Action camera Xiaomi Yi: instructions for beginners and professionals

Xiaomi Yi action cameras have gained popularity due to their combination of affordable price, compactness and impressive technical characteristics, which are suitable for extreme sports and everyday shooting, from family travel to blogging. However, many users face difficulties when they first meet: the unobvious settings, variety of modes and nuances of control through a mobile application can confuse even experienced owners of gadgets.

In this guide, we will cover all the key aspects of working with Yi cameras, from basic setup to professional shooting techniques. 4K, Yi 4K+ And Yi Lite, but most of the tips are relevant for other versions, and you'll learn how to properly attach the camera, choose the resolution, manage stabilization, and even repair typical malfunctions with your own hands.

1.Preparation for the first inclusion: what to do before shooting

Before you first use Xiaomi Yi, it is important to follow a few mandatory steps that will save you from problems with connection, battery drain or data loss.

Start by charging the battery. Despite the stated time of up to 2 hours, the actual autonomy depends on the shooting mode and ambient temperature. Use only the original USB-Type-C cable (for new models) or Micro-USB (for old ones). Charging from powerful adapters (for example, from a smartphone) can shorten the battery life.

• 🔋 Full charging takes ~2.5 hours Do not interrupt the process - this may cause the power controller to fail.
• 📱 Install the application. Download the official Yi Action Camera software from Google Play or the App Store. Alternative software (e.g., Google Play or App Store, DVRC Pro) support more features but may be unstable.
• 📁 Formatting a memory card. The camera runs a microSD class. UHS-I U3 The recommended volume is 64-128 GB. Using cards with low write speed (for example, Class 4) will lead to a video break when shooting in the film. 4K.

After charging, insert the memory card into the slot (located under the lid on the side) and turn the camera on with a long press on the power button. The first turn on can take up to 30 seconds - this is normal, since the file system is initialized.

⚠️ Warning: If the camera doesn't turn on after charging, check the battery contacts for oxidation. USB rain-film.

2. Basic settings: menu and management

The interface of Xiaomi Yi is intuitive, but some features are hidden in the depths of the menu.

• 🎥 The down button – a short press starts/stops recording, a long one – takes a photo.
• ⚙️ Menu button – opens settings (holding 3 seconds resets the camera to factory settings).
• 🔄 Mode button – switches between video, photo, timelapse and slow-mo.
• 📶 Wi-Fi indicator – flashes blue when connected to a smartphone.

To navigate the menu, use the touch screen (in models with a display) or the Up/Down buttons.

Pay special attention to the stabilization setting. 4K+ available EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization, which compensates for the jitter of the frame software. To activate it, go to the video settings → Stabilization → On, but remember: EIS cut off ~10%, so it is better to disable this feature for wide-angle shooting.

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If the camera is slowing down while shooting in 4K, Try to lower the bitrate in the Video menu → The optimal value is 60 Mbps for most scenes.

3. Shooting Modes: When and How to Use

Xiaomi Yi offers 5 basic shooting modes, each of which is optimized for specific tasks.

Video (Video Mode)

The basic mode for most users: the permissions available depend on the model:

• 4K@30fps — for professional photography with subsequent editing.
• 2.7K@60fps — Balance between quality and smoothness (ideal for sports).
• 1080p@120fps — Slow-mode (Slow-mo) video for editing.

To shoot in low light, activate Low Noise in the video settings, which will reduce digital noise, but can lead to blurring of moving objects.

Photo (Photo Mode)

Allows you to take photos in resolution before 12MP (yi 4K+ — before 16MP). Useful functions:

• 📸 Serial shooting — 3/5/10 Frequency per second (ideal for dynamic scenes).
• ⏱️ Timer – 3 or 10 seconds delay for self-portraits.
• 🌄 HDR — Expands dynamic range, but increases processing time.

Timelapse (Time-Lapse)

Creates an accelerated video from a series of photos, and the shooting time is set to 0.5 to 60 seconds.

• 🚗 Traffic - interval 0.5 seconds, resolution 1080p.

To save space on the map, timelapse can be removed in Photo mode → Timelapse and then glue in video on your computer (e.g. Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro).

Charge the battery to 100%|Hold the camera on a tripod|Shutdown stabilization.|Select the shooting interval|Check the free space on the map-->

3.4 Slow-Motion (Slow-Motion)

Available only in Yi models 4K+ It allows you to shoot video at frequency. 120fps or 240fps (permit 720p). For smooth slow-mo, use the deceleration factor during installation:

• 120fps → 30fps — 4x.
• 240fps → 30fps — 8-fold.

⚠️ Note: When shooting on high FPS (120fps+) It requires bright lighting. At dusk, the video will be dark and noisy because of the short shutter speed.

4. Connect to a smartphone and control through an application

The Yi Action Camera mobile app allows you to not only view footage, but also control the camera remotely.

