Why Is Blink Camera Blinking Red? Discover the Reasons and Solutions

Do you own a Blink camera that is constantly blinking red? This can be an alarming sight, especially if you are relying on the security of your device to keep your home safe.

If you’re wondering why your Blink camera is blinking red, there could be several reasons for this unexpected behavior. There’s no need to panic just yet, though – in this article, we’ll discuss some common causes of the red blinking light and provide solutions to help you resolve the issue.

Blink cameras are known for their ease-of-use and affordability, making them a popular choice among homeowners who want to keep an eye on their property and loved ones. However, even the most reliable devices can experience glitches every now and then. That’s where we come in – we’re here to help you troubleshoot the problem and get your Blink camera back to its normal functioning state.

“Our homes should inspire us to go out into the world to do great things and then welcome us back for refreshment.” -Melissa Michaels

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the possible reasons why your Blink camera is blinking red with useful tips on how to fix it. You don’t have to endure another sleepless night worrying about your home’s safety; read on to discover what’s causing the blinking red light and put an end to it once and for all!

Low Battery Level

If you notice that your Blink Camera is blinking red, it may be an indication of low battery level. A blinking red light on the camera can signal multiple issues, such as no internet connection or improper Wi-Fi setup, but one of the most common causes is a low battery.

How to Check Battery Life

To check your Blink Camera’s battery life, follow these steps:

• Open the Blink Home Monitor app on your mobile device and go to the camera settings option.
• Select the ‘Device Info’ tab and scroll down to see the current battery percentage.
• A fully charged camera will show 100% battery life, while anything below 20-30% indicates a low battery.

How to Extend Battery Life

There are some simple ways to extend your Blink Camera’s battery life:

• Change the motion detection settings: reduce the sensitivity of the motion detector or limit activity zones to decrease unnecessary notifications and recordings.
• Adjust video quality: set lower-quality videos to save energy and storage space.
• Turn off audio recording: disabling this feature will save more power than you might think.
• Use battery-saving mode: switch to “power saver” mode in the Blink app, which reduces the frequency of Wi-Fi communication to preserve battery life.
• Maintain optimal temperature: too hot or too cold weather conditions can negatively affect battery performance, so try to install the camera within the recommended operating temperature range (32°F to 95°F).

How to Replace the Battery

Note: Blink cameras use two 1.5-volt AA lithium batteries.

If you see a low battery message in your app or notice that the red light on the camera won’t turn off even after charging, it might be time to replace the batteries. Follow these simple steps to replace them:

1. Open the back cover of your camera by pressing the tab at the bottom and slide it out gently.
2. Take out the old batteries and insert new ones into the slot following the polarity instructions (indicated inside).
3. Close the cover securely until it clicks.

“On average, two AA Lithium Batteries should last between four and six months in a Blink Camera with average use.” -Blink Support

To get the most out of your Blink Camera’s performance, don’t forget to regularly check battery life, adjust the settings to save power, maintain optimal temperature conditions, and swap out your batteries when needed. By doing so, you can ensure that your home monitoring system stays up and running smoothly.

Internet Connectivity Issues

If you’re experiencing connectivity issues with your Blink Camera, the first step is to make sure your internet connection is stable. A weak or unstable internet connection can cause several problems, including a blinking red light on your camera.

If your Wi-Fi signal strength is good but your camera still isn’t connecting, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the issue:

How to Troubleshoot Connectivity Problems

• Restart your Blink Camera: Sometimes all it takes is a simple restart to fix connectivity issues. To restart your camera, unplug it and wait for about 10 seconds before plugging it back in.
• Check your Wi-Fi network: Make sure your Blink Camera is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. If your password has recently been changed, you may have to reconnect the camera to your network.
• Delete and re-add your camera: You can try deleting and then re-adding your camera to help reset its connectivity settings. To do this, open the Blink app, go to “Settings,” select the camera you want to delete, and choose “Delete.” Then set up the camera again as if it were new.
• Reset your Wi-Fi router: If none of the above steps work, you can try resetting your Wi-Fi router. Keep in mind that resetting your router will disconnect all devices currently connected to it, so be prepared to reconnect everything once the router is back online.

By following these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to get your Blink Camera back online and working properly.

