Stepping out of your house without your Blink cameras up and running might feel a bit uneasy.
These cameras might just seem like scarecrows, aiming to dissuade burglars from attempting a break-in, but they may not truly deliver the security you’re looking for.
Your cameras should be more than just a simple deterrent for potential burglars; they ought to provide tangible security.
If you have been walking around in front of your camera without it responding, it’s likely time for some troubleshooting.
This guide is also intended for those of you who are experiencing problems with live view display or running into error messages like “Camera Offline,” “Camera Busy,” or “Thumbnail Failed”.
Let me guide you through some solid fixes for these issue
The Clever Fix:
Power cycle your Wi-Fi router and Sync Module by unplugging them for 30 seconds, then plugging them back in. It usually takes around two minutes for them to reconnect.
Your initial thought might be that the camera itself is the issue, but typically, the error stems from a disruption in communication between the Sync Module and your network.
So, before you go through the trouble of unscrewing the camera from its mount, let’s make sure the Sync Module and Wi-Fi router get a fresh start.
After power cycling, check if the problem has been resolved, as this step alone often tackles the issue. If not, don’t worry, just keep reading.
Why is my Blink camera not working?
As mentioned earlier, the usual suspect is the connection between the Sync Module and the Wi-Fi router.
However, other potential causes might be dead batteries, incorrect camera settings, system glitches, or in more severe situations, defect hardware.
Some issues are pretty straightforward to resolve, so it’s worthwhile to try troubleshooting before contacting the Blink customer support.
Checking the light indicator on your Blink camera could help identify the exact issue. From there, you can try the appropriate solutions.
Here’s what each light indicator means:
Flashing red light = low battery, busy setting up, or motion detected
Steady red light = not connected to the network, or currently finishing installation
Flashing green light = weak internet connection
Steady green light = not connected to the network and not currently recording
Flashing blue light = completing installation
Steady blue light = connected to the network and recording
Some users have reported instances where the status of the Blink camera within the app isn’t accurate (for instance, the battery might seem okay in the app, but it’s evident that it’s not).
Or, the camera might not display any light at all.
In these cases, you might need to try different solutions,
Do you have a Blink camera recording problem?
If your Blink camera isn’t recording, I recommend checking out this page, which is specifically dedicated to solving Blink camera recording problems.
However, if you’re facing issues with live view, absence of motion alerts, or error messages, please keep reading.
How to fix my Blink camera not working
1.Check if the system is armed
An accidental tap on the app’s main screen can deactivate the whole system.
If you’re not getting any motion alert notifications, then verify if the system is armed or if motion detection is activated.
On the main screen of your app, you should see the Armed and Disarmed buttons towards the bottom of the screen.
Make sure the Armed status is activated.
If it’s in the Disarmed state, toggling it to Armed might just sort out your Blink camera problem.
Once you’ve set it to the right mode, walk in front of the camera to test if it’s working.
If the setting on the app is correct but the camera still isn’t functioning, let’s move on to the next solution
2. Log out and log into your Blink account
This is a quick and simple fix that takes almost no time at all.
The Blink app plays a vital role in relaying your camera’s status, live view, recording, and motion detection to you.
If there’s an issue with the app, it might seem like there’s a problem with your devices because you’re not getting any updates, recorded clips, or even push notifications when the camera senses motion.
A straightforward refresh of your account by logging out and logging back in might do the trick.
To do this, open your Blink app, then go to Settings (gear icon) > Logout of Blink. Exit and re-launch the app to log in again.
Once you’re logged in, give the Blink app a few minutes to fully load, then test the live view.
You can also stroll in front of your camera to see if you’ll receive motion alerts.
If that doesn’t work, brace yourself for taking your Blink camera off its mount and grab either the Blink camera opening tool or a coin.
The upcoming steps involve dealing with the camera’s batteries.
3. Power cycle the Blink camera
If the “Camera Offline” message keeps popping up and the live view is inaccessible, the issue could be with the camera’s connection to the Sync Module.
The camera’s hardware may be okay, but software glitches could be preventing it from communicating with the Sync Module.
Similar to when you power cycled the Wi-Fi router and Sync Module, power cycling the Blink camera involves temporarily cutting the camera’s power source.
If it’s powered by batteries, take them out for about 5 seconds, then put them back in.
