The wireless Outdoor Camera is battery powered: SimpliSafe says it charges fully in about six hours for a battery life of up to three months, and the battery must be seated with three metal dots lined up and the tab facing out. Remove the battery and charge it with the included USB cord; three lights show the charge. The Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Camera has a non-replaceable internal battery and can be used on battery or plugged in, while the wired indoor camera only works when connected to power.
The checks in more detail
The Video Doorbell Pro is wired and needs the right transformer. Extreme heat matters: above 145 degrees Fahrenheit the outdoor camera shuts down to protect the battery, and it works best between minus 4 and 122 degrees. Heavy motion, long streams and a weak wifi signal drain battery faster, so improve the signal and reduce needless recording. The battery article says a system shows an error on the Keypad when a battery needs replacing.
If a camera does not come back online after charging, follow the Camera Disconnected steps. Keep the camera out of direct sun where possible. Note the charge date and how long the battery lasts so you can spot a fading cell. Cold slows charging and heat shuts the camera down, so keep it in a moderate spot. Keep a spare charged battery if your model allows it. A battery that lasts far less than the three months SimpliSafe quotes usually points at heavy use or a weak signal, and fixing those is better than charging more often.
The battery must sit with the three metal dots lined up with the lines inside the camera and the tab facing out, so a battery that is charged but not seated will look like a dead camera. A camera that is on a wired connection avoids charging, but an outdoor battery camera that gets little sun and lots of motion will drain quickest, so place it with both in mind.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe cameras and video doorbell has power or battery problems”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A low battery
What separates it The camera is not responding because its battery is low
How to confirm Charge the battery for about six hours, until all of the charge lights show full
- 2
Heat
What separates it The camera shuts down because the heat where it is mounted is too high
How to confirm Move the camera into the shade, away from direct sun and heat sources, so it stays cool
- 3
Heavy use
What separates it The battery life is short because the camera streams and records a lot
How to confirm Reduce live streaming and improve the wifi signal, since both of those use battery
- 4
A weak signal
What separates it The battery drains quickly because the camera keeps working hard to hold a weak signal
How to confirm Improve the wifi at the camera, for example by moving the router closer or adding an extender
- 5
A misseated battery
What separates it The camera has no power because the battery is not seated correctly in its compartment
How to confirm Align the three metal dots on the battery with the contacts, so that the battery seats properly
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- What the battery lights on the camera are showing
- The temperature where the camera is mounted
- How often the camera streams or records each day
- The signal strength at the camera
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedRemove the battery
ReversibleRemove the battery and charge it using the cord that came with the camera, plugged into a power source.
Wait for all three lights
ReversibleWait for all three lights to show, which tells you the battery has reached a full charge.
Seat it correctly
ReversibleSeat the battery correctly, with the metal dots lined up and the tab facing out of the camera.
Move it out of direct sun
ReversibleMove the camera out of direct sun if it overheats, since heat shortens life and can shut it down.
Improve wifi
ReversibleImprove the wifi signal at the camera, which saves battery because the camera works less to connect.
Check the Keypad error
ReversibleCheck the Keypad error message, since it tells you which device has the power or battery problem.
Contact SimpliSafe
ReversibleContact SimpliSafe if the camera will not charge, and tell them what the lights do.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Outdoor
- Removable rechargeable battery.
- Smart Alarm indoor
- Built-in battery or plug-in.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Outdoor Security Camera Series 2, Video Doorbell Pro, Wireless Outdoor Security Camera.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the battery will not hold charge, contact SimpliSafe support
- !If it overheats again, move it to a cooler spot in the shade
- !If a swollen battery is found, stop using it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Connection errors and fixes.
Recording, streaming and motion.
Battery types and lives for every device.
Camera Disconnected steps.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Is the indoor camera battery replaceable?+
No, the indoor camera has no battery that you can replace, because it is powered from a cable.
Does the wired camera need power?+
Yes, the wired camera needs to be plugged into power for it to work at all.
What temperatures are safe?+
Safe temperatures run from minus four to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, so avoid places outside that range.
Does heat shut it down?+
Yes, above 145 degrees Fahrenheit the camera shuts down, and it needs to cool before it restarts.
How do I seat the battery?+
Line up the three metal dots with the contacts and fit the battery with the tab facing outwards.
Can cameras snooze notifications?+
Yes, you can snooze camera notifications in the app when you are at home and expect movement.