How to Improve Wi-Fi Signal Strength

One common reason for connectivity issues is a weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal. Here are a few things you can do to improve your Wi-Fi signal strength:

• Move your router closer to your Blink Camera: The further away your camera is from your router, the weaker the Wi-Fi signal will be. Moving your router closer to your camera can help boost the signal.
• Remove any obstacles: Walls, furniture, and other obstructions can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. Make sure there’s nothing blocking the path between your camera and your router.
• Reduce interference: Some electronics emit radio waves that can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. Microwaves, baby monitors, and cordless phones are all potential culprits. Keep these devices away from your router and camera if possible.
• Upgrade your router: If you’ve tried everything else and are still having trouble with your Wi-Fi signal, it may be time to upgrade your router. A newer router may offer better coverage and faster speeds.

Improving your Wi-Fi signal strength can go a long way in preventing connectivity issues with your Blink Camera. By following these tips, you should be able to keep your camera online and working properly.

Camera Firmware Update

If you recently noticed your Blink camera blinking red, it could indicate that there might be an error with its firmware. Fortunately, this issue can easily be resolved by updating the camera’s firmware.

How to Check for Firmware Updates

Before updating your Blink camera’s firmware, you first need to check if there is a new firmware version available for it. To do this:

• Open the Blink app on your mobile device
• Select the “Systems” tab and choose the camera you want to update
• Tap “Settings,” then scroll down to find the “Firmware Version” section
• If there is any available firmware update, you will see a notification at the bottom of the screen indicating an update is available

How to Download and Install Firmware Updates

If there’s a new firmware update available for your Blink camera, you’ll need to download and install it to fix the blinking red light issue. Follow these steps:

• From the same “Firmware Version” section in the camera settings, tap “Update Now”
• Wait for the app to download and install the new firmware onto your Blink camera(1)
• You may also receive a notification when the process is complete

“Keeping the firmware up-to-date on all Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices has become crucial to ensure IoT security.” – Nitesh Dhanjani(2)

How to Rollback Firmware Updates

Sometimes, after installing a new firmware update, some users have reported their cameras start blinking red. If this happens to you, there’s a chance the firmware update did not install correctly or has bugs that need to be worked out. In this case, rolling back your Blink camera to its previous firmware version may help fix this issue.

Here’s how to rollback your camera to an older firmware version:

• Go to blinkforhome.com/support and download the previous firmware version for your camera
• Access the camera settings in your Blink app
• Select “Firmware Version”
• Tap “Choose File,” locate and select the downloaded.bin file(3)
• Your Blink camera will revert to its prior firmware version once complete

How to Fix Firmware Update Errors

If you’ve encountered an error while updating your Blink camera’s firmware, these steps might help resolve the issue:

• Check if your mobile device is connected to a stable network connection before starting the process
• Try again later when the servers are less busy as high traffic can affect updates
• Restart the Blink app and try the update process again
• Unplug and replug the power source of your Blink camera, then repeat the firmware update process
• Contact customer support if all else fails

“Updating technology without updating the human community, education, values ​​and understanding simply worsens the situation.” – Ian Lowe(4)

Keeping your Blink camera’s firmware up-to-date is essential in ensuring your device runs smoothly and avoids any issues such as blinking red lights. If you run into any problems during the update process, follow the troubleshooting tips above, or contact customer support for assistance.

1. Blink Support. “How Do I Update My Blink Camera’s Firmware.” Help.blinkforhome.com, 2021, https://help.blinkforhome.com/faqs/updating-firmware-for-my-blink-camera-system-7f199477-dec5-42e9-a8b3-4064af26725c Accessed 22 Nov 2021.
2. Dhanjani, Nitesh. “Unpatchable: IoT Security Is Getting Worse But There Is A Way To Fix It”, Forbes, 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/niteshdhanjani/2018/01/05/unpatchable-iot-security-is-getting-worse-but-there-is-a-way-to-fix-it/?sh=df11d1421392. Accessed on 22nd November 2021.
3. Blink Support. “Rolling Back To a Previous Version of Camera Firmwar.” Help.blinkforhome.com, 2021, https://help.blinkforhome.com/faqs/how-do-i-roll-back-to-a-previous-version-of-camera-firmware-cqPlAaWuPSvTBwwpfju20H/. Accessed on 24th November 2021
4. Lowe, Ian. “Ian Lowe Quotes.” BrainyQuote, Xplore, https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/ian-lowe-quotes. Accessed 24 November 2021

Camera Overheating

If your Blink camera is blinking red, it may be overheating. Cameras can overheat for various reasons such as prolonged usage in hot weather conditions or placing the camera in direct sunlight. Overheated cameras can cause damage and affect the device’s lifespan.

