Among the many functions your Xiaomi phone has, one stands out. It’s not the best or the most used, but it is certainly the most interesting. As mentioned in the title, this feature allows you to detect hidden or spy cameras that may be watching you in holiday apartments, Airbnb rentals, or hotel rooms.
Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
For the past few years, rental platforms like Booking and Airbnb have been warning guests about the illegality of recording them. This warning comes from complaints about hidden cameras being used for various purposes. In fact, in countries like the USA, the purchase of specific devices that detect microphones and lenses to prevent spying has become quite popular.
Well, Xiaomi has taken advantage of this situation by equipping its devices with a feature that eliminates the need to buy a separate device. It works well and will be available very soon. However, it’s not all good news; what was expected to be a new feature for the entire brand’s lineup appears to be limited to only a few phones.
How to Detect a Hidden Camera with Your Xiaomi
If you’re interested in this feature, you should know that it may not yet be available on your Xiaomi phone. It’s unclear when and how it will arrive. However, a recent video from China provides some insights. This feature was originally meant for HyperOS 2.0, but it’s not certain whether it will be available for all phones that can be updated.
Getting down to business, detecting hidden cameras is quite simple and user-friendly. Xiaomi has designed the feature to scan WLAN networks and check for any unusual networks typically associated with cameras and microphones. If it finds one, the device’s camera will open, allowing you to search for its source.
With the camera open and the lights off, the feature will prompt you to point at various areas of the room. It will detect the location of any cameras using the infrared light that these types of lenses often emit. However, it’s important to note that this feature can only detect cameras, not microphones.
As you can imagine, this is not a foolproof or 100% effective method, but it’s quite likely that if there is a WiFi camera trying to spy on you, you can verify it through this feature. Additionally, accessing it will be very easy, as China has confirmed that it will be located in the security section of the device.
For now, you’ll need to wait, as this hidden camera detection feature will come with HyperOS 2.0, which is set to launch first in China and then in the West.
To make matters more complicated, some sources say that not all Xiaomi phones running HyperOS 2.0 will have access to this detection feature. It appears that specific hardware is required, which, at the moment, has only been confirmed for the MIX Fold 4.