Owners of Xiaomi car recorders often face the need to quickly retrieve a traffic incident record, which may be required for an insurance company, to hand over materials to traffic police, or simply to save a memorable moment in the journey. Modern models such as the Mijia Dash Cam are equipped with wireless modules, which greatly simplifies the process, but users still have questions about how to set up the connection.
There are several proven methods of copying files: through a mobile application, direct connection to a computer or retrieval of a memory card. The choice of the particular method depends on your device model, the presence of a laptop at hand and the urgency of the task. It is important to understand that the data protocol for different versions of firmware may differ, which affects the speed and stability of the connection.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at each option available, focusing on frequent connection errors, how to set up a Wi-Fi connection without access to the Internet, and why a phone may not see a device immediately after turning on, and following simple rules will help avoid losing important data.
Use of the official Mi Home app
The most popular and convenient way to interact with the camera is to use the Mi Home ecosystem, which allows you not only to view the image in real time, but also to manage the archive of records. To get started, you will need to install an app from the official Google Play store or App Store and log in to your account.
Once you add the device to the list of gadgets, you need to go to the video stream interface. In the upper right corner or in the lower menu bar (depending on the version of the interface), there is a gallery icon or a list of files. When you click on it, you will see a list of available videos, broken down by date and time of recording.
To download the video, select the file you want and press the download button. The file will be saved to your smartphone memory. Please note that when you transfer large amounts of data via Wi-Fi Direct, the speed can range from 500 KB / s to 2 MB / s depending on the interference in the air.
- 📱 Open the Mi Home app and select your registrar from the device list.
- 📂 Go to the History section or click on the gallery icon in the camera interface.
- ⬇️ Select the files you need and click the button “Download” or “Save to the album».
- 📁 Find the saved video in the folder DCIM/MiHome or MIOT filesystem.
⚠️ Note: When downloaded through the application, old logger models can automatically interrupt the recording of the current event, switching to data transfer mode.
Some users note that when trying to download several files at once, the process can freeze, in which case it is recommended to download the video one at a time, waiting for the complete transfer of each video before starting the next one.
Connecting via Wi-Fi without internet
A key feature of Xiaomi’s registrars is the use of Wi-Fi Direct technology. The camera creates its own wireless network to which the smartphone connects. The main difficulty is that modern phones, when they detect the absence of Internet in a new network, can automatically switch to mobile traffic, breaking the connection with the camera.
To avoid this, after connecting to the network of the registrar (usually called the "registrar") Mijia_CarCamera_XXXX) You have to go to the Wi-Fi settings on your smartphone, and you have to find the connected network, click on the information icon, and turn off the "Use the Internet" or "Connected, no Internet access" option, and you have to stay on the camera network.
The password for the connection is usually listed on a sticker under the device body or in the instructions. The standard password format is often 8 digits. If you have changed the settings before, use the personal access code you have set.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the camera network with the home router. As long as the phone is connected to the Wi-Fi recorder, you won't have internet access via the mobile network on some Android models.
Connection stability is directly dependent on distance: Stay no more than 3-5 meters away from the car for maximum data transfer speed. The walls of the car, especially the roof with metal, can create a shielding effect.
What if the phone doesn’t see the camera?
Direct connection to the computer via USB
Many forget that the Xiaomi DVR can work like a regular flash card or webcam when connected to a PC. This uses a Mini-USB or Micro-USB port (depending on the model) located on the device body.
Use the quality cable that comes with the kit, as the charging cables for other devices may not support data transfer. USB-The port of the computer should show a mode selection menu on the registrar screen «USB Disk or Webcam if you want to access files.
A new removable disk will appear in My Computer, and you will be interested in DCIM or MOVIE folders, where the main video recordings are stored, and files can be folded according to the date or type of event (regular recording, emergency recording).
- 🔌 Connect the recorder to the computer using a cable USB.
- 💻 On the camera screen, select mode USB Disk (Drive Storage).
- 📂 Open the removable disk that appears in Windows or macOS Explorer.
- 📼 Copy files from Normal or Event folders to your hard drive.
The copy speed with this method is much higher than over Wi-Fi, and can reach 15-20 MB / s. This is ideal for unloading a large archive per trip.
☑️ Check before connecting to the PC
Removing a memory card and reading on a PC
The fastest and most reliable way, independent of the electronics of the recorder itself, is to read the MicroSD card directly, which is especially relevant if the device is damaged, frozen or the cable is lost, and you need a microSD-compatible card reader.
Remove the memory card from the slot on the camera body. Be careful not to damage the contacts. Put the card in the adapter and connect it to the computer. The system recognizes it as a normal removable medium.
The file system of the card is usually formatted in FAT32 or exFAT. If the computer suggests formatting the disk, do not agree to it, if you want to save the data, it will destroy all the records. Try using another card reader or USB port.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Class of card | Class 10 / U3 | Needed to record 2K/4K |
| Maximum volume | 64Gb | Older models may not see 128GB |
| File system | FAT32 | Standard for registrars |
| Reading speed | 80 MB/s | For quick unloading of archives |
After copying files to the computer, it is recommended to format the memory card through the menu of the registrar itself, which will prevent fragmentation errors and ensure correct cyclic writing in the future.
⚠️ Note: You can only retrieve the memory card after the recorder is completely turned off. Extracted on the move can damage the file system and lose the last fragment of the record.
💡
Use memory cards only from trusted manufacturers (Samsung, SanDisk, Kingston) cheap counterparts often fail after 3-4 months of active cyclic recording, losing all data.
Work with 70mai (for compatible models)
Some registrar models produced for the Xiaomi ecosystem (e.g., the 70mai brand) may require a separate 70mai app instead of the standard Mi Home.
The download process is similar: connecting to the camera's Wi-Fi network, logging in to the gallery and downloading. However, the 70mai application often implements a more convenient G-sensor event sorting system (hit, sharp braking), such files are marked with a special icon and protected from overwriting.
If the standard app doesn’t see the camera, try changing the region in the profile settings. For devices designed for the Chinese market, you may need to install the China region, whereas for global versions, you may need to install the Russia or Europe region.
- 🌏 Make sure the correct server region is selected in the application.
- 📶 Connect to the registrar's Wi-Fi network.
- 🎥 Enter view mode and open the gallery.
- 💾 Download the necessary rollers to the device memory.
It is important to note that high-resolution (2.5K or 4K) videos can be played on a smartphone with delays due to a lack of power on the phone’s processor to decode the stream in real time.
💡
Compatibility between the app and the device model is critical: use the app that displays the logo when you start the camera or is specified in the instructions (Mi Home or 70mai).
Frequently encountered problems and their solution
Users can face a number of technical difficulties in operation, and the most common problem is that the phone sees the Wi-Fi network but does not connect to it, giving an error called "I failed to connect," which is often solved by forgetting the network in the phone's settings and re-entering the password.
Another common situation is that the video has been downloaded but is not playing, which can be due to the lack of the necessary codec on the smartphone or the file being damaged when the communication is cut, and try opening the file through a third-party player, such as VLC Player, which supports most formats.
If the registrar stops writing on top of old files and stops recording, check the status of the memory card. It may be full of secure event files that are not deleted automatically. Requires manual cleaning or formatting through the device menu.
In case none of the methods helps, and the computer does not see the device in any mode, it may be damaged. USB-port on the casing of the registrar or the firmware is lost, in such a situation, only service service or flashing through special utilities will help.