Connecting the second phone to IP-Xiaomi camera: all the ways and nuances

IP-Xiaomi cameras are one of the most popular video surveillance devices in an apartment, office or country house, and are easy to set up, high image quality and integrated with the Mi Home ecosystem. How to give access to the camera to a second family member, colleague or tenant without passing the username and password from the main account?

In this article, we will discuss all the official and alternative ways to connect the second phone to the Internet. IP-Xiaomi cameras (including Mi Home Cameras) 360°, Xiaomi Smart Camera C300/C400, Mi Home Security Camera 2K You will learn how to set up sharing via the application, what rights can be assigned to the second user, and how to avoid common errors (for example, “Device not found” or “No control rights”). We will also look at hidden settings in the firmware of cameras. 2023–2026 years that allow flexible access management without risk to security.

If you have already tried to connect a second phone and faced problems - at the end of the article there is a link to the phone. FAQ We've developed a spoiler for the advanced users with alternative methods (including the use of the same tools). ONVIF and third-party applications).

1. Which one? IP-Xiaomi cameras support multi-user access?

Not all Xiaomi cameras allow you to connect multiple phones at once, depending on the device model and firmware version. Below is the compatibility table for popular models (currently for 2026):

* For C300/C400 The number of users is limited only by the capabilities of third-party software (for example, iSpy or Blue Iris).

If your model is not in the table, check the sharing support as follows:

1. Open the Mi Home app.
2. Go to the camera settings (Device) → Settings → Public access).
3. If there is no “Add User” or “Family” option, your camera does not support the feature.

⚠️ Xiaomi Cameras Purchased in China (Version) CN), You may have restrictions on sharing because of regional firmware settings, and you may need to change the region in the Mi Home app.

2. Method 1: Adding via Family to Mi Home (official method)

This is the easiest and safest way to do this, and it works for most models, and the bottom line is that you create a family group in the Mi Home app, where you add a second user with certain rights.

Step-by-step:

Check the Mi Home version (update if necessary)|Make sure the camera is connected to the main account|The second user must install Mi Home and register.|Shut down. VPN on both phones (may block access)

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1. Open Mi Home on the main phone and go to profile (the icon in the lower right corner).
2. Choose “Family» → «Add a family member».
3. Enter the email or phone number of the second user (it must be registered in the Mi Account).
4. Click "Send an Invitation." The second user will receive a notification in their Mi Home app.

• 🔍 Viewing: only watching the broadcast.
• 🎥 Control: Turning the camera, turning on/off recordings.
• 🔔 Notifications: receiving traffic alerts.
• 🔄 Full access: All rights, including changing settings.

If there is no Shared Access item, update the camera firmware via Settings → Update of the PO.

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If the second user doesn't see the camera after adding, ask them to log out of their Mi Home account and log in again, often solving the sync problem.

Method 2: Guest access (for firmware cameras 2023)+)

New models: Xiaomi Smart Camera C400, Mi Home Camera 2K Pros support Guest Access, which allows you to connect a second phone without creating a family group, which is convenient if you want to provide access temporarily (for example, during vacation).

How to set up:

1. In Mi Home, select the camera and go to Settings. → Security → Guest access.
2. Activate the option to Allow Guest Access.
3. Generate. QR-code or temporary password (valid for 1 hour to 7 days).
4. Scan it. QR on the second phone via Mi Home or enter the password manually.

Restrictions on guest access:

• ⏳ Expiration time: maximum 7 days (after expiration, access is automatically blocked).
• 🚫 No rights to change camera settings.
• 📱 Works in only one region (for example, if the camera is tied to Russia, the guest should also use this region in the Mi Home).

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi Home (a new smart home app), the path to guest access settings may be different: Devices → [Select a camera] → Cog badge → Access. → Guest mode.

4. Method 3: Connecting through ONVIF (power-user)

If your camera supports the protocol ONVIF (For example, Xiaomi Smart Camera C300 Or Mi Home Camera. 2K), You can connect the second phone to a third-party app like iSpy, TinyCam Pro or Blue Iris, which is more flexible, but requires network setup.

