Modern security systems are becoming available to every property owner thanks to the development of the Smart Home ecosystem. Xiaomi Small Square Smart Camera 1S (model MJSXJ12CM) is a reliable solution for monitoring the room, combining high resolution 1080p, IR illumination and support for voice assistants. The key feature of this model is the presence of 8 GB of internal memory, which allows you to save events without buying additional memory cards.
The process of initial activation of the device requires a careful approach to the sequence of actions, as the security protocols of Xiaomi Home are constantly being improved. Incorrect setting at the initial stage can lead to problems with connecting or unavailability of remote access functions. In this guide, we will discuss every step in detail, from unpacking to fine-tuning notifications.
Before you start the software part, you need to be physically ready, you need a stable power supply and a wireless network to transmit video, and ignoring the requirements of the network infrastructure often causes the dumping of the camera after a few hours of operation.
Equipment preparation and network requirements
The first step is to check the configuration and prepare the installation site. In the box you will find the camera itself, the USB power cable, the adapter and a brief instruction. For the full operation of Xiaomi Small Square 1S, the presence of a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network is critical. This model does not support 5 GHz networks, which is a common cause of errors in initial pairing.
Make sure your router is giving out a signal in the 2.4GHz range and doesn’t have customer isolation enabled (AP If your smartphone is connected to 5GHz and the camera is looking for 2.4GHz, the setup process may be interrupted during the scanning phase. QR-It is recommended to temporarily switch the phone to 2.4 GHz or use a guest router network operating at the desired frequency.
It is also worth preparing a micro-SD card in advance if you plan to expand storage, although the built-in 8GB is often enough to cyclically record events.The card must be formatted in the FAT32 file system.
- 📶 Smartphone with Mi Home app installed (region should match the region of the camera account).
- 🔌 power supply USB with a current of at least 1A and a micro-USB cable.
- 📡 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection stable (password must contain only Latin characters).
- 📱 Geolocation and Bluetooth permission for smartphone (mandatory for Android 10)+).
⚠️ Note: If your Wi-Fi password contains special characters or Cyrillic, the camera may not connect. Temporarily change the router password to a simple set of Latin letters and numbers for initial settings.
Installation and registration in the Mi Home application
The main control center of the device is the Mi Home app (formerly Mijia). To work correctly, it is important that the region in the user profile matches the region in which the camera is sharpened. For global versions of Xiaomi Small Square 1S, a region other than China is usually chosen (for example, "Russia" or "Europe"), but the Chinese versions require changing the region to "China".
After logging in, click the add-on button in the upper right corner. The app will automatically scan the network for new gadgets. If the camera is in pairing mode (blitzing a yellow indicator), the system will prompt you to add it instantly. Otherwise, select the category Camera and Security -> Xiaomi Cameras -> Xiaomi Smart Camera 1S (1080p).
Follow the instructions on the screen: reset the camera settings if it was previously used by holding the reset button on the case to the beep. The application will request permission to use Bluetooth and geolocation - this is necessary to transfer data about the Wi-Fi network to the device.
☑️ Checklist before addition
When the app will show the screen with QR-code, bring it to the camera lens at a distance 15-20 See: Move your phone slowly until the camera sounds a confirmation beep. If there's no sound, try changing the brightness of your smartphone screen or the angle of inclination.
The pairing and activation process
After the code is read successfully, the network settings will be transferred, and Xiaomi Small Square 1S will connect to your router, and the status indicator will flash blue, which means you try to connect to the cloud servers, which can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
It is important to keep the camera powered and keep the smartphone close to the router, and if the connection fails on the first try, the system will offer an alternative method, "Hotspot", in which case the phone will connect directly to the Wi-Fi network created by the camera itself and transmit data about your home Internet.
| Status of indicator | Significance of state | User action |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow blinking | Pre-conjugation mode | Scan. QR-code |
| Blue flashing | Attempting to connect to Wi-Fi | Wait for completion, don't turn off |
| Blue constant | Successful connection | Set up a name and zone |
| Red flashing | Network or server error | Check the internet and reset |
Once successfully connected, you need to give the camera a clear name (such as “The Hallway” or “Children’s”) and select a room within the smart home structure, which will make it easier to manage if multiple Xiaomi devices are installed on the system.
