How to use the action camera Xiaomi Yi: a complete guide

Xiaomi’s action cameras have become a phenomenon, offering users an affordable GoPro with decent shooting quality. The Yi Action Camera (often referred to as “baby” or “Yi 1”) is still popular due to its compactness and ability to record video in 4K resolution (in the 4K Edition version) or Full HD 60fps (in the base version).

Many beginners face difficulties when they are on or pairing with their phone. The camera interface is minimal, and the main setup is done through a mobile application. In this guide, we will take a look at all the nuances of operation, from unpacking to getting the perfect shot, you will learn how to correctly interpret indicator signals and avoid common errors in recording.

The main advantage of this gadget is its versatility. It allows you to capture as much space as possible, which is critical for sports and travel, but to unlock the potential of the matrix, you need to correctly set the parameters of exposure and white balance. Let's start from the beginning - getting the device ready for work.

First incorporation and preparation

Before you try to shoot the first video, make sure the battery is fully charged.The camera comes with a built-in battery (in most revisions), and it may require a connection to the power source via the Micro-USB port. The status indicator located next to the lens will report the status of the charge: flashing red means charging, and constantly burning green – full charge.

To get started, you need to insert a memory card. The device supports microSD cards up to 64 GB (officially), although many users successfully use 128 GB. It is important to use cards with a speed class of at least Class 10 UHS-1, otherwise, when recording in high resolution, video can be interrupted or damaged.

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the memory card during recording or immediately after the camera is turned off.This can damage the file system and lose footage.

After installing the memory card, press and hold the power button on the end of the case for about 2 seconds. The camera will emit a characteristic sound signal, and the LED indicator will light up. If the indicator is lit red and flashes, the memory card is not recognized or formatted in the wrong file system, in which case you will need formatting through the application.

• 🔋 Charge the device to 100% before first use to calibrate the power controller.
• 💾 Use only quality memory cards from trusted brands (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston).
• 📡 Make sure the lens is clear of protective film before shooting.

The initial setup process is in no hurry. If the camera doesn't turn on, try plugging it into a charger on the device. 10-15 Sometimes the battery controller needs a push after long storage in the warehouse.

Installation and configuration of mobile application

The Xiaomi Yi camera itself functions in a limited way: it has no screen, only one button and one indicator. For full control, viewing the footage and changing the quality settings, you will need a smartphone. The official application is called Yi Action (for global versions) or Yi Action Camera (for Chinese versions, often requires changing the region in settings).

Once you install the app, launch it and create a Xiaomi account or log in via social media. Then you need to turn on Wi-Fi on the camera itself. To do this, press the function button (a small button under the lens or switch modes, depending on the model) before the Wi-Fi icon appears on the indicator. It usually takes three quick taps or retention to make the camera go into pairing mode.

In the app, select Add Camera and follow the on-screen instructions. You will need to find a network with a name beginning with YI Action and enter a password. The default default password is usually listed on a sticker under the battery compartment or in the instructions (often 12345678).

Updating the firmware is a critical step, and new software versions fix stabilization errors, improve Wi-Fi performance, and add support for new codecs, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, and the camera will reboot and make sounds, and don't turn it off and keep the phone close by.

• 📱 Download the app only from the official Google Play or App Store.
• 🌐 Chinese versions of the camera may need to change the region in the profile Mi Account.
• 🔄 Do not interrupt the firmware update process, even if the camera seems to be getting stuck.

It is worth noting that the Wi-Fi connection consumes the battery of the smartphone and the camera itself. After adjusting the shooting parameters, many users prefer to turn off the Wi-Fi on the camera (double pressing the function button) to save energy, controlling shooting only with the main button.

Interface and button management

The camera is ascetic, which can be difficult at first, with only two physical buttons on the body: the on/write button (front/side) and the function button (back/bottom), and understanding the logic of their work is key to a comfortable shoot.

The power button serves as the main controller. A short tap starts or stops video recording. A long tap (about 2 seconds) turns the camera on or off. In standby mode (the camera is on but not writing), a short tap can switch modes if it is configured in the application, but most often it only works as a start/stop.

⚠️ Note: Double-clicking the power button often activates the photo mode or switches resolution, but the behavior of the buttons can be reassigned to the settings menu of the Yi Action application in the "Button Settings" section".

The second button, functional, is responsible for switching modes (Video / Photo / Timelapse) and controlling Wi-Fi. When switched off, triple pressing this button turns on or off the Wi-Fi module. In shooting mode, it can be used to lock buttons or change parameters if the camera is not connected to the phone.

