On a SimpliSafe Smart Alarm Indoor Camera, wrong timestamps usually come from the system's time zone or an offline camera. In the SimpliSafe app, check the home's time zone and daylight saving setting under the system settings, and confirm the camera shows online. Timestamps on clips are set when the camera records and sent when it reconnects, so a camera that was offline can show events with a late time. If the status looks stale, pull down to refresh and check the base station's connection. If the camera is offline, reconnect it to Wi-Fi, restart it and look at the app's status. A mismatch that persists after fixing the time zone is a case for SimpliSafe support.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe cameras and video doorbell shows the wrong time, state or sensor reading”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong time zone
What separates it Clips are off by whole hours
How to confirm Correct the time zone in system settings
- 2
Daylight saving
What separates it Off by one hour
How to confirm Check the daylight saving setting
- 3
An offline camera
What separates it Status looks stale
How to confirm Reconnect it to Wi-Fi
- 4
A refresh delay
What separates it The app shows an old state
How to confirm Refresh the app
- 5
A fault
What separates it Time is wrong after fixing settings
How to confirm Contact SimpliSafe
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The clip time and real time
- The time zone setting
- The camera's status
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCheck time zone
ReversibleIn the app, open system settings.
Check status
ReversibleConfirm the camera is online.
Refresh
ReversiblePull down to refresh.
Reconnect
ReversibleRestart the camera and check Wi-Fi.
Compare a test event
ReversibleTrigger the camera and compare the time.
Check the base station
ReversibleMake sure the base station is online, since the camera connects through it.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Time
- The system's time zone drives timestamps.
- Base station
- The camera reports through the SimpliSafe base station.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Outdoor Security Camera Series 2, Video Doorbell Pro.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If time stays wrong after fixing the time zone, contact SimpliSafe
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Camera Disconnected steps.
No Video error.
Recording, streaming and motion.
Serial numbers.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my camera clip an hour off?+
Daylight saving or time zone settings are usually the cause.
Does the camera take the time from my phone?+
No, from the system's settings.
What if the camera is offline?+
Reconnect it to Wi-Fi.
Do clips show the wrong time when the camera was offline?+
They can show late times because they are uploaded when it reconnects.
Can I change the time zone?+
Yes in system settings.
Where do I set the SimpliSafe time zone?+
In the app's system settings, under the account or location details.
Why does the camera show offline although it is powered?+
It may have lost Wi-Fi or the base station connection. Restart it and check the signal.
Does daylight saving update automatically?+
It follows the time zone setting. If it is wrong in spring or autumn, check the setting.
Can I trust the clip's time for a report?+
Compare it with a test event first; a time zone error shifts every clip by the same amount.