Resolving Yi Smart Home Integration Failures
Yi and Kami cameras are popular for their affordability and ease of use through the dedicated Yi Home or Kami Home app. A key feature for many users is the ability to integrate these cameras with larger smart home ecosystems like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, allowing you to view camera streams on smart displays with a simple voice command.
However, the process of linking your Yi account to these platforms can sometimes fail. This guide will walk you through the common reasons for integration failure and how to resolve them.
Step 1: Ensure You Are Using the Correct Skill/Action
The first step in linking any service is to enable the correct "Skill" in the Amazon Alexa app or "Action" in the Google Home app.
- For Amazon Alexa: Open the Alexa app, go to "Skills & Games," and search for "YI Home" or "Kami Home". Ensure you are enabling the official skill from "YI Technologies, Inc."
- For Google Home: Open the Google Home app, tap the "+" icon, select "Set up device," and then "Works with Google." Search for and select "YI Home" or "Kami Home".
Using an incorrect or outdated third-party skill will not work.
Step 2: Verify Your Yi Home Account Credentials
When you try to link the skill or action, you will be redirected to a login page for your Yi Home account. This is where most errors occur.
Common Login Issues:
- Incorrect Username/Password: This is the most common issue. You must enter the exact same credentials you use to log into the Yi Home mobile app. Passwords are case-sensitive. Try logging out and back into your Yi Home app to confirm you have the right password.
- Wrong Region/Server: Yi uses different servers for different regions (e.g., North America, Europe). If your account was created in one region and the skill is trying to authenticate in another, it can fail. Ensure your app's region setting is correct.
- Typographical Errors: Carefully type your email and password. Autocomplete features on your phone can sometimes enter incorrect information.
If you are unsure of your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset it.
Step 3: Check Camera Compatibility and Firmware
Even if your account links successfully, your cameras may not appear in the Alexa or Google Home app.
Reasons for Cameras Not Appearing:
- Model Incompatibility: Not all Yi camera models support smart home integration, especially older ones. Check the official Yi Technology website to confirm if your specific model (e.g., Yi Home Camera 1080p, Yi Dome Camera X) is listed as compatible with Alexa or Google Home.
- Outdated Firmware: The camera's internal software (firmware) must be up to date to support the latest integration features.
- Open the YI Home app.
- Select the camera you want to integrate.
- Go to its Settings.
- Look for a Firmware Update option.
- If an update is available, install it.
Step 4: Relink the Account and Rediscover Devices
If you've updated firmware or fixed a password issue, you should perform a clean relink.
- Disable the Skill/Unlink the Service: In the Alexa or Google Home app, go to the Yi Home skill/action and choose to "Disable Skill" or "Unlink Account."
- Re-enable and Log In: Go through the process of adding the skill/action again, logging in with your confirmed credentials.
- Discover Devices: After linking, ask your voice assistant to find your cameras. Say, "Alexa, discover devices" or sync your devices in the Google Home app. The cameras should now appear and be ready to use.
By methodically checking these four areas—the skill itself, your account credentials, camera compatibility, and firmware—you can resolve the vast majority of Yi smart home integration failures.