1. Turn on Wi-Fi on the camera: go to Settings → Connection → Wi-Fi → On..

2. On your smartphone, connect to the YiZXXX network (default password is 1234567890).

3. Launch the app and select your camera model from the list.

After the connection, functions will be available:

• 🎬 Real-time viewing with a delay ~0.5 seconds (depends on the smartphone model).
• ⚙️ Remote control – start/stop recording, change modes.
• 📥 Download files – batch download and preview supported.
• 🔧 Update of firmware - notifications about new versions of the software.

For stable operation it is recommended:

• Use a smartphone on Android 8.0+ or iOS 12+.
• Disable other Wi-Fi devices within a 5-meter radius (they cause interference).
• Reset network settings on the camera at the first sign of lags (Settings) → Connection → Wi-Fi reset).

5. Fastenings and accessories: how to fix the camera

Universal connector 1/4" At the bottom of the Xiaomi Yi is compatible with most accessories for action cameras (including mounts from GoPro:

Underwater photography requires a waterproof case (included in some models) that can withstand immersion up to 40 meters, but has limitations:

• 🔊 The sound is recorded muffled (microphone isolated).
• 📶 Touch screen does not work underwater – control only through buttons.
• 🌡️ With a sharp temperature drop (for example, exiting the water in the sun) the lens can fog.

To prevent fogging, use silica gel packs (plug 2-3 pieces into the case before shooting) or special anti-phog inserts.

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Helmet mounting gives the most dynamic frame, but requires additional stabilization in post-processing (for example, in Adobe Premiere Pro with the Warp Stabilizer plugin).

Shooting in extreme conditions: advice of professionals

Xiaomi Yi action cameras are designed to work in harsh conditions, but require proper preparation.

6.1. Shooting in the cold (below) -10°C)

Lithium-ion batteries lose up to 50% of their capacity at low temperatures, to extend their lifespan:

• 🔋 Use an external battery (powerbank) with heating function.
• 🧤 Keep a spare battery in your pocket closer to your body.
• ❄️ Avoid extreme temperature changes (for example, going from the street to a warm room).

6.2. underwater photography

For quality video underwater:

• 🌊 Use a red filter (sold separately) to compensate for the color loss in the depths.
• 📹 Keep the footage in mode. 4K@30fps bitrate.
• 🔦 Enable manual exposure (Settings) → Video → Exposition → Manually) and install EV on +1.0.

6.3 Drone footage.

When installing Xiaomi Yi on a drone (for example, DJI Mavic):

• 🛩️ Hold the camera on a stabilized suspension (gimbal).
• 📡 Use a 5.8 GHz transmitter to transmit live video.
• ⚖️ Consider the extra weight, which reduces flight time by 10-15%.

Turn off the drone for the shot. EIS — It conflicts with the stabilization of the suspension and can cause the frame to shake ("jelly effect").

⚠️ Warning: When shooting from above 100 meters, turn on the Fog Filter in the video settings. This will reduce the blue tint typical of aerial photography.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even reliable devices sometimes fail, and let’s take a look at the most common Xiaomi Yi malfunctions and how to fix them:

If the camera makes a mistake "SD Card Error, follow the following steps:

1. Remove the card and check it on the computer through the card reader.
2. Format the map in exFAT format with the size of the cluster 32KB.
3. If the error repeats, replace the card (recommended brands: SanDisk Extreme, Samsung Pro Endurance).

To restore the camera after a firmware failure:

1. Download the latest version of the software from the official website.
2. Unpack the archive and place the file firmware.bin memory-root.
3. Insert the card into the camera turned off and hold the menu button when turned on.

8. Video installation and processing: programs and settings

The video that you're shooting requires post-processing to achieve professional quality, and we're going to go through the basic steps.

Recommended programmes

• 🎬 For beginners: CapCut (free, mobile), iMovie (for macOS).
• 💻 Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve.
• 📱 For quick installation: Quik (from GoPro), KineMaster.

Basic export settings

For video with Xiaomi Yi, the following parameters are recommended:

• Resolve: Save the original (do not scale) 4K before 1080p).
• Bitrate: 50–60 Mbps for 4K, 20-30 Mbps for the 1080p.
• Codec: H.264 (compatible with most platforms; or H.265 (smaller file size, but requires a powerful PC to edit).
• FPS: Export at the initial frame rate (e.g, 30fps for 4K).

Color correction

Videos from Xiaomi Yi often have a cold hue.

1. In Premiere Pro, use the Lumetri Color effect.
2. Increase the temperature by +1500–2000K.
3. Increase saturation by 10-15%.
4. Use it. LUT (for example, Yi 4K Log to Rec.709) natural-flower.

To stabilize the shaking video:

• Premiere Pro: Warp Stabilizer effect with Smooth Motion settings = 20%.
• Final Cut Pro: Stabilization tool with SmoothCam = Medium.

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To speed up the installation, use proxy files. In Premiere Pro, this allows you to edit. 4K-Video on weak PCs without brakes.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions