ADT resets cameras by removing them from the app and adding them again. In the ADT+ app choose Devices, select the camera, tap Remove Device and confirm, then add it again with Devices, plus, Camera and the camera type; the remove and add article explains that a device reset while paired must be removed from the account and set up as new.
The checks in more detail
For the doorbell, the pairing button on the back, pressed with the release pin for three seconds, puts the camera into pairing mode. Use lighter steps first: charge the battery, restart the router, move the camera closer and check the wifi. Use a remove and re-add when the camera will not reconnect, stays offline or will not finish setup, or when you are giving it away. Before removing, note your event-type settings and the camera's name, since they reset. Download clips you want.
After re-adding, check the view in the app, the notifications under Cameras and the battery. If you are selling or moving, remove the camera from your account. Contact ADT chat if it will not re-add. Photograph your event settings before removing the camera. After re-adding give the camera a few minutes to settle before testing. Avoid removing a camera when the house is empty.
Downloading clips before you remove a camera matters because removal ends recording, and history on the plan is limited to 30 days in any case. A camera that fails to re-add after removal may still be linked to your account in another place, so check the device list on the portal as well as the app. Take a screenshot of the camera's notification settings before removing it, since the event type toggles are the part people find hardest to remember afterwards.
Differential
Likely causes of “ADT cameras and doorbell camera will not reset or needs to be reset safely”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A stuck camera
What separates it The camera will not reconnect to the app and stays offline after a power cut or a router change
How to confirm Remove the camera in the app and add it again, so that it pairs afresh with your account
- 2
A failed setup
What separates it Setup cannot be finished because an earlier attempt left the camera half paired
How to confirm Remove the camera and start the pairing again from the beginning, with a charged battery
- 3
Selling or moving
What separates it The camera is still linked to your account after you have sold it or moved house
How to confirm Remove the camera from your account and reset it, so the next owner can set it up
- 4
Lost settings
What separates it The camera goes back to default settings after it has been added again and your changes are gone
How to confirm Rebuild the settings you want, such as notifications and event types, in the app
- 5
A device reset while paired
What separates it A camera that was reset by hand will not add because it is still listed as paired
How to confirm Remove the old entry first, then set the camera up again as a new device
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The camera's name and the settings you have changed
- Whether you have saved clips you want to keep
- The pairing steps you followed and where they stopped
- The state of the camera's battery
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedTry charging and wifi first
ReversibleTry charging and checking the wifi first, since these lighter steps fix many faults without removing the camera from the account.
Download clips
ReversibleDownload any clips you want to keep and note your settings, because removing the camera takes its recordings and settings with it.
Remove the camera
ReversibleRemove the camera in the app by opening Devices, selecting the camera, tapping Remove Device and confirming.
Add it again
ReversibleAdd it again through Devices, plus and Camera, choosing the right camera type, and follow the steps to pair it.
Pair over Bluetooth
ReversiblePair over Bluetooth by holding the pairing button for about three seconds, with the battery charged and Bluetooth on.
Rebuild notifications
ReversibleRebuild the notifications for the camera under Cameras in Notifications, since the settings go back to defaults.
Contact ADT
ReversibleContact ADT if the camera still will not reset or pair, and tell them the model and the steps you tried.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Reset
- Handled as remove and re-add.
- Doorbell
- Pairing button on the back.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a camera will not re-add, contact ADT through chat
- !If second-hand, ask for removal from the old account
- !If pairing fails after a reset, check Bluetooth on the phone and the camera's battery
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Removing and adding devices.
Doorbell setup.
Indoor camera setup and placement.
Outdoor camera setup and charging.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I reset a camera?+
To reset a camera remove it in the ADT+ app and add it back, which is ADT's way of resetting its cameras.
Does removal stop recording?+
Yes, removing a camera stops it recording, so the area is unwatched until you add the camera back.
Should I download clips first?+
Yes, download clips first if you want to keep them, since removing the camera can remove its saved recordings.
How long do I hold the pairing button?+
Hold the pairing button for about three seconds when you add the camera again, until it enters pairing mode.
Do settings survive?+
No, settings do not survive a removal, so you must set up notifications and event types again afterwards.
Should I try charging first?+
Yes, try charging the battery and checking the wifi first, since many problems are solved without any reset.
Do I remove before selling?+
Yes, remove the camera from your account before selling it, so the new owner can add it to theirs.
Do cameras need a system?+
No, the cameras can also work as cameras only, so you do not need the full security system to use them.
What indoor camera models exist?+
The indoor camera models are the VMC3060 and the VMC3070, so check the label to see which one you have.
What outdoor camera models exist?+
The outdoor camera models are the VMC3050 and the VMC3080, which you can check on the box or in the app.