Xiaomi’s video surveillance system has long since ceased to be just a toy for enthusiasts and has become a full-fledged security tool for millions of users. However, one of the most common problems faced by smart home owners is the inability to provide access to the video stream to other family members without transferring their main account, which is not only inconvenient, but also insecure, as the guest user gains full control over all devices in the house.
Fortunately, the developers have provided a sharing feature that allows you to flexibly manage access rights to specific cameras. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to configure sharing through the Mi Home app, what are the limitations and how to avoid typical errors when syncing devices between different smartphones.
The right access rights setting is critical to data privacy: You can stream an image to an Android TV, tablet or spouse’s phone while remaining the sole administrator of the system. Below are step-by-step instructions that are relevant to most models, including the Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera 360° and new versions with Wi-Fi 6 support.
Preparation for setting up a shared access
Before you start transferring rights, you need to make sure that your basic infrastructure is working correctly.The camera must already be added to the Mi Home app on your phone and display the video stream without delay.If the device is in the status of “Offline” or requires a firmware update, the sharing process may result in an error or malfunction.
Make sure that the person you want to access also has Mi Home on their smartphone. It is important that the regional settings of both accounts match. If your camera is tied to a Russia server and the second user has registered for a China or Europe account, you simply won't see the device on the list of available for transfer, a common problem that is solved only by re-registering an account.
For stable operation of the sharing function, make sure that the following is done:
- 📱 Both devices have the latest version of the Mi Home app installed from the official store.
- 🌐 Smartphones connected to the Internet (preferably via Wi-Fi for initial setup).
- 👤 Both users have active Xiaomi Accounts (Mi Accounts).
- 🔒 Two-factor authorization is enabled on the main device to protect against unauthorized access.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to pass on your username and password from your main Xiaomi account.This will give you full access to all your devices, including sockets, lamps and air purifiers, which creates a huge security breach.
☑️ Checking before connection
Step-by-step: how to add a user
The process of providing access is intuitive, but it has its own nuances depending on the version of the application interface. Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone and go to the home page where all devices are displayed. Find the right camera in the list and click on it to open the video stream interface.
In the upper right corner of the screen, you'll see a three-dot icon or gear icon, which is the device's settings menu. Click on it and scroll through the options list to Sharing (or Share device). That's where the key access control functionality is located. Click Add or plus to start the invitation process.
The system will offer several ways of transferring rights:
- 📩 Po Po Po ID Account: Enter the exact account ID Mi Account of the recipient (not the phone number, but the identifier that can be found in the profile).
- 📲 Through QR-code: Generate the code that the second user must scan through the Scan feature in their app.
- 🔗 Invitation Link: Send a link via messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), which will automatically open the application on the recipient’s device.
Once you have chosen a method, the second user's device will receive a notification, and they will accept the invitation, and then the camera will appear in their list of devices marked "Shared", and you, as the owner, can revoke access at any time by returning to the same menu.
💡
Use the method with QR-code, if the second user is near you - this is the fastest and most reliable way to eliminate errors when entering ID account.
Access rights management and restrictions
Xiaomi’s functionality allows you to not only share the camera, but also to customize in detail what the second user can do, especially if the access is given to nannies, housekeepers or elderly relatives who do not need complex settings. In the public menu, you can often choose the level of privileges: full access, only viewing or limited functionality.
A guest-enabled user can usually view a live video stream, an archive of records (if a memory card or cloud is installed) and use two-way audio, but usually guests cannot change camera settings, format a memory card, update firmware or remove the device from the system, ensuring that a random action does not disrupt the entire security system.
Comparison of the owner and guest:
| Function | Owner (Admin) | Guest (Shared User) |
|---|---|---|
| Watching the video (Live) | ✅ Available. | ✅ Available. |
| Record archive | ✅ Available. | ✅ Available (depending on settings) |
| Bilateral communication | ✅ Available. | ✅ Available. |
| Changing the Wi-Fi settings | ✅ Available. | ❌ Forbidden. |
| Formatting a memory card | ✅ Available. | ❌ Forbidden. |
| Deletion of the device | ✅ Available. | ❌ Forbidden. |
It is worth noting that the number of users who can access a single camera at the same time is limited by Xiaomi’s server capabilities, which is usually around 5-6 simultaneous connections. If a seventh user tries to connect, one of the previous users will be denied access or the video stream will stop downloading.
💡
Guest access is ideal for temporary monitoring, but for constant monitoring it is better to use the main account on a tablet or an old smartphone in video surveillance mode.
Solving Typical Connection Problems
Despite the system's fine-tuning, users often encounter errors when trying to share a camera, and one of the most common problems is the message "Device cannot be transferred" or "User not found", most often due to a mismatch of server regions, as discussed earlier, but also the cause may be an outdated version of the application from one of the participants in the process.
Another common scenario is that the camera is displayed at the guest, but the video is not loaded, the download wheel is spinning. This may indicate a network problem or that the owner is currently using the camera and the server is not able to withstand the load. It is also worth checking the privacy settings: some models have an Incognito Mode feature or a physical curtain that blocks the flow for all users except the administrator.
What to do if nothing works:
- 🔄 Reboot: Turn off the camera from power on 10-15 So, you can turn it on again, and it'll drop the network errors.
- 🗑️ Remove and Re-Add: Try removing the user from the list of commons and sending the Setting again.
- 🌐 Network change: If one of the users is on a network with limited access (corporate Wi-Fi, public point), the video stream can be blocked by a firewall.
⚠️ Note: If you reset your camera with the Reset button, all sharing settings will be lost. You will have to re-assign the device to your account and re-send invitations to all users.
Using a camera on a TV and tablet
There is often a need to display the image from Xiaomi’s camera on the big screen of the TV for constant monitoring. Since the native Mi Home app for Android TV or Google TV does not exist (officially), users are looking for workarounds. The easiest way is to use the screen broadcast function (Cast) from a smartphone, but this is not always convenient, since the phone must be active.
More advanced method: using the protocol ONVIF or RTSP. Many modern Xiaomi cameras (especially the global market versions and Hack firmware) support these protocols. RTSP-link, you can open a video stream in any player on the TV, for example, in the VLC or Kodi, or through specialized video surveillance applications.
For receipt RTSP-The stream often requires activation via Telnet or the use of special plugins, which is a procedure for experienced users. However, if your camera supports Google Home or Amazon Alexa, you can simply link accounts and output an image via voice commands to a smart display or TV with Chromecast.
How to activate RTSP on Xiaomi?
Data security and confidentiality
By accessing the camera, you potentially expand the perimeter of the vulnerability. Make sure the person you trust is using a strong password on their device and has not installed suspicious apps. If their account is compromised, attackers can access your video stream.
Check the list of devices and users in the Mi Home app regularly. If you see a stranger or a device you haven't added, immediately change your password from your Xiaomi account and delete suspicious items. It's also a good idea to periodically check activity logs if such a feature is available in your version of the app.
It is critical to update the camera firmware. Xiaomi developers regularly release security patches that close vulnerabilities through which hackers could intercept the video stream.