Are your Blink Cameras Not Working? Try these Fixes!

Blink cameras sometimes display a “Camera Busy” message or don’t connect during live view or motion alerts. This can cause the app to get stuck loading or go offline. Usually, this happens because the camera cannot connect properly to the Sync Module or Blink servers.

The most common cause is a weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal. Other reasons can include old software, problems with dual-band routers, or incorrect Sync Module settings.

Pre-Troubleshooting Steps

Before diving into detailed troubleshooting, try these simple steps first:

• Replace the batteries in your cameras, even if the app says they are still good, and check if this fixes the problem.
• Swap the power supply for the sync module with a compatible phone charger and see if the issue is resolved.
• Set the Video Quality of your cameras to Standard and see if this restores normal operation.

Once you’ve completed these steps, if the issue persists, proceed with the following fixes.

1. Force Stop the Blink App and Clear Its Cache

If the Blink app is stuck in an error loop or its cache has become corrupted, the cameras may not work through the app. Force-stopping the app and clearing its cache can resolve this.

On an iOS device, open the App Switcher and swipe up on the Blink app to close it.

1.1. For Android

1. Open the App Switcher and tap the cross icon to close the Blink app.
2. Go to your Android phone’s Settings, then Applications > Blink > Storage.

   

3. Tap on Clear Cache. Then re-launch the Blink app and check if your cameras are now working.

2. Restart the Cameras and Network Devices

A minor glitch or communication error between your Blink cameras and connected devices can cause them to stop working. Restarting the devices can often fix this.

1. Power off your router and unplug its power cable.

   

2. Unplug the power cord of the Sync Module and remove the batteries from your Blink cameras.

   

3. Restart your phone and wait for about 5 minutes.
4. Plug the power cable back into the router.
5. Reinsert the batteries into the camera and plug the power cable back into the Sync Module.
6. Wait for 5 minutes, then check if the cameras are working.

3. Remove and Re-add Cameras in the Blink App

If a network change disrupts the connection between the app and your cameras, you may need to remove and re-add the cameras in the Blink app. This refreshes the connection and can resolve the problem.

Repeat these steps for each camera, if you have multiple.

3.1. For Cameras That Are Online

1. Open the Blink app, select the problematic camera, then go to Device Settings > General Settings > Delete Device.

   

2. Confirm deletion and restart your phone.
3. Restart your router, sync module, and camera.
4. Reopen the Blink app and tap the Plus icon.
5. Select your camera and add it back in. Check if it works now.

3.2. For Cameras That Are Offline

1. Open the Blink app and select the Offline Camera.
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap Delete Camera and confirm.

   

3. Restart your phone, router, sync module, and camera.
4. Re-add the camera in the Blink app and check if it’s working properly.

4. Log Out and Log Back Into the Blink App

If the Blink app isn’t able to fetch necessary data from Amazon’s servers, it may be due to an authorization issue. Logging out and back in can refresh this authorization.

1. Open the Blink app and go to Settings.
2. Tap Logout of Blink and restart your phone.

   

3. Log back into the app and see if your cameras are working.

5. Disable VPN on Your Phone

While Blink cameras generally work well with VPNs, sometimes a VPN can interfere with the camera’s connection. If you have a VPN enabled and are experiencing issues, try disabling it.

If you’re using a 3rd party VPN, you can usually disable it directly from the app.

1. Go to your iPhone’s Settings > VPN.

   

2. Turn off the VPN and check if your cameras are working now.

6. Manage the USB Drive

Blink cameras may stop working if their storage drive has issues or the camera can’t access it. This could be due to a malfunction, a corrupted file system, or physical damage to the storage device.

Try these options: reinserting the drive, deleting unnecessary videos, formatting the drive, or replacing it.

6.1. Reinsert the USB Drive

1. Open the Blink app and go to Sync Module > Local Storage.
2. Tap Safe Eject USB and see if the cameras now function (note: recordings won’t save if you’re not subscribed to a cloud plan, but Live View should work).

   

3. If the cameras work, unplug the Sync Module’s power and wait 5 minutes.
4. Plug the power back in and reinsert the USB drive. Check if the cameras work now.

6.2. Delete Old Videos

1. In the Blink app, open Clips.
2. Tap and hold a video you no longer need.

   

3. Tap the Trash icon and select other unwanted videos.
4. Delete them, then check if your Blink cameras are now working as expected.

6.3. Format the Drive

If the above methods haven’t helped, try formatting the drive.

6.3.1. Via the Blink App

This method works on supported devices like the Sync Module 2.

1. Open the Blink app and go to Sync Module Settings.
2. Open Format Settings and choose exFAT as the format option.

   

3. After formatting, check if your cameras are now working.

6.3.2. From a Windows PC

1. Safely eject the USB drive from the Sync Module.
2. Insert the USB drive into your Windows PC. Open File Explorer.
3. Right-click on the USB drive under “This PC” and choose Format.
4. Select exFAT for the file system.
5. Check Quick Format and click Start.

   

6. When finished, click OK and safely eject the drive.
7. Reinsert the drive into the Sync Module and test your cameras.

6.4. Replace the Storage Drive

1. Safely eject the USB drive from the Sync Module. Insert a new drive (formatted as exFAT, between 1 GB and 256 GB).
2. Check if your Blink cameras are now functioning correctly.

If you’re still experiencing problems, try starting a free trial subscription to Blink’s cloud storage and see if this resolves your issue. You can cancel it later if needed.

7. Re-add or Reset the Sync Module

The Sync Module acts as a central hub for your Blink system, sending commands and managing camera network information. If its settings are invalid or its firmware gets corrupted, your cameras and the Sync Module may stop working.

To resolve this, try re-adding or resetting the Sync Module.

1. Open the Blink app and go to the system that includes your cameras.
2. Choose Sync Module and tap Delete Sync Module.

   

3. Scan the QR code when prompted, and confirm removal. All previously connected cameras remain in the app and will be added back automatically after you re-add the Sync Module.
4. Back at the Home screen of the app, tap the Plus icon.
5. Add the Sync Module again by scanning its QR code.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions and, when done, check if your camera issues are solved.

7.1. Reset the Sync Module

If deleting and re-adding the module doesn’t work, perform a full reset of the Sync Module. Please note that all existing devices will need to be reconnected after this process.