SimpliSafe's video guidance separates incomplete recordings, delayed live streaming and no recording. Incomplete recordings are often a connectivity problem, so reboot the router by unplugging it for thirty to sixty seconds and run the Connection Check Tool. Delayed or troubled live streaming: to save battery the Wireless Outdoor Camera goes into deep sleep and must wake and join wifi when you start a stream, which can take up to ten seconds;
The checks in more detail
longer delays call for moving the Base Station or the camera closer, confirming the Base Station is on wifi and, if the camera works next to the router, moving it closer or adding an extender. If the camera is not recording or streaming, check environment, connectivity and battery: the outdoor camera's optimal range is minus 4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, and above 145 degrees it shuts down to protect the battery and resumes once cool.
Charge the battery for six hours for up to three months of life, check all three battery lights, check the metal dots line up and the lens is tightened with the speaker facing down. The No Video error means the camera disconnected while recording, so part or all of the video may be lost. Clean the lens and check for glare. Compare a live stream near the router with one at the mount to see whether the fault is signal or the camera.
A dirty lens or a spider web glows at night, so check it before adjusting settings. Set expectations by the busiest time of day. Incomplete recordings are a network symptom first, so rebooting the router and checking upload speed will fix more cases than any change in the camera's settings. Speaker facing down and the lens tightened fully are part of SimpliSafe's checklist for a camera that will not record, so check the physical assembly as well as the settings.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe cameras and video doorbell video is blurry, dark, frozen or delayed”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A weak connection
What separates it Recordings are incomplete because the connection to the camera is weak or drops out
How to confirm Reboot the router, then use the Connection Check Tool in the app to see how the link performs
- 2
Deep sleep wake-up
What separates it The live stream is delayed because the camera wakes from deep sleep when you open it
How to confirm Expect up to ten seconds for the stream to start, or improve the signal to shorten the wait
- 3
Heat above 145F
What separates it The camera shuts down because it has been in heat above 145 degrees Fahrenheit
How to confirm Let the camera cool in the shade before you try to use it again, and move it from direct sun
- 4
A low battery
What separates it The camera is not recording because its battery is low
How to confirm Charge the battery for about six hours, until the lights show it is full
- 5
A disconnected camera
What separates it The app shows a No Video error because the camera has disconnected from the network
How to confirm Fix the connection by checking the wifi, the battery and the distance to the Base Station
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The state of the battery lights on the camera
- How well the camera is connected to the wifi
- How long the delay is before the live stream starts
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedReboot the router
ReversibleReboot the router by unplugging it for thirty to sixty seconds, then plugging it back in and waiting.
Run the Connection Check Tool
ReversibleRun the Connection Check Tool in the app, which reports how well the camera connects to your network.
Charge the battery
ReversibleCharge the battery for about six hours, which is what SimpliSafe gives as a full charge time.
Check the battery seating
ReversibleCheck the battery seating, and make sure the three metal dots are lined up with the contacts.
Check the temperature
ReversibleCheck the temperature at the camera, and move it into shade if the spot gets very hot.
Move devices closer
ReversibleMove devices closer together if the video is delayed, so the camera has a stronger link.
Contact SimpliSafe
ReversibleContact SimpliSafe if the problem persists, and tell them what the video does and what you tried.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Battery
- Charges in six hours, up to three months.
- Heat
- Shuts down above 145F.
- 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 problems persist after these steps, contact SimpliSafe support and describe what you see
- !If the camera overheats often, move it to shade
- !If the video is lost, it cannot be recovered
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Recording, streaming and motion.
No Video error.
Connection errors and fixes.
Camera Disconnected steps.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my live stream slow?+
A live stream can be slow because the camera wakes from deep sleep, which can take up to ten seconds.
Why are recordings incomplete?+
Incomplete recordings usually point to a connection problem, so check the wifi and the router first.
What temperature is safe?+
The camera works in temperatures from minus four to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep it in that range.
What happens above 145F?+
Above 145 degrees Fahrenheit the camera shuts down to protect itself, and it needs to cool down.
What is No Video?+
No Video means the camera has disconnected, so check its wifi and battery before anything else.
Can lost video be recovered?+
No, video that was never recorded cannot be recovered later, so fix the cause to avoid more gaps.
What does No Video mean?+
No Video means the camera disconnected while it was recording, so part of an event was not saved.
What does Camera Disconnected mean?+
Camera Disconnected means the camera lost its link to the system, so check its power, battery and wifi.
Can I troubleshoot remotely?+
No, you need to be at the system to troubleshoot a camera, because you must check its power and wifi in person.