The status indicator gives you accurate information about what is happening to the device:

• 🟢 Burning green: Camera ready to go or recording.
• 🔴 Burning in red: Error (no memory card, low charge, overheating).
• 🔵 Blinking blue: There is a Wi-Fi pairing or data transfer.
• 🟡 Flashing yellow: The camera is busy processing the file or updating the file.

Learning blind control is important, because often the camera is mounted on the helmet or chest, and you can't see the indicators. Remember the beeps: a melodic sound means a successful action, and an alarm intermittent signal means an error or low battery power.

The main modes of shooting and quality settings

Yi Action hides the full potential of the camera. Going to the settings (cog icon), you can select the resolution of the video. The base model shoots in Full HD (1920x1080) at up to 60 frames per second, which ensures smooth dynamic scenes. The 4K Edition version allows you to write in 3840x2160, but only at 30 or 15 frames per second.

To get a cinematic picture, it's important to adjust Field of View (FOV) or viewing angle correctly. Super View stretches the picture along the edges as much as possible, which is spectacular for landscapes, but distorts faces at close range. Narrow mode removes fisheye distortions, making the picture more natural for vlogs.

Pay special attention to exposure settings. In automatic mode, the camera can make mistakes when abrupt changes in lighting (for example, leaving the shadows in the sun), it is recommended to use EV Compensation by setting a value of -0.3 or -0.7. This will prevent overlights in the sky and save details in the bright areas of the frame.

Also worth mentioning is Time Lapse mode, which can take pictures at a given interval (e.g. every 2 seconds) and glue them together into video. This is the perfect mode for shooting sunsets, clouds or busy streets. For night shooting, it is better to manually set the shutter speed to longer values if the app allows, or use Night mode.

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For high-speed shooting (bicycle, car) always choose 60 frames per second, which allows you to slow down the video 2 or 4 times during editing without losing smoothness, creating a Slow Motion effect.

Working with Wi-Fi and transferring files

One of the most popular features is the ability to quickly pick up photos or videos on your phone for posting on social networks. The camera creates a local Wi-Fi network to which the smartphone connects. Data transfer speeds range from 300 KB / s to 1.5 MB / s depending on the firmware version and the quality of the memory card.

There's a gallery in the app that displays files on the camera's memory card. You can preview the video and upload the full versions to the phone's gallery. Note that when you connect to Wi-Fi, your smartphone won't be able to use the Internet (unless you configure a mobile network switch), because the channel is occupied by the camera.

If file transfer is interrupted or slow, try the following:

• 📶 Get closer to the camera (distance no more) 1-2 meters).
• 🔋 Make sure the camera battery is over 20% charged (at low charge, Wi-Fi power is reduced).
• 📱 Close other apps on your phone that consume traffic.

There is a Live View feature that translates the image from the camera to the smartphone screen in real time, which is extremely convenient when the camera is fixed in a hard-to-reach place (on a fishing rod, high on a tree, on a pole), the signal delay is about 1-2 seconds, which is normal for a digital video stream.

⚠️ Warning: The camera's Wi-Fi module heats the device up a lot. If you're using Live View for a long time, the camera can automatically shut down due to overheating.

For stable operation, it is recommended to turn off Wi-Fi immediately after transferring files. A constantly running module not only puts the battery down, but also creates electromagnetic interference that theoretically can (though rarely) affect the quality of audio or video recording in cheap revisions.

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The speed of copying files depends on the speed of writing memory cards. Cheap cards can bottleneck-process, making transfer of 4K video almost impossible in a reasonable time.

Typical problems and ways to solve them

In the process of operation, users can face a number of standard problems, one of the most common is that the camera turns off on its own after a few minutes of operation, most often due to overheating (if shooting is in 4K) or using a defective / faulty battery (if it is removable), and the cause can also be a failure of the file system of the memory card.

Another common problem is de-synchronization of audio and video or no sound. In the app settings, check if the video only or no sound mode is appropriate. Also make sure the microphone is not closed with your finger or mounts. In some cases, resetting the camera settings to factory settings through the app menu helps.

If the camera is "hanging" and does not respond to the buttons:

1. Remove the memory card (if the model allows) and the battery.
2. Connect the camera to the charger for 5-10 minutes.
3. Try to turn on the camera without a memory card.

Focus problems are rare because the focus is fixed (hyperfocus). If the picture is cloudy, it's likely that the lens or the protective glass is contaminated. Wipe it with a microfiber. If the turbidity inside is possibly depressurization of the body or fogging at a sharp temperature drop.

In conclusion, Xiaomi Yi remains a reliable tool in the right hands, understanding how it works, maintaining the memory card correctly, and updating the software in a timely manner will allow you to get great shots for a long time. Don’t be afraid to experiment with installation angles and color settings to find your unique style.