Sharing access to a SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Camera means letting another person see and manage it through their own login, and when sharing does not work, the cause is usually the account type, the permissions given or the invitation, and not the camera. SimpliSafe systems have a primary account, the owner who set up the system, and other people can be added as additional users, so a family member can use the app with their own login and see the cameras the owner allows. Check first that you are the primary owner, since only the owner can add users.
The checks in more detail
In the app, open the settings for users or sharing and invite the person with their email address, then tell them to look for the message and accept it. An invitation sent to a wrong or mistyped address, or one that has expired, will not work, so send it again. Permissions decide what the person sees. SimpliSafe lets the owner choose what a user can do, for example arm and disarm, view live video or see saved clips, and a person who can arm the alarm but cannot see the camera may simply lack that permission.
Check the user's settings and adjust. For a camera that is off in the other person's view, make sure it appears in the camera list for that user and that notifications are on in their app and in the phone's settings. If the other person sees nothing, ask them to sign out and in again, or update the app, since old versions may not show new features. Some people try to share by giving out the owner's password, which is unsafe and can lock the account if the system sees many logins; use invitations instead.
If you have a monitoring plan, check which features need a plan: cloud clips and live view on some cameras need a subscription, so a user without that feature will not see them. A guest who needs access for a short time can be given a PIN for the keypad and not an app login. If an invitation still fails, remove the user and add again, or contact SimpliSafe support with the account email. Do not post screenshots of invites.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera shared users or family”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The sender is not the primary owner
What separates it Add user options are missing
How to confirm Ask the owner to send the invitation
- 2
A wrong or expired invitation
What separates it The person never sees it
How to confirm Send it again to the correct address
- 3
Limited permissions
What separates it The user cannot see the camera
How to confirm Adjust the user's permissions
- 4
Notifications off in the user's app
What separates it No alerts arrive
How to confirm Turn them on in the app and phone
- 5
A plan feature missing
What separates it Clips or live view are unavailable
How to confirm Check the monitoring plan
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether you are the owner
- The user's permissions
- The invitation address
- Whether notifications are on
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedConfirm you are the owner
ReversibleIn the app.
Send an invitation
ReversibleTo the correct email.
Set the user's permissions
ReversibleFor camera and alarm.
Ask the user to update the app
ReversibleAnd turn on notifications.
Check the plan
ReversibleFor clip features.
Remove and re-add the user
ReversibleIf it still fails.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Owner
- Only the owner adds users.
- Permissions
- They control what each user sees.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If an invitation fails again, contact SimpliSafe with the account email
- !Use PINs for short-term guests
- !Never share the owner's password
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Who can add users?+
The primary owner.
Why can't my family member see the camera?+
Permissions or a missing plan feature.
Can I share my password?+
No, use an invitation.
What about a guest?+
Give a keypad PIN.