.