Mi 4K Action Camera App Review Features and Tips

Key Takeaways

• Download the app: Essential for full camera control and settings adjustment.
• Enable 4K mode: Maximize video quality in well-lit environments.
• Use live preview: Frame shots accurately via smartphone screen.
• Adjust frame rates: Optimize for slow-mo or standard action scenes.
• Save presets: Quickly switch between custom shooting profiles.
• Check storage: Ensure sufficient space before long recording sessions.

Why the Mi 4K Action Camera App Deserves a Closer Look

If you’ve ever tried filming your adventures with a Mi 4K Action Camera, you’ve probably noticed how much smoother the experience gets once you connect it to the official Mi 4K Action Camera app. Whether you’re scaling a mountain, riding a bike through city streets, or just capturing your kid’s birthday party, this app turns your camera into a smart, connected device that’s easier to control and more fun to use. I’ve been using the app for over a year now—on hikes, beach trips, and even underwater—and it’s become an essential part of my filming routine.

The Mi 4K Action Camera app isn’t just a remote control. It’s a full-featured companion that unlocks the camera’s potential in ways you might not expect. From live preview to advanced settings, video editing, and even firmware updates, the app does a lot more than simply start and stop recording. And while it’s not perfect, it’s definitely worth your attention if you own or are considering buying the Mi 4K Action Camera. In this review, I’ll walk you through the app’s standout features, share practical tips to get the most out of it, and highlight a few areas where it could still improve. Think of this as a friendly chat with someone who’s been in your shoes—someone who’s tested the app in real-world situations and knows what works and what doesn’t.

Getting Started: Setting Up the Mi 4K Action Camera App

Downloading and Pairing Made Simple

Getting started with the Mi 4K Action Camera app is refreshingly straightforward. First, download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store—it’s free and officially supported by Xiaomi. The app is called “Mi 4K Action Camera,” so there’s no confusion with other Xiaomi products. Once installed, turn on your camera and enable Wi-Fi. The camera broadcasts its own network, usually named something like “MiCam_XXXX.”

Open the app, tap “Connect,” and select your camera from the list. The first connection might take 15–20 seconds, but after that, it’s usually near-instant. I’ve found that the connection is reliable in most environments, though thick walls or interference from other Wi-Fi networks (like in crowded areas) can cause brief dropouts. Tip: If you’re having trouble connecting, restart both the camera and your phone, and make sure you’re within 10–15 feet of the camera. I once spent 20 minutes troubleshooting only to realize my phone was on airplane mode!

Initial Setup and User Interface

The first time you connect, the app walks you through a quick setup: language, date, and basic camera preferences. The interface is clean and intuitive. At the bottom, you’ll see four main tabs: Live View, Gallery, Settings, and More. The Live View tab is where you’ll spend most of your time—it shows a real-time feed from the camera and lets you start/stop recording, take photos, and adjust settings.

I love how responsive the live feed is. There’s a slight delay—about 0.5 to 1 second—but it’s not enough to ruin the experience. For action shots, this is totally acceptable. One tip: if you’re using the app to frame a shot (like self-filming a skateboard trick), keep your phone steady and avoid sudden movements. The delay can make it hard to time things perfectly, but with practice, you’ll get the hang of it.

Compatibility and Device Support

The Mi 4K Action Camera app works on most modern smartphones. I’ve tested it on a Google Pixel 6, iPhone 12, and a mid-range Android tablet. It runs smoothly on all three, though the interface is optimized for phones. Tablets show the same layout, just stretched—so if you’re using one, expect larger buttons and more white space.

The app supports both Android 8.0+ and iOS 12.0+, which covers most devices from the last 5 years. One thing to note: Xiaomi occasionally releases app updates, but they’re not always frequent. I’ve gone months between updates, which can be a downside if you’re hoping for new features. Still, the core functionality remains stable and reliable.

Core Features: What the App Actually Does

Live Preview and Remote Control

The heart of the Mi 4K Action Camera app is the live preview. It’s not just a viewfinder—it’s a full remote control. From the app, you can:

• Start and stop recording (with haptic feedback on supported phones)
• Take photos instantly
• Switch between video and photo modes
• Change resolution (4K, 2.7K, 1080p, etc.)
• Adjust frame rate (30fps, 60fps, 120fps)
• Toggle image stabilization (EIS)

I use the remote control all the time when I’m filming myself. For example, when I’m mountain biking, I mount the camera on my helmet and use the app to start recording from my handlebars. It’s way easier than fumbling with tiny buttons on the camera. The app also supports burst mode and timelapse—great for capturing fast-moving subjects or sunsets.