If the camera is plugged in, unplug the power cord from the socket and plug it back in after a 5-second pause.
Still no luck? The next step involves getting a new set of batteries.
4. Change the batteries of the camera
If the batteries are nearly empty, you’ll see a blinking red light on the camera.
However, there are times when the camera doesn’t signal because the batteries are too drained.
Even without the red light warning, it’s a good idea to switch to a new set of batteries if the camera is dead silent, especially if you’ve had your Blink camera in use for several months.
If the batteries aren’t to blame, at least we can eliminate them as the potential culprit.
The red light didn’t disappear after a battery change – What to do?
Since a red light can signify a variety of issues, there might be more to it than just a battery problem.
If the red light persists even after trying the Clever Fix and replacing the batteries, I suggest you check out this page, supplying pertinent troubleshooting for the red light indicator.
What batteries should I use?
I recommend using Energizer Ultimate 1.5V Lithium AA batteries or something similar.
Avoid AA Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries, alkaline-based, and rechargeable batteries as they can potentially create issues with your camera.
5. Reset the Blink camera
Resetting the camera can help it reboot and effectively connect with the Sync Module.
If your Blink camera isn’t responding or showing the “Camera Offline” message, then this solution might do the trick.
Before resetting, make sure to unlink the camera from the Blink app.
Follow these steps depending on your live view status – whether a “Camera Offline” message is showing or not.
There’s a “Camera Offline” message:
- Click the “Camera Offline” banner.
- Select Delete at the bottom of the screen.
- Confirm the deletion.
No “Camera Offline” message:
- Go to Camera Settings > General Settings > Delete Device > Delete.
After removing the camera from the app, get the Blink camera, and follow these steps:
- Take out one of the Blink camera’s batteries.
- Press and hold the Reset button.
- Reinsert the battery while still holding the Reset button.
- Release the Reset button, and wait for the light indicator to flash red.
When the red light stops flashing, the reset is finished.
Reconnect the camera to the app and see if it now works.
6. Reset the Sync Module
Should the problems with live view, local storage, or motion alerts persist even after trying the previous solutions, it’s time to give the Sync Module another once-over and reset it.
The good news is, you won’t have to reconnect all cameras linked to the Sync Module after the reset.
You can simply relink all existing cameras to the Sync Module once it’s back in the system.
It’s a quicker alternative than waiting for tech support.
To reset the Sync Module, hold down the Reset button until a red light appears.
Once the light indicator starts flashing blue and then turns solid green, it implies that it’s ready to pair with your network connection.
If simply pressing the physical Reset button didn’t help, try this extensive reset:
- On the Blink app, click on Disarmed.
- If you’re using local storage, safely eject the flash drive by going to Sync Module > Local Storage > Safe Eject USB.
- Remove the Sync Module from the app by going to Settings > Device and System Settings.
- Select the system the Sync Module is connected to, then click Sync Module > Delete Sync Module.
- Hold the Reset button on the Sync Module until the light indicator flashes red.
- Wait for a few seconds until the light indicator becomes a flashing blue light and steady green.
- Re-add the sync module to the Blink app.
(Click the + icon > Sync Module, then scan the QR code and input network information).
- Choose the camera system to link in the Sync Module.
- Plug the flash drive in the Sync Module (if you have one.)
- Click on Armed on the Blink app homepage to arm the system again.
By now, your Blink camera should be back to full functionality.
7. Call for technical support
If none of the fixes above did the trick, it’s time to bring in the experts.
Send a ticket to Blink technical support or ring them at 1-833-392-5465 for help.
Since you’ve already given all these common solutions a shot, it might be worth asking for tier 2 technical support at this point.
They have the capability to carry out a factory reset on their end if required.
If your device is still under warranty, you might also qualify for a replacement.
Wrapping up
Keeping your Blink cameras operational is essential for maintaining peace of mind whenever you’re not at home.
Power cycling the Sync Module and Wi-Fi router is often the go-to fix as it resets the Blink system’s connection to your network.
If that doesn’t do the trick, you’ve got other solutions to consider:
- Check if the system is Armed.
- Log out and log into your Blink account.
- Power cycle the Blink camera.
- Change the batteries of the camera.
- Reset the Blink camera.
- Reset the Sync Module.
- Call for technical support.
Has your Blink camera sprung back into action? Which fix worked for you?