Instructions:

1. Turn it on. ONVIF on camera: Settings → Additionally. → Protocol ONVIF → Turn on. IP-camera address, port (usually) 80 or 554), and login/password (often by default) admin/idle admin/123456).
2. Set up router: Tie up IP-camera-address MAC-Open port 554 (to keep it unchanged) RTSP) or 80 (for) HTTP) firewall settings.

Connect from the second phone:

• Install TinyCam Pro (Android) or ONVIF Device Manager (iOS).
• Add a new device, specifying IP-address, port and credentials.

Example of the connection bar for TinyCam Pro:

rtsp://admin:123456@192.168.1.100:554/onvif1

The benefits of ONVIF:

• 🌍 Access to any network (not just via Mi Home).
• 🔧 More settings (resolution, bitrate, schedule recording).
• 📱 Support for multiple users with different rights.

Disadvantages:

• ⚙️ A complex setup for beginners.
• 🛡️ Security risk (open ports may be attacked).

Through "Family" at Mi Home|Guest access|ONVIF and third-party applications|I haven't tried it yet.|Another way.-->

5. Solving typical connection errors

Even with the right setup, users often encounter errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

If the error persists, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the camera (turn off power for 30 seconds).
• 📱 Remove and reinstall the Mi Home app on the second phone.
• 🌐 Change region to China mainland (sometimes solves server problems).

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi Home (the new app), the “Device is not supported” error may mean that the camera is tied to the old version of the Mi Home. → Device portability.

6.Alternative methods: cloud services and FTP

If the official methods are not suitable (for example, you have an old model of the camera), you can use workarounds:

6.1. Entry on FTP-server

Some Xiaomi cameras (such as Mi Home Camera) 2K) can send a record to FTP-The second user will be able to view the archive through any server. FTP-customer (e.g. FileZilla or ES Conductor).

Setting:

1. In the camera settings, select Storage → FTP-server.
2. Specify the server address, login / password and folder for records.
3. On the second phone, set up automatic download of files from FTP.

6.2. Cloud services (Yandex Drive, Google Drive)

Using the application IFTTT Tasker can automatically upload screenshots from the camera to the cloud, which will be accessed by the second user.

Example of settings via IFTTT:

1. Create an applet with the trigger “New video from the Xiaomi camera”.
2. Add the action “Upload the file to Yandex Drive”.
3. Set up access to the folder on the second phone.

Live broadcast through RTMP

For supported models RTMP (For example, Xiaomi Smart Camera C400) You can set up streaming on YouTube or Twitch with limited access.

Disadvantages of alternative methods:

• ⏱️ Delayed broadcast (up to 30 seconds).
• 💾 High traffic and space consumption on the server.
• 🔒 Risk of data leakage when using third-party services.

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Cloud services and FTP They're only suitable for viewing archives, not for real-time camera control (ONVIF Or "Family" at Mi Home).

7.Security: How to Avoid Losing Control of Camera

When giving access to the camera to a second user, it is important to maintain control of the device, and the following steps will help to avoid the risks:

• 🔐 Don't share your Mi Account password. Always use Family or Guest Access.
• 📱 Limit rights. Don't give "Full Access" if the user only needs notifications.
• 🔄 Check active sessions regularly. In Mi Home, you can see which devices are connected to the camera (Settings) → Security → Active devices).
• 🚨 Enable two-factor authentication in Mi Account to protect your account from hacking.
• 🌐 Use a separate network for cameras. Set up a router. VLAN or guest network for smart devices.

If you suspect someone has obtained unauthorized access:

1. Revoke all rights to camera settings immediately → Public access.
2. Change the password from Mi Account and turn it on 2FA.
3. Check the connection logs in the router (section) DHCP Clients or Connected Devices).

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer a camera to another person, make sure to reset it to factory settings and unplug it from your account, otherwise the new owner will be able to view your old records if they were stored in the cloud.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions