Many owners of Xiaomi smart devices do not even suspect that their home security camera can become a full replacement for an expensive webcam. In the face of a shortage of high-quality optics or the need to organize video broadcasting from an unusual angle, this opportunity seems to be a real salvation. IP-The camera in the computer input device opens new horizons for streamers, bloggers and those who often hold meetings online.
The challenge is that out of the box, these gadgets are designed to work exclusively in the Mi Home ecosystem and are not defined by the system as standard USB Video Class devices. However, thanks to open video streaming protocols, a tech-savvy user can circumvent these limitations. The key is to activate the RTSP protocol or use third-party software to capture the stream.
In this article, we’ll look at proven ways to integrate a Xiaomi 360 camera (including 1080p, 2K and Pro models) into a Windows or macOS operating system.You’ll learn how to access a video stream, what programs to use to emulate a virtual camera, and how to achieve minimal image latency.
Preparation of equipment and compatibility check
Before you start software setup, you need to make sure that your equipment is physically ready to work in the new mode. Not all Xiaomi camera models are equally well supported by third-party connections, so the first step is to identify the device. Usually models with a name International Version have fewer software restrictions, but Chinese versions are often amenable to “taming”.
You're going to need a stable connection to your local network, and because the video stream is transmitted over Wi-Fi, the quality of the signal directly affects the resolution and the absence of artifacts. USB-adapter for temporary connection of the camera to the PC through an elongated cable, although they work normally only wirelessly.
- 📷 Make sure that the Xiaomi 360 camera is installed in the Mi Home app and works correctly.
- 🌐 The computer and camera must be in the same subnet (connected to the same router).
- 💻 On the PC must be installed administrator rights to install virtual camera drivers.
- 🔌 It is desirable to have a static IP-address for the camera so that the settings do not get lost after the router restarts.
⚠️ Warning: When you flash or deep-tube your camera through your console, you risk turning the device into a brick.
It’s also worth checking the camera firmware version. Sometimes in new updates, Xiaomi closes ports for third-party access, so if the method stopped working after the update, you may have to look for workarounds or downgrade the software version.
Receipt RTSP-flow: basic methods
The most reliable way to turn a camera into a video source is to access the camera. RTSP-Real Time Streaming Protocol is a standard protocol for transmitting media to the Internet. IP-For Xiaomi cameras, there are several ways to activate this functionality, depending on the specific model and region.
The first method is to use the built-in feature in older versions of firmware or special scripts, if your camera supports the protocol. ONVIF, piece RTSP It's often available by default. You just need to know the exact address of the stream. The standard format of the address looks like this. rtsp://username:password@ip_address:554/live/ch00_0.
The second method involves installing modified firmware, for example, from the Dafang Hacks project or similar, if they support your model. This gives full root access, but requires disassembling the case and soldering contacts to flash through UART. For most users, this is unnecessarily difficult, so we will focus on software methods.
The third, easiest method is to use debugging features in the Mi Home app. Sometimes enabling the developer mode in the region settings (changing region to China) opens up additional ports, but the most versatile solution is to use middleware on a PC that can pull the stream even without an explicit RTSP, accessing the cloud or local API.
| Access method | Difficulty | Delay (Latency) | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard RTSP | Low. | 1-3 seconds | Minimum |
| Through OBS (Window Capture) | Low. | 3-5 seconds | Absent. |
| Modified firmware | Tall. | <1 sec | Loss of guarantee |
| Python/Node.js Scripts | Medium | 2-4 seconds | Average. |
Set up video capture via VLC Media Player
To get started with video streaming, we need a reliable player that can open network addresses. VLC Media Player is the perfect candidate, because it's free, cross-platform and has built-in support for a huge number of codecs, and with it we will check whether the camera stream is available at all.
Run the VLC and press the Ctrl + N key combination (or select Media → Open URL from the Media > Open URL menu). In the box that opens, enter your stream address. If you don't know the exact address, try to find it through a network scanner, such as the ONVIF Device Manager program, which automatically finds the camera on the network and shows the stream URL.
After you type in the address, click Play. If done correctly, an image from your Xiaomi 360 will appear in a few seconds. If it’s downloading but the video doesn’t show up, check the Windows firewall — it can block incoming connections for VLC. Also make sure the camera isn’t busy writing to the cloud at maximum quality, as some models don’t know how to give multiple streams at once.
