Certain aspects of the present disclosure propose methods and apparatuses for detecting whether a user device is scheduled for a single user (SU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication mode or for a multi-user (MU) MIMO communication mode. In an aspect, a method for wireless communications is provided which includes measuring, at a first apparatus based on received pilot signals, a first receive power corresponding to a first channel associated with the first apparatus, measuring, based on the received pilot signals, a second receive power corresponding to a second channel associated with at least one potentially present second apparatus, measuring a residual interference based on the received pilot signals, and determining, based on at least one of the first receive power, the second receive power and the residual interference, whether to apply a MU detection or a SU detection for estimating data received at the first apparatus.