ADT's camera articles tell you to install the camera where the home's wifi signal is strong for reliable performance, and setup uses Bluetooth on your phone to pair the camera and then joins it to your wifi through the ADT+ app. If a camera struggles, move it closer to the router to test, restart the router, check the password has not changed and check the app for status. Walls, metal and distance weaken the signal, and an outdoor camera on an exterior wall is often the weakest link, so a mesh node near the door helps.
The checks in more detail
The indoor camera is best placed with an outlet and a clear signal path; ADT warns that looking through a window can hurt performance. If your wifi name or password changed, reconnect the camera through the app, which may mean removing and re-adding it. The camera and phone must be able to reach the internet during setup. If video lags or drops, check the connection first, then the battery.
The Base's own wifi is separate from the camera's, so check both. Keep the router firmware updated. If it will not join, contact ADT chat with the model number, found in ADT's camera articles. Test the wifi at the camera's exact spot with a phone before drilling any holes. Avoid mounting right beside metal, since a metal frame weakens the signal. After a router change reconnect each camera the same day. The camera and your phone both need internet during setup, so if pairing fails at the wifi stage,
test the phone's connection first, since a phone on a poor signal can fail a setup that the camera could complete. Signal is not the only wifi factor: a router that hands out a new address after every restart can make a camera look offline briefly, and waiting a few minutes usually solves it. ADT advises saving the wifi name and password for future setup, and for cameras that is especially useful, since a reconnect after a router change is much quicker with them to hand.
Differential
Likely causes of “ADT cameras and doorbell camera will not stay connected to Wi-Fi”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A weak signal
What separates it The video lags or drops because the wifi signal is weak where the camera is placed
How to confirm Move the camera closer to the router or add a mesh node nearby to strengthen the signal
- 2
A changed password
What separates it The camera appears offline right after the wifi password or router was changed
How to confirm Reconnect the camera to the network in the ADT+ app so it can use the new details
- 3
Walls or metal
What separates it The signal is poor because walls or metal objects sit between the camera and the router
How to confirm Reposition the camera or the router so the path between them is clearer
- 4
A window view
What separates it The indoor camera looks out of a window and the glass reflections and weak signal disturb it
How to confirm Move the camera away from the window to a spot where it has a better view and signal
- 5
Router problems
What separates it All wifi devices drop out together, which points to the router as the source of the trouble
How to confirm Restart the router and check whether other devices reconnect before you touch the camera
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The make and model of the router
- Whether the wifi password changed recently
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedTest beside the router
ReversibleTest beside the router to isolate the problem: if the camera works there, the fault is signal strength at the original spot.
Move closer or add a node
ReversibleMove the camera closer to the router, or add a mesh node, if the signal at the camera is weak.
Restart the router
ReversibleRestart the router and the camera, so both begin with a fresh connection, then check the picture again.
Update wifi in the app
ReversibleUpdate the wifi details in the app after any change to the router, the name or the password.
Avoid window views
ReversibleAvoid window views for the indoor camera, because glass reflects light and the bright scene limits what the camera can see.
Remove and re-add
ReversibleRemove and add the camera again in the app if it stays stuck after these steps, pairing it beside the router.
Contact ADT
ReversibleContact ADT if it still will not stay connected, and tell them the camera model and the signal at its location.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Setup
- Bluetooth pairing then wifi.
- Placement
- Strong signal matters most.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the camera will not join, contact ADT through chat
- !If the signal is weak at the camera, improve the wifi there rather than resetting the camera
- !If only one camera drops while others are fine, move that camera to a stronger spot
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Indoor camera setup and placement.
Outdoor camera setup and charging.
Doorbell setup.
Offline meaning and fixes per device.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Where should the camera be installed?+
Install the camera where the wifi signal is strong, because ADT says a strong signal gives the most reliable performance.
Does setup use Bluetooth?+
Yes, setup uses Bluetooth on your phone to pair the camera, after which the camera joins your home wifi.
Can a window hurt performance?+
Yes, a window view can hurt performance, since the glass reflects light and the outdoor brightness overwhelms the picture.
What if my password changed?+
If your wifi password changed, reconnect the camera through the ADT+ app so it can use the new password.
Can a mesh node help?+
Often, yes, a mesh node placed between the router and the camera can strengthen the signal and stop the drops.
Is the Base wifi separate?+
Yes, the Base's wifi is separate from the camera's, so a fault on one does not always mean a fault on the other.
Do I need the model number?+
Keep the model number to hand, because it is the number ADT support asks for when you contact them about a camera.
Does the indoor camera have two-way audio?+
Yes, the indoor camera has two-way audio, so you can listen and speak through it from the app.
What is the privacy shield?+
The privacy shield is a cover that closes the lens when the camera is inactive, so it is not viewing the room.
Where should I place a camera?+
Place a camera at head height or a little higher and tilt it down, so it sees faces and the room from a natural angle.