Is your ADT WiFi security camera’s status “unknown”?
Don’t worry! Your security alarm is likely still working because it consists of different security sensors, like those placed on your door and windows. But, the motion sensors may be causing the cameras to appear offline if something is interfering with their WiFi connection.
Luckily, we found an easy fix to this, so we’ll explain how to identify and resolve your ADT connection problem.
Why Do ADT Cameras Go Offline?
There are three possible reasons why ADT cameras go offline:
- Lost power supply: This is one of the primary reasons ADT WiFi cameras go offline. Like any electrical item, your WiFi system is susceptible to damage from power surges or even adjacent lightning strikes, which might result in downtime. Your WiFi camera will thus stop functioning when the power goes off. Then, when the power comes back, it might not be able to restart.
- Absent WiFi signal: this is another common problem that might prevent your ADT camera from operating normally. As you are likely aware, WiFi signals are necessary for ADT cameras to communicate properly. If this connection is lost, your camera will just go offline and stop functioning.
- Poor WiFi signal: WiFi connections are more trustworthy when the signal intensity is strong and undisrupted. Metal window shades, furniture, walls, and doors can all drastically limit the WiFi signal of your ADT camera. If there are obstacles or “dead spots” between your WiFi router and the connected device, the WiFi signal will be weaker.
How to Restore ADT Camera’s Online Status
Now that you know the potential factors that can contribute to your ADT camera’s offline status, let’s go over the solutions for each issue.
- Start by checking to see if the camera’s LED lights are ON. If they are not, verify that the unit is securely plugged in;
- Check the outlet and restore the power flow. An outlet can lose power because of a trip circuit breaker, GFI switch, or if it’s connected to a wall switch;
- Once you’ve confirmed there’s power, it’s a good idea to put your ADT gateway and the camera through a power cycle. Disconnect the power wires from both and wait for several minutes. Power up the gateway first, wait for 5 minutes to reconnect, and then activate your camera, giving it a few minutes.
- Make sure your camera is not in a WiFi dead zone. If your ADT gateway was moved (or even if it wasn’t), the camera might be out of range. Try to position your camera nearer the gateway and perform a second power cycle.
Your ADT Camera Is Still Offline? There’s One More Thing to Try
If the above information doesn’t work, ADT offers another solution! The final thing you can do is remove and add the ADT Pulse WiFi camera to the system.
To remove your ADT wifi camera from the security system, follow these steps:
- Log in to your ADT pulse account
- Click on the “System” tab
- Select the “Devices” tab
- Find the ADT camera that you want to remove
- Click “Delete Device” and confirm by clicking “Yes”
Following its deletion, you may restore your wifi camera by following these steps:
- Take your camera and plug it into a power source. When you do so, you should see a green blinking light on its back
- In the meantime, log in to your ADT pulse account
- Click on the “System” tab
- Select the “Devices” tab
- Go to “Manage Devices”
- Select “Cameras” (This option may not be available to you if your ADT Pulse isn’t updated to the latest version. For assistance, contact ADT at 1-800-238-2727)
- Select “Add using WPS”
- Enter the 8-digit pin located on the back of the camera and hit “Enter”
- Hold the WPS button down for five seconds. It’s located at the bottom right corner of the camera. You will see an amber light blinking at the bottom. This blinking light indicates that it transmits signals to enter the system.
- After 30 seconds, the light will turn solid green, and the ADT Pulse system will connect with your camera
- Wait a couple of minutes for the ADT Pulse system to fully connect with your camera. You’ll know the connection is complete when the ADT Pulse system shows you a window with the camera details
Get Notified When Your ADT Camera Is Offline
Did you know that ADT can notify you if your camera goes offline? For example, if your camera loses connectivity to your home network’s Internet, you can enable notifications to be sent to you. ADT can send notifications via SMS, text, or email.
You can adjust this feature through your ADT account. To do so, follow these steps:
- Log in to your ADT account to MyADT.com or the control app
- Choose “Notifications” from the left-hand menu. In the app, hit the three-line menu symbol in the upper left
- Choose “System Actions to Watch”
- Select “ One of my Video Cameras Isn’t Responding”
- Choose whether you want to be alerted through text, email, or SMS message
Do ADT Cameras Constantly Record?
All ADT cameras provide the opportunity to access the recorded video at any moment, and they all continuously record 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
The gadget will always record, but it won’t alert your phone or security system unless something unexpected occurs.
The ADT app will let you watch your ADT cameras, giving you access to your video feed and history whenever you want. To get access, you must take the following steps:
- Go to MyADT.com or the control app
- Select “Alarm System” from the Navigation Bar
- Select the “Alarm History” tab
A list of events your system reported should appear. Call 1-800-ADT-ASAP (1-800-238-2727) immediately if you haven’t seen any recent alarm activity, so they can assist you in troubleshooting the issue.
How to Adjust the Quality of Your ADT Camera
Outdoor and indoor ADT cameras both have 1080p HD resolution. They offer a broad field of view — the indoor field of view is 145 degrees, whereas the outside field is 130 degrees. Both cameras have infrared LEDs incorporated into them, so they also have night vision.
However, the automatic settings of some cameras are not suitable for every situation, which may ruin the overall monitoring experience. So instead of waiting for a technician or ADT Service, you can adjust them yourself! It only takes a few minutes, and it’s easy to do.
Here’s how you can do that:
- Go to MyADT.com or the control app
- Click on “Video” on the left side menu
- Select “Setting” on the top side menu
- Go to “Video Device Image”
- Pick the camera that you want to adjust
- Adjust the brightness, sharpness, contrast, saturation, and night vision sensitivity
All done! Knowing this function can come in handy if you have a camera installed over your garage or in a poorly illuminated spot. To fix that, you should modify the brightness and sharpness of your ADT camera.
You also may have installed your cameras adjacent to a light source, making monitoring impossible. If so, you only need to adjust the saturation and contrast of your ADT camera — you don’t necessarily need to move it to a new location.
Conclusion
ADT cameras perform exceptionally for both indoor and outdoor protection. However, they may stop performing as intended and go offline due to minor issues.
If that happens, you should be covered. We’ve listed the most frequent reasons why ADT cameras go offline, as well as the required fixes that can help you manage the problem without any worries.
To sum up, ADT cameras may go offline for three reasons: recent power loss, absent Wifi signal, or weak Wifi signal.
In such a situation, ensure the Camera’s LED lights are on, and don’t skip the power cycle step. Additionally, keep in mind that placing your cameras in areas with “dead zones,” such as metal window coverings or walls, might cause signal interference.
If everything else fails, delete and reinstall your ADT camera into the system. It’s very simple, and you’ll be done installing it in five minutes or less.
Last but not least, regularly test your ADT alarm system. ADT offers online chat support that can assist you if you have concerns or need to troubleshoot your system. You can also contact the ADT support center at 1-800-ADT-ASAP (1-800-238-2727).