- 🎞️ Use it. VLC Check connection stability before configuring complex programs.
- ⚙️ In the settings VLC (Tools → Settings → All right. → Input codecs can increase network caching if the video twitches.
- 🔊 Don’t forget to check the audio stream if the camera supports two-way communication.
⚠️ Attention: VLC It puts a lot of pressure on the processor when decoding. HD-If the image is slowing down, try lowering the resolution in the camera settings via the Mi Home app.
If VLC video is smooth, it's halfway through. Now you have to stream it into video conferencing software. VLC doesn't make a virtual camera, like you can see in Skype or Zoom, so we're going to go to the next step.
Creating a virtual webcam using OBS Studio
OBS Studio is the de facto standard for streamers, but it also does a great job of emulating a webcam. With it, you can not only stream an image from Xiaomi 360, but also overlay it with graphics, change the background or cut an object with chromakey.
First, set up OBS Studio and Virtual Camera plugin (built in by default in the new versions). Create a new scene and add a Media Player source VLC» Or simply “Media Source” by saying the same thing. RTSP-The address we used before, that would allow OBS direct-fly.
Set up the source: select Loop mode so that the video doesn't stop, and make sure the audio is captured as well if necessary. Once the image appears in the OBS preview, click Launch the virtual camera in the control panel. Now a new camera called OBS Virtual Camera will appear in Windows Device Manager and video programs.
In Zoom, Skype, Discord or Google Meet, in the video settings, simply select OBS Virtual Camera instead of your built-in webcam. Now you can take full advantage of the Xiaomi 360's rotating and zoom capabilities by controlling them through the app on your phone while the video call is underway.
☑️ Checklist settings OBS
Alternative solutions: IP Webcam and specialized software
If the ligament VLC + OBS It seems to you too bulky, there are more specialized utilities sharpened precisely under the IP-For example, a program. IP Webcam (not to be confused with the Android app of the same name) or ManyCam allow you to quickly configure the input device.
Many users choose to use Android emulators on a PC (e.g. BlueStacks or NoxPlayer), you can install the official Mi Home or Yoosee app inside the emulator, log in and use the emulator screen as a video source, which is not the most productive method, but it is guaranteed to work with all models, since it uses a standard interface.
Another option is to use virtual camera drivers, such as SplitCam or CameraFi Live. These programs often have built-in templates to connect to. IP-camera ONVIF. You just need to scan the network, find a Xiaomi device and add it to the list of sources.
However, it is worth remembering that any additional software contributes its delay. For video conferencing, a delay of 2-3 seconds can be noticeable and uncomfortable (you will talk, and the interlocutor will see you late).
- 📱 Android emulators consume a lot of RAM (minimum 4 GB free).
- 🛠️ Specialized software like SplitCam often has watermarks in the free version.
- 🔄 Virtual camera drivers may conflict with other video editing software.
⚠️ Note: When using Android emulators, make sure hardware virtualization (VT-x) is enabled / AMD-V) into BIOS, Otherwise, the emulator will work very slowly.
Optimizing quality and eliminating delays
The enemy is the IP-So to minimize the delay between your action and the display on the monitor of the interlocutor, you need to optimize the data chain. First of all, disable the wireless connection, if possible, and connect the camera through the camera. USB-LAN Adapter (if model supports) or provide the perfect 5GHz Wi-Fi signal.
Lower bitrate and resolution. Video calls don't need 4K or even 1080p at 60 frames per second. 720p is enough at 25-30 fps. Go to the stream settings in the camera app or OBS capture settings and select the "Mediocre" or "Low" profile. This drastically reduces the network and processor load.
Use a wired connection for a PC. Even if the camera is hanging on Wi-Fi, the computer processing the stream should have a stable communication channel with the router. Closing background applications that consume traffic (torrents, downloads on Steam) will also help level the ping.
For advanced users, set up a jitter buffer in the player or OBS. Reducing this buffer reduces latency, but can cause the picture to scatter into squares at the slightest surge in the network. Find a balance that is acceptable for your network.
It's also worth experimenting with codecs. If your PC and camera support H.265 hardware decoding, use it -- it compresses video more efficiently. However, the old software may work better with good old H.264.