When a smart camera stops responding to commands or loses communication with a router, many Xiaomi ecosystem owners are familiar with the situation. Often the only right solution in this situation is a complete return to factory parameters, this action clears temporary configuration files and allows you to re-register the device in the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home application.
Resetting may be required when you change your Wi-Fi router, change your wireless password, or transfer your device to another user, and it is important to understand that after you do this, all your personal settings, such as motion sensor sensitivity or recording schedule, will be deleted without recovery.
In this article, we will discuss all the existing ways to return the camera to its original state, we will examine both software methods through the mobile application and hardware reset using the physical Reset button, which is located on the device body, and we will also pay attention to the nuances of working with Chinese versions of cameras that require a choice of region.
Preparation for the resetting procedure
Before taking action, you need to make sure that the power supply is stable, the camera must be connected to the power source through the original cable and power supply, and the use of damaged wires can cause the reset process to interrupt, which sometimes causes software failures in the firmware.
Also, make sure your phone is Bluetooth and geolocation enabled, as these modules are often used to initially detect the device after it is rebooted. If you plan to reconfigure the camera to a new router, check the password from your Wi-Fi network.
There is an important nuance with memory cards: if a microSD card is installed in the slot, it is recommended to remove it before the procedure, this will avoid accidental formatting of the drive if the option of complete data cleaning, including media files, is chosen during the reset process.
☑️ Preparation for camera reset
Hardware reset via Reset button
The most reliable and versatile method that works even when the camera is not displayed in the application or is frozen. Most models of CCTV cameras Xiaomi, Yi or Imilab have a special button or a hole for resetting.
The location of the control may vary depending on the device form factor. In rotary models (PTZ), the button is often located at the bottom, next to the power connector and memory card slot. In stationary models, the hole can be hidden under the rotary mechanism of the lens or on the back panel.
To activate the reset mode, you will need a thin object, such as a paper clip or a toothpick. Press the button inside the hole and hold it for 5-10 seconds. The status indicator, usually flashing blue or orange, will begin to change the mode of operation or light up red, signaling the beginning of the process.
⚠️ Warning: Hold the button until you hear a voice message in English or Chinese, or until the indicator lights up in orange. If you release the button too early, the camera will simply reboot without resetting the settings.
Once the indicator lights up orange or flashes, release the button. The camera will start the configuration reset process, which takes about a minute, during which time the device can make sounds of mechanical parts working, if it is a rotary model, as it calibrates the position of the lens.
What to do if the Reset button is not pressed?
Resetting settings through the Mi Home app
If the camera is active, displayed in the list of devices and you have access to it, software reset is the most convenient option, which allows you to remove the device from your account and clear its settings without physical contact with the case.
Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone and go to the home page where all connected devices are displayed. Find your security camera icon in the list. Click on it to go to the live streaming and control interface.
In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the three-dot icon or gear to open the device settings menu. Scroll down the options list to the bottom. There you will find the option “Camera Settings” or “General Settings.” In this section, you will need to select the option “Delete device” or “Reset settings”.
The system will request confirmation of your action, warning that all data will be deleted, and once confirmed, the camera will automatically restart and return to the standby mode of the connection, and the app will disappear from the list, and it can be added again as a new device.
Resetting the Chinese version of the camera to the global
Owners of devices ordered from Chinese marketplaces often face a limitation: the camera only works with the “China” region in the app. To use all the features and integrate with other smart home devices, it often requires a change of region to “Europe” or “Russia”.
The procedure for changing the region requires a mandatory reset of the camera settings. First, in the Mi Home application, you need to change the region in the user profile, after which the camera must be removed from the old region and reset to the factory settings using the hardware method through the Reset button.
After resetting, when you add the device again, the app will prompt you to select a region, at which point it is important to choose the one you want (for example, Russia), the camera will write this binding into its memory. If you try to add a Chinese camera to the European region without first reset, the system will give an error of compatibility.
| Parameter | Chinese version (CN) | Global version (Global) | European version (EU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region in annex | China (China) | Singapore/USA | Russia / Europe |
| Language of notifications | Chinese/English | English | Russian/Local |
| Storage server | China | Singapore/USA | Europe |
| Compatibility | Only with the CN region | Global | Local. |
It is worth noting that some new camera models have a strict software binding to the release region, in which cases, software resetting and changing the region in the application may not help unlock the functionality. For models labeled "MJSXJ...", the change of region is possible only by flashing, not simply resetting.
Solving errors in discharge
When you go back to the factory settings, you might have a lot of problems, and one of the most common is that the camera doesn't go into pairing mode after it's reset, and the indicator keeps burning blue or flashing quickly, but it doesn't turn orange.
In such a situation, you need to check the power supply. 1A) may cause the camera to lack power to start the configuration mode. USB-cable or adapter with characteristics 5V/2A.
Another common problem is the “Device is already tethered” error, which means that the previous owner or you did not delete the camera from your cloud account before resetting, in which case the hardware reset will not help until the device is untied from the old account in the application.
- 🔴 The indicator flashes red and blue – Wi-Fi connection error, check password and 2.4 GHz range.
- 🟠 The indicator burns orange, but timeout is a weak signal of the router or blocking ports with antivirus.
- 🔵 Always blue indicator – the camera is not reset, repeat the procedure with the button holding longer.
- ⚪ The indicator does not burn - power problem or malfunction of the device board.
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Use a 220V outlet next to the router when you first set up after reset to rule out Wi-Fi signal range issues.
Setup of the camera after reset
Once the reset procedure is successfully completed, the camera goes into standby mode, and the voice message "Waiting to be connected" confirms that it is ready to be set up, and you now need to re-add the device to the Mi Home app.
Press the button «+» It's an app to add a new device. It automatically finds the camera if Bluetooth is on. Select your model from the list or scan. QR-code located on the bottom of the case or on the box.
During the setup process, you will be prompted to update your firmware. It is strongly recommended to agree to the update, as newer versions of firmware often contain security patches and improve connection stability.
Follow the instructions on the screen: enter the password from the Wi-Fi network. Remember that Xiaomi cameras only support networks at 2.4 GHz. If your router broadcasts the same network for 2.4 and 5 GHz with the same name, you may have difficulties.
⚠️ Warning: When setting up, make sure the phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network you plan to connect the camera to (4G/5G) must be enabled to transmit settings, but the main communication channel for the phone must be Wi-Fi.
Once you have successfully connected, set up the basic parameters: device name, motion detector sensitivity and notifications. It is recommended to set a password for watching videos immediately, if the camera allows it, to protect the video stream from unauthorized access.
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Successful reset and reset takes no more than 5-7 minutes if the power and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network requirements are met.