Outdoor Camera

This error can occur within the SimpliSafe® Mobile App when the camera has been partially removed from the Base Station but failed to fully remove itself from the mobile app.

As a first step, we recommend tapping on Finish Setup and see if it allows that camera to connect. If that step fails, the best path forward would be to remove the camera from your system using the Keypad.

Using the Keypad

1. Press the Menu button on your Keypad

2. Enter your Primary PIN

3. Scroll to devices and press Open on the right

4. Scroll down and locate the camera in question

5. Select your camera by pressing the arrow to the right

6. Choose Remove by pressing the arrow to the right to delete this camera from your system

Once the camera has been removed from the Keypad, you’ll need to refresh the SimpliSafe® Mobile App. To do this, open the mobile app on your phone or tablet and pull down from the top of the Camera’s tab to refresh the information presented. You can also force close the app on your phone or tablet, and relaunch it to refresh the app.

Push notifications for your camera are a great way to know when there is motion detected, or when someone rings your Video Doorbell Pro. To ensure that you will always receive push notifications for your camera(s), you’ll want to make sure that critical alarm notifications are enabled on your device so SimpliSafe® can deliver notifications even if your phone is on silent. Finally, if you have a work profile or focus mode enabled, push notifications may not work. You’ll want to consult with your phone’s manual for further configuration details in these modes.

Confirm that you are logged into the SimpliSafe® app

You will only receive push notifications if you are logged into the SimpliSafe® app. Open the app on your phone and log into your account if you are not already.

Enable Push Notifications for SimpliSafe® on your Smartphone

On iOS:

1. Go to “Settings”

2. Click “Notifications”

3. Find the SimpliSafe® Mobile App, and make sure notifications are turned on

On Android*:

1. Tap Apps > Settings > MORE

2. Tap Application Manager > DOWNLOADED

3. Tap on the SimpliSafe® Mobile App

4. Select or clear the check box next to Show Notifications to enable or disable push notifications

Steps may vary depending on your Android device. Please refer to your phone’s manual to identify where App Notifications may exist.

*Note: enabling Android Private Space for the SimpliSafe® Mobile App can prevent you from receiving push notifications. If you want to receive push notifications about your SimpliSafe® system, do not enable Android Private Space.

Ensure camera notifications are turned on

1. Open the SimpliSafe® app on your phone or tablet

2. Choose the My System tab on the bottom navigation bar

3. Choose Camera Setting, then the camera you wish to enable alerts for

4. Tap into Motion Detection to adjust your motion event notifications

   1. Please note that the SimpliCam® and Smart Alarm Indoor Camera will only receive motion alerts when your camera has its privacy shutter open

Make sure your phone is not on Do Not Disturb

If your phone is set to Do Not Disturb, you will not be notified of any activity regarding your SimpliSafe® system. If you do want to receive notifications for your system when your phone is set to Do Not Disturb, take the following steps.

On iOS:

1. Open your phone’s Settings

2. Select Focus

1. This can be found in the second cluster of settings

3. Click through each of the Focus Modes to check if notifications are silenced 

4. Click through each of the Focus Modes to add the SimpliSafe® Mobile App as an Allowed Notification

On Android:

1. Open your phone’s Settings

2. Select Modes and Routines

3. Check to see if an existing Mode or Routine is on

4. Add the SimpliSafe® Mobile App to allow notifications during Do Not Disturb

These steps may vary depending on the model of your device. If you have any questions regarding the steps to take, please refer to your devices owner’s manual.

Situations where you will not receive push notifications

Even if push notifications are enabled properly, there are two situations where you will not be notified of camera motion events.

If the SimpliSafe® Mobile App is open on your smartphone or running in the background

Push notifications, by design, alert smartphone users to look at an app by tapping into the notification. Due to this, if the SimpliSafe® Mobile App is active on your device, push notifications for camera motion detection will not be sent.

If there was a previous motion detection less than a minute ago

To prevent you from receiving too many notifications, all SimpliSafe® cameras have a quiet period. After a camera detects motion, you will not receive any other motion notifications from your camera for one minute. 

During this quiet period all of your cameras will still detect motion and record as usual, and each motion detection event can still be seen in your timeline.

Further troubleshooting

If your notifications are set up correctly, then try closing the app and re-opening it.

If you still are not receiving notifications, try deleting the app and re-installing it.

Live stream delays can occur for a variety of reasons, most commonly stemming due to the camera’s “deep sleep” state it enters when not in use. When a live stream is initiated, the camera must first wake up and then connect to Wi-Fi to start the stream. This process can take up to 10 seconds.

If you are concerned about this delay or are experiencing a delay longer than 10 to 15 seconds, you can try the below steps to troubleshoot your camera’s Wi-Fi and system connectivity

• Move the Base Station closer to the camera

• Ensure your Base Station is connected to Wi-Fi

• Plug your camera into a continuous power source using the Outdoor Camera Power Cable. Doing this will enable performance mode, allowing your camera to remain awake and responsive

• Bring the camera and your internet router close together

  • If the Camera works in this position, there may have been too great a distance between the devices and you will need to install the camera closer to your internet router

• You can also purchase a Wi-Fi extender to extend the range of your Wi-Fi

If the camera still does not connect when it is right next to your router, you may be experiencing Wi-Fi connectivity issues; in this case, you can try to troubleshoot your Wi-Fi connection.

