How to Reset Blink Camera – Getting Started
Home security is a top priority for a lot of people, and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor devices to choose from. Blink is one brand that’s earned a solid reputation for its mid-range smart cameras. They’re easy to set up and simple to use, and you can link several together for full-coverage surveillance.
But like any tech, things can go wrong. Sometimes a reset is the best fix.
Interested in this area? We go deeper in our how to connect Alexa to WiFi guide.
Whether you’re dealing with a glitch or getting ready to hand the camera off to a new owner, here’s how to reset your Blink camera.
For most Blink cameras, the reset process involves the sync module. The Blink Mini is different since it works without one. Let’s get into it.
Before You Reset: Try These Steps First
A full reset should be your last resort, not your first move. Before wiping your camera’s settings, try a few simpler fixes that often solve the problem without losing your configuration.
Power cycle the camera. For battery-powered models, remove the batteries, wait 10 seconds, and put them back in. For the Blink Mini, unplug it from power, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. This clears temporary glitches without erasing any settings.
Power cycle your Sync Module. Unplug the USB cable from the Sync Module, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Give it a minute or two to reconnect. Many connectivity issues clear up with this simple step.
Restart your WiFi router. If multiple cameras are having trouble, the issue might be your network, not the cameras. Unplug the router, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. After it boots up fully, check if your cameras reconnect.
Check your WiFi signal. Blink cameras need a decent WiFi connection to work properly. If the camera is far from the router or separated by thick walls, the signal might be too weak. Moving the Sync Module closer to the router, or adding a WiFi extender, can fix issues related to poor connectivity.
Update the firmware. Open the Blink app and check if any firmware updates are available for your cameras or Sync Module. Outdated firmware can cause all kinds of problems, from failed recordings to connection drops.
If none of these steps fix the issue, then a full reset is the next logical step.
When Should I Reset My Blink Camera
There are two common reasons to reset a Blink camera:
- The camera isn’t working right.
- You want to wipe the camera’s data completely.
If your camera is acting up, a reset can often fix the issue. If that doesn’t work, try power cycling your sync module or Wi-Fi router first.
A full factory reset is also necessary when you’re selling or giving away a camera. The reset removes the camera from your account and erases all saved settings, so the new owner can set it up fresh on their own Blink account.
How to Reset Each Blink Camera Model
Reset Blink Indoor, Outdoor, XT, and XT2
The Blink Mini has a visible external reset button, but the Indoor, Outdoor, XT, and XT2 models hide it under the back cover.
- Start by removing the camera from the app. Tap the ‘?’ icon, select ‘Delete Sync Module,’ enter the serial number, and confirm by tapping ‘Delete.’
- Power the camera on and remove the back cover.
- Grab a small tool like a safety pin or SIM ejector. Press the reset button in the small hole to the left of the right-hand battery slot. Hold it down for about 10 seconds.
- While still pressing the reset button, pull out the batteries.
- A red light will flash, which means the camera has disconnected from the sync module and the reset is complete.
- Add the camera back to the app and reconnect it to your Wi-Fi network.
A few things to keep in mind during this process. Make sure you’re pressing the reset button firmly. It’s a small, recessed button and a light press won’t register. Also, the red flash might be quick, so watch closely. If you don’t see it, try the process again.
Reset Blink Mini
Since the Blink Mini doesn’t need a sync module, you can reset it directly.
- Press and hold the reset button on the bottom of the Blink Mini for 10 to 15 seconds.
- A blue and green light will flash, letting you know the reset is done.
- You can optionally add the Mini to a sync module after resetting, but it’s not required. Either way, you’ll need to reconnect it to the app and Wi-Fi.
The Blink Mini 2 follows the same process. The reset button is in the same location on the bottom of the camera. After the reset, the camera enters setup mode automatically, and you can add it to your Blink account through the app.
Reset Blink Sync Module
If your Blink camera is paired with a Sync Module, resetting the module will disconnect every camera linked to it and put the module back into setup mode.
Here’s how:
- Unplug the USB power cable from the Sync Module.
- Find the reset button on the side of the module.
- Use a thin object to press and hold the reset button.
- While holding it, plug the USB power cable back in.
- Wait for the module’s light to turn red.
- Let go of the reset button.
- The Sync Module will enter setup mode, shown by alternating blue and green lights.
After the Sync Module resets, you’ll need to add it back to your Blink account and then reconnect each camera one at a time. This is a good opportunity to rename your cameras and reorganize them if your setup has changed since you first installed them.
What to Do After Resetting
Once the reset is complete, you’ll need to set up the camera from scratch. Here’s a quick checklist:
Open the Blink app and tap the “+” icon to add a new device. Follow the on-screen instructions to scan the QR code on your camera or Sync Module.
Connect to WiFi. Make sure you’re connecting to the same network your other smart home devices use. Using the 2.4 GHz band is recommended since Blink cameras don’t support 5 GHz.
Update firmware. After adding the camera, check for firmware updates in the app. Running the latest version helps prevent the same issues from coming back.
Reconfigure your settings. Motion detection zones, sensitivity levels, clip length, and notification preferences will all need to be set up again. Take a few minutes to dial these in so you get useful alerts without constant false triggers.
Test the camera. Walk through the detection zone and verify that the camera records properly, sends notifications, and streams live video without issues.
Common Issues After a Reset
Sometimes things don’t go smoothly after a reset. Here are a few common problems and how to handle them:
Camera won’t connect to WiFi. Double-check that you’re using the 2.4 GHz band. Many dual-band routers broadcast both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under the same network name, and the camera might try to connect to the wrong one. If that’s the case, temporarily disable the 5 GHz band during setup or create a separate network name for 2.4 GHz.
Sync Module doesn’t appear in the app. Make sure the Sync Module is fully powered on and showing the alternating blue and green lights. If it’s showing a solid or blinking red light, it hasn’t entered setup mode. Try the reset process again.
Camera shows as offline after setup. This usually means the WiFi signal is too weak at the camera’s location. Try moving the camera closer to the router temporarily to confirm it works, then address the signal issue before mounting it in its final spot.
Final Thought
Resetting your Blink camera is pretty simple, but it shouldn’t be your first troubleshooting step. Try power cycling the Sync Module and your Wi-Fi router before going the full reset route. If problems stick around after that, follow the steps above and you should be good to go.