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If the camera is hanging for a long time in the “Waiting for Connection” stage, try to turn off mobile Internet (4G/5G) on your smartphone, leaving only Wi-Fi. This will prevent conflict of network interfaces.
Set up a record and work with storage
One of the main features of Xiaomi Small Square 1S is video recording. The camera supports three modes: motion recording, timer recording and continuous recording. By default, event recording is activated, which saves space and traffic by starting only when movement is detected in the frame.
To manage the recording, go to the camera settings (three dots in the corner) -> Storage settings. Here you can see the status of the internal memory (8 GB) or the installed micro-SD card. The system automatically formats the card when you first use, erasing all data, so make sure that it does not have important information on it.
The built-in AI algorithm can distinguish between people and normal movements (such as swinging curtains). Enabling Human Detection significantly reduces the number of false notifications. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor so that the camera only reacts to large objects.
- 🎥 Record mode: Select "Events Only" to save space or "Continuous" for full control (requires a memory card).
- 🔔 Notifications: Set up a schedule to avoid getting alarming messages at night when you're home.
- ☁️ Cloud: if you wish, you can connect a paid subscription to Mi Cloud for storing your archive on the Internet.
⚠️ Note: When using a large memory card (over 32 GB), make sure it has a speed class of at least Class 10.Slow cards can cause recording interruptions and loss of video fragments.
Memory card service life
IR lighting and night vision settings
The MJSXJ12CM is equipped with infrared LEDs for shooting in complete darkness. Automatic switching to W/B vision works when the light level decreases. However, in some situations (for example, if the camera is aimed at a bright window at night), the automation may not work properly.
In the image settings, you can force IR backlighting to be turned on or off, and there is also a Smart IR function available, which adjusts the power of LEDs depending on the distance to the object, preventing the “lighting” effect (when the object near becomes a white spot).
If the camera is mounted behind glass (for example, inside a window window or outside), the IR rays can reflect off the surface and create glare that interferes with viewing. In such cases, it is recommended to physically mask the IR sensors around the lens with an opaque material or turn off the night mode if external lighting is sufficient.
The quality of night photography also depends on the purity of the lens. Dust and greasy spots become bright glowing halos in the IR range. Regularly wipe the lens with a soft cloth before installation.
Integration with voice assistants and ecosystem
Xiaomi Small Square 1S supports integration with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa (for global versions), as well as with Yandex.Alice (if you have the appropriate skill and region), which allows you to display images from the camera to smart displays or TVs with Android TV just by voice command.
To activate the feature, you need to link your Mi Home account to the voice assistant account in the corresponding application, and after synchronization, the camera will appear in the list of smart home devices, you can create scenarios such as: "If the camera is working, turn on the lights in the hallway."
There's also a two-way audio feature, which allows you to not only hear what's going on in the room, but also talk through the app, which is convenient for communicating with children, pets, or for scaring off uninvited guests, and the speaker volume is adjusted in the settings of the device.
Solution and maintenance
In the process of operation, there may be situations that require user intervention. The most common problem is the loss of connection with Wi-Fi. If the indicator lights up red or stops flashing blue, try restarting the router. Often the problem lies in changing the router. IP-device addresses or table overflows DHCP server.
If the image is blurry, check the protective film on the lens (sometimes it is forgotten to remove when unpacking) or the presence of condensation inside the body at sudden temperature changes. To eliminate condensation, the camera must be dried in a warm dry place.
Check the Software Update section regularly in the camera settings. Xiaomi engineers periodically release patches that improve connection stability and motion detection algorithms. Updating the firmware is the best way to fix software errors.
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Regularly restarting the router (once a week) and updating the camera firmware is the best prevention of connection problems and “hangs” of the device.