What it Means

An "Unable to Stream Video" error means that the app was unable to download and display the streamable video. As this is likely an issue on the app end, our team is notified of these errors and investigates promptly to ensure your video is back up for streaming as soon as possible. You can try streaming this video again later.

Is There Anything I Can Do?

As mentioned above, this is likely due to an error on our end. In the meantime, you can also check your Wi-Fi connectivity strength and speed as that can affect your camera's ability to stream and record video. You can learn more about improving your connectivity speeds on our Help Center.

The Wireless Outdoor Security Camera has an expected battery life of up to 3 months; however, its lifespan is dependent on usage and the settings on your Outdoor Camera. You can learn more in this article about preserving the battery life of the Outdoor Camera.

If you notice that your Outdoor Camera’s battery won’t hold a charge, see our recommended troubleshooting steps below.

Make Sure That the Battery is Charging Completely

The Outdoor Camera’s battery takes up to 6 hours to charge completely. When the battery is charging, you will see a blinking white light. You’ll know the battery is fully charged once all 3 lights are illuminated and no longer blinking.

Use the Correct Power Adapter

The Outdoor Camera’s battery requires a USB power adapter with an output of 5.0V, 1.5A+. Failure to use the correct power adapter can result in the battery not charging completely. 

A list of power adapters that fit this requirement are:

• The SimpliCam® Wired Indoor Security Camera’s adapter 

• The Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera’s adapter

• Most cell phone power adapters

If you don’t know the output of your power adapter, most models will have it printed on the device itself, as seen in the image below.

If you are using the correct power adapter, make sure that you are plugging it into an outlet directly in a wall. Using a USB power strip or USB power hub may not supply efficient power to charge the battery. 

Assemble the Camera and Battery Properly

Once the Outdoor Camera’s battery has finished charging, make sure that you put it back into the camera properly. When inserting the battery into the Outdoor Camera, the 3 gold circles on the battery should be facing up and align with the three gold prongs inside the camera’s battery slot. The camera’s battery tab should also be facing you.

After inserting the battery, secure the lens to the camera by twisting it clockwise until it no longer moves.

You’ll know that your Outdoor Camera has been assembled properly once it makes a high pitched chime and begins to flash white.

Keep Your Outdoor Camera’s Firmware Up To Date

We’re always adding updates to the Outdoor Camera’s firmware to keep it running smoothly and to help with its battery life. Firmware updates on the Outdoor Camera are automatic, so make sure that you keep your cameras connected to Wi-Fi to get the latest updates. 

If you have taken the above steps and your Outdoor Camera’s battery still won’t hold a charge, we also offer products to keep the battery charged.

Outdoor Camera Solar Panel

With the Outdoor Camera Solar Panel, you won’t have to worry about taking your Outdoor Camera’s battery out to charge it. With just 3 hours of direct sunlight a day, the Outdoor Camera Solar Panel will keep your battery charged! To learn more about this product, visit the Wireless Outdoor Camera Solar Panel article. 

Outdoor Camera Charging Cable

If you live in a cloudy region or your home doesn’t get sufficient sunlight, we also offer an Outdoor Camera Charging Cable to help keep your Outdoor Camera’s battery charged 24/7! With a 25ft water-resistant cable and an outdoor-rated power adapter, this cord will easily be able to reach wherever your Outdoor Camera is installed. 

If your Wireless Outdoor Security Camera encounters an error that can’t be fixed through normal troubleshooting, performing a factory reset* of the camera may be necessary.

*Please note that you cannot reset the Outdoor Camera remotely. You must be with your camera physically to reset it.

First, you’ll need to remove the Outdoor Camera from the SimpliSafe® Mobile App.

To remove your Outdoor Camera

1. Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet

2. Choose My System from the bottom navigation bar

3. Select Camera Settings

4. Tap your Outdoor Camera

5. Scroll to the bottom and select Remove Camera

Once the Outdoor Camera has been removed from your system, you’ll need to reset it.

To reset your Outdoor Camera

1. Locate the pairing button on the back of your Outdoor Camera

   1. This is the smaller, circular button on the back of the camera
      

2. Press and hold the pairing button firmly, using both thumbs if possible, for 30 seconds - or until the camera chimes

   1. If the camera does not chime at any point during the 30 seconds of pressing the button, let go and press and hold the button again for another 30 seconds

3. When you release the button, the camera should reboot and begin to flash white

   1. For some cameras you may also notice it make a sound

Once the reset is complete, you can set it back up using our Installation Guide.

The error “Camera Connection Dropped” can happen for one of two reasons: 

1. The camera has a weak connection to your Wi-Fi network

2. There is a low or dying battery, and the camera is unable to make the connection due to power constraints

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