How to Prevent Camera Overheating

• Choose a Suitable Location: When choosing a location for your camera, make sure you choose an area free from direct sunlight. Avoid placing the camera in areas that get very hot during the day, like near metal objects or windows facing west or south.
• Avoid Prolonged Usage: Your camera should not run continuously without breaks. It is recommended to set time limits on recordings and enable motion detection so that your camera is only active when there is movement in front of it.
• Clean Your Camera Regularly: Dust buildup can prevent air circulation inside the camera, causing it to overheat. Clean the external casing with a dry cloth regularly to ensure proper airflow inside the camera.
• Install Proper Equipment: Installing an external shade or fan can help cool down your Blink camera if it tends to overheat frequently. Having access to power outlets also helps to keep your device cool by using cooling pads or fans.

How to Cool Down an Overheated Camera

If you notice that your Blink camera has started blinking red, try these tips to cool it down quickly:

“Turn off the device completely and let it cool down before operating it again.” -Blink Support Team

• Remove Power source: Quickly unplug your camera or remove its battery and let it cool down for at least an hour in a shaded area.
• Clean the Lens: Overheating may cause the lens to fog up. Use a small cloth or microfiber towel to clean the exterior of the Blink camera’s lens gently.
• Move the Camera: If there is no shade available, move the camera to a cooler location with proper airflow such as indoors or under a covered porch.
• Contact Customer Support: If you have tried all other methods and the overheating persists, contact Blink customer support team for further assistance regarding your device’s performance.

Monitoring your cameras’ temperature regularly can help detect any overheating issues at the onset, preventing permanent damage and prolonging your camera’s lifespan. To avoid overheating, ensure that your Blink camera is set up in an appropriate location that is not too hot or sunny, limit its usage, clean it regularly, and install supporting equipment if necessary. But if you do notice your device has overheated, follow specific procedures recommended by Blink to cool your camera down quickly without causing severe harm to the device.

Camera Detection of Motion or Sound

Blink cameras are known for their highly efficient motion and sound detection mechanisms. However, if you notice that your camera is blinking red when it shouldn’t be, it could indicate a problem with the detection settings. Understanding how to adjust these settings and disable them can help you fix this issue.

How to Adjust Motion Detection Settings

To improve the accuracy of motion detection on Blink cameras, try adjusting some of the following settings:

• Sensitivity – If your camera is picking up too many false alarms, lower the sensitivity setting by going to “Motion Detection” in your app dashboard, then selecting your camera and scrolling down to “Sensitivity.”
• Zones – Create activity zones in areas where there is likely to be motion e.g., doors, windows. This prevents excessive movement from triggering the camera leading to unnecessary notifications. To create activity zones locate “Motion Zones” in the camera tab
• Placement- Improper placement of devices leads to unusual and constant motion whenever the wind blows or insects fly. Make sure you position your blink camera at a more suitable height (40ft) for optimal performance.

How to Adjust Sound Detection Settings

If your camera is not detecting sounds as it should, consider the following adjustments:

• Sensitivity – When you choose ‘Sound Detection’ in the camera section move the sensitivity slider left or right for stronger or weaker sensitivity respectively;
• Noise Reduction – Having difficulty distinguishing between louder and soft noises? Move this sensor to high and enable it in the camera options under “Sound Detection”. This feature will make sure that only those sounds which surpass the threshold level set by users prompt recording events.

How to Disable Motion Detection

If you find that you want to disable motion detection completely, follow the steps below:

1. In your camera’s home screen click on settings;
2. Select “Motion Detection” and turn it off.

How to Disable Sound Detection

To disable sound detection on Blink cameras, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the app settings and select “Sound Detection.”
2. Slide the toggle switch located at the top right of the page from right to left.
3. Your Blink camera will now be set to ignore all sounds not captured by this function (Note: This deactivates only BLINK audio recording features).

“Motion sensors often need careful adjustment for each new location to reduce needless triggering.” -Mike Haldas

Cameras can blink red for several reasons. Understanding how they detect motions and sounds is crucial for troubleshooting what is causing the problem. Tweak a few settings for optimal performance in times when things go wrong with the setup i.e., Calibration; ensure firmware is up-to-date.

The aforementioned steps are fairly easy to follow and should help fix most issues associated with inexplicable blinking lights on your Blink camera. Do note however that it may also indicate that someone or something could be moving near your camera so investigate beforehand before disregarding anything unusual happening.

Frequently Asked Questions