Gallery Access and Media Management

The Gallery tab lets you browse all photos and videos stored on the camera’s microSD card. You can view thumbnails, play videos, and even download media directly to your phone. This is super helpful when you want to share a clip quickly or check if your shot turned out right.

One feature I appreciate: the app automatically organizes media by date and type. Videos show a play icon, photos show a camera icon, and you can swipe between them. You can also delete files directly from the app—no need to plug the camera into a computer. Just be careful: deleted files can’t be recovered. I once accidentally deleted a 4K video of a waterfall because I was scrolling too fast. Lesson learned!

Downloading files is simple. Tap the download icon, and the file transfers to your phone’s gallery. Transfer speed depends on your Wi-Fi connection, but I’ve found 4K videos take about 30–60 seconds each. Tip: if you’re downloading multiple files, do them one at a time. The app sometimes struggles with batch transfers.

Settings and Camera Customization

The Settings tab is where the Mi 4K Action Camera app really shines. You can fine-tune almost every aspect of your camera’s behavior. For example:

• Video Resolution: Choose from 4K at 30fps, 2.7K at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps, and more
• White Balance: Auto, sunny, cloudy, fluorescent, or custom
• ISO: Adjust sensitivity (I usually keep it at 100–400 for outdoor use)
• Exposure Compensation: Brighten or darken your shots
• Image Stabilization: Turn on EIS for smoother footage (but it crops the frame slightly)
• Audio Settings: Enable/disable microphone, adjust gain

I love being able to adjust these settings on the fly. When I’m shooting in low light (like at dusk), I increase ISO and exposure to avoid grainy footage. And for high-speed action, I switch to 1080p at 120fps to capture every detail. The app remembers your last settings, so once you find a good setup, you can reuse it easily.

Advanced Tools: Editing, Sharing, and Firmware

Built-in Video Editor (Yes, Really!)

One of the most surprising features of the Mi 4K Action Camera app is its built-in video editor. You can trim clips, add music, overlay text, and even apply filters—all without leaving the app. It’s not as powerful as desktop editing software, but for quick social media posts, it’s surprisingly capable.

Here’s how I use it: after a hike, I download a few short clips, trim the boring parts, add a background track (the app has a library of royalty-free music), and export a 30-second highlight reel. The export process takes about 2–3 minutes for a 1-minute clip at 1080p. You can also adjust speed (slow-mo or fast-forward) and add transitions.

One limitation: the editor doesn’t support multi-track timelines or advanced effects. But for basic edits, it’s more than enough. I’ve used it to create Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even birthday videos for friends. It’s a great way to share your adventures without spending hours on editing.

Direct Sharing and Social Integration

Once you’ve edited a video, the app makes it easy to share. Tap the share icon, and you can send the file directly to Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, or save it to your phone. The app compresses the video slightly for faster uploads, but the quality loss is minimal—especially if you’re posting to social media, where compression happens anyway.

I’ve found this feature incredibly useful when I want to post something right after filming. No need to transfer files to a computer or use a separate app. Just edit, share, and go. One tip: if you’re sharing to YouTube, make sure you’ve logged into your account in the app. Otherwise, you’ll have to re-upload from your phone’s gallery.

Firmware Updates and Device Health

The app also handles firmware updates for your camera. When a new update is available, you’ll get a notification in the app. The update process is simple: connect the camera, download the update (it takes 2–3 minutes), and let the camera install it (another 5–10 minutes). The app guides you through each step.

I’ve updated my camera three times using the app, and each time it went smoothly. The updates usually include bug fixes, performance improvements, and sometimes new features. For example, one update added better battery life tracking and improved Wi-Fi stability. Tip: always update your firmware when possible—it keeps your camera running smoothly and securely.

Performance and Reliability: Real-World Testing

Wi-Fi Range and Stability

The Mi 4K Action Camera app relies on a direct Wi-Fi connection between your phone and camera. In ideal conditions (clear line of sight, no interference), you can get up to 30–40 feet of range. But in real life, that drops to about 15–20 feet, especially if there are walls, trees, or other obstacles.

I’ve tested this on a beach, in a forest, and on city streets. On the beach, I got about 25 feet before the signal started to lag. In the forest, trees and hills cut the range down to 10–12 feet. And in the city, other Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices caused occasional dropouts. Tip: if you’re using the app for remote filming, keep your phone close and avoid crowded areas.

