Infrared light reflects from glass back into the lens, so an indoor camera aimed through a window may show glare instead of outdoors. Turn off IR or mount outside using an outdoor-rated model. At night, turn night vision off briefly and compare the image.
Differential
Likely causes of “Security camera night vision is blinded by a window”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Infrared light reflects off the glass back into the lens
What separates it At night the picture is a white glare or a bright halo, and it looks fine in daylight, with the camera aimed through a window.
How to confirm At night, turn night vision off briefly and compare the image.
- 2
The lens is too far from the glass
What separates it There is a gap between the lens and the window and reflections from the room fill the picture.
How to confirm Move the lens close to clean glass and shade it from room light.
- 3
Interior lights or screens reflect in the window
What separates it Reflections of lamps or screens appear as bright shapes in the picture.
How to confirm Turn interior lights off and see whether the reflections disappear.
- 4
The window is dirty or double-glazed
What separates it Smudges, film or the extra glass layers scatter the infrared light and add a haze across the whole picture.
How to confirm Clean both sides of the glass, then compare a night clip before and after cleaning.
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- A night clip with night vision on and one with it off.
- The gap between the lens and the glass, and the type of glass.
- The interior lighting during the recording.
Try in this order
0 of 4 completedCapture the exact symptom
ReversibleAt night, disable night vision briefly and compare the image with nearby indoor lights off.
Run the smallest isolation test
ReversibleMove the lens close to clean glass, remove interior reflections and use exterior lighting or an outdoor camera.
Correct only the proven cause
ReversibleKeep IR off behind glass and rely on supported low-light/color mode only if the scene remains usable.
Verify before changing anything else
ReversibleReview a night clip for faces/motion without a white reflection halo.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Use an outdoor-rated camera outside the window if you need night vision; keep IR off behind glass.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Can I use an indoor camera through a window at night?+
Not well with infrared. Use a low-light mode with the IR off and outdoor lighting, or mount an outdoor-rated camera outside.
Why does a window blind the camera at night?+
Infrared lights reflect off glass and bounce straight back into the lens, which washes out the picture. It is a property of glass, not a fault in the camera.
Can I use it behind a window at all?+
Yes in daylight. For night use, the camera should be outdoors or the infrared should be disabled and a separate light used.
Would a different camera position help?+
Yes. Angling the camera so its lights do not shine at the glass, or mounting it outside the pane, usually solves it.