Battery Drain and Phone Performance

Using the app does drain your phone’s battery faster than normal. Streaming a live video feed and processing settings takes a lot of power. I’ve found that after 30 minutes of continuous use, my phone loses about 20–25% battery. The camera’s battery also drains faster when Wi-Fi is on—about 10–15% more than when it’s off.

To save power, I usually:

• Turn off the live preview when not needed
• Use the app in short bursts (start recording, check settings, then disconnect)
• Carry a power bank for longer shoots

The app runs smoothly on most phones, but I’ve noticed occasional lag on older devices. If your phone is more than 3–4 years old, you might experience slowdowns when switching tabs or editing videos. Upgrading to a newer phone (or closing other apps) usually helps.

Common Bugs and How to Fix Them

No app is perfect, and the Mi 4K Action Camera app has a few quirks. Here are the ones I’ve encountered and how to fix them:

• Connection drops: Restart both devices and reconnect. If it keeps happening, move to a less crowded area.
• Live preview freezes: Close the app, wait 10 seconds, then reopen it. The stream usually resumes.
• Gallery not loading: Check that the microSD card is properly inserted. If it still doesn’t work, restart the camera.
• Firmware update fails: Make sure your phone has enough storage and the camera is at least 50% charged.

These issues are rare, but they do happen. The good news is that most can be fixed with a simple restart or repositioning.

Tips and Tricks to Get the Most Out of the App

Mastering the Live Preview

The live preview is your best friend, but it takes practice to use well. Here are a few tips:

• Use the grid lines (in Settings) to help frame your shots. I use a 3×3 grid for landscape videos.
• Enable exposure peaking to see which parts of the image are overexposed.
• For self-filming, use the flip screen option (if your phone supports it) to see yourself in the feed.

I once filmed a sunset using the grid to center the horizon. Without it, the shot would’ve been crooked and unusable.

Optimizing Settings for Different Scenarios

Different lighting and motion require different settings. Here’s my go-to setup:

These settings give me the best balance of quality and performance. Adjust as needed based on your environment.

Creative Uses Beyond Filming

The app isn’t just for recording. I’ve used it for:

• Remote monitoring: Mount the camera on a tripod and use the app to check the view before filming.
• Time-lapse setup: Use the app to start a timelapse and walk away—no need to touch the camera.
• Group photos: Set up the camera, join the group, and use the app to take the shot.

One time, I used the app to film a surprise birthday party. I hid the camera behind a plant and started recording from across the room. The result was a candid, emotional moment that I’ll never forget.

Final Thoughts: Is the Mi 4K Action Camera App Worth Using?

After months of real-world use, I can confidently say the Mi 4K Action Camera app is a must-have if you own the camera. It transforms a good action camera into a powerful, connected device that’s easier to control, edit, and share with. The live preview, remote control, and built-in editor are standout features that make filming more fun and less stressful.

That said, it’s not without flaws. The Wi-Fi range could be better, the battery drain is noticeable, and the app could use more frequent updates. But for the price (free!), the value is incredible. Whether you’re a casual user or an aspiring filmmaker, this app gives you tools you won’t find on the camera alone.

My advice? Download it, play around with the settings, and experiment with different scenarios. You’ll be surprised at what you can do. And when you capture that perfect shot—whether it’s a mountain sunrise or your kid’s first bike ride—you’ll be glad you had the Mi 4K Action Camera app by your side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mi 4K Action Camera App?

The Mi 4K Action Camera App is a companion mobile application designed to control Xiaomi’s 4K action cameras remotely. It enables users to adjust settings, preview shots, and transfer media directly to their smartphone.

How do I connect my Mi 4K Action Camera to the app?

To connect, enable Wi-Fi on your camera, open the Mi 4K Action Camera App, and follow the on-screen pairing instructions. Ensure both devices are within close range for a stable connection.

Can I live stream using the Mi 4K Action Camera App?

Yes, the app supports live streaming to platforms like YouTube and Facebook. Go to the app’s “Live” section, select your platform, and authenticate your account to start streaming.

What unique features does the Mi 4K Action Camera App offer?

The app includes AI-based editing tools, time-lapse templates, and real-time stabilization adjustments. These features simplify post-production and enhance video quality directly from your phone.

Why won’t the Mi 4K Action Camera App recognize my device?

This issue often stems from outdated app versions or unstable Wi-Fi. Update the app, restart your camera, and ensure your phone’s Wi-Fi is set to 2.4GHz for compatibility.

How do I download videos from the Mi 4K Action Camera App?

Tap the gallery icon in the app, select the desired footage, and hit the download button. Files will save to your phone’s gallery within seconds, ready for sharing or editing.