How to Fix Blurry, Foggy, or Washed-Out August Night Vision
Your August Doorbell Cam provides a clear view of your doorstep during the day, but at night, the image becomes a blurry, foggy, or washed-out mess. This is a common problem with cameras that use infrared (IR) night vision, and it can almost always be fixed by addressing how the IR light interacts with the camera's immediate surroundings.
This guide will walk you through the most common causes of poor night vision quality and how to resolve them, ensuring you have a clear view of your property 24/7.
## Common Night Vision Problems
- Foggy or Hazy Image: The picture looks like it's in a dense fog, with no sharp details.
- Bright White Glare: A strong white light or halo effect washes out a large portion of the image.
- Spiderweb Glare: A spiderweb near the lens looks intensely bright, obscuring everything behind it.
- Blurry or Out-of-Focus: Objects that are clear during the day become soft and blurry at night.
- Pitch Black Screen: The video feed is completely dark, even though night vision is on.
Troubleshooting Steps for Clearer August Night Vision
The key to solving night vision problems is understanding that the camera sees using invisible infrared light. The issue is almost always caused by this light being reflected directly back into the lens.
### 1. Clean the Camera Lens and Housing
This is the simplest and most common fix. Dust, dirt, water spots, and fingerprints on the lens can catch the IR light and create a blurry or hazy effect.
- Use a Microfibre Cloth: Take a clean, dry microfibre cloth (the type used for cleaning glasses) and gently but thoroughly wipe the camera lens.
- Wipe the Entire Faceplate: Also, wipe down the entire front surface of the doorbell. A spiderweb spun just off to the side of the lens can be illuminated by the IR and cause a massive glare.
### 2. Identify and Eliminate IR Reflection
This is the number one cause of a 'white wall' or foggy effect. The invisible IR light is hitting a nearby surface and bouncing straight back into the camera.
- Check for Side Walls: Is your doorbell mounted in a corner or very close to a side wall or brickwork? This is a very common source of IR bounce.
- Look for Overhangs: A low porch ceiling, a windowsill, or a decorative ledge just above or below the doorbell can also reflect light.
- The Solution: You need to change the camera's angle. Even a small adjustment can make a huge difference. Consider using one of the angled mounting wedges that may have come with your August doorbell. This will point the camera's view (and its IR light) away from the reflective surface, clearing up the image instantly.
### 3. Manage External Light Sources
Sometimes, other lights can interfere with the camera's ability to produce a clear image at night.
- Porch Lights: A very bright porch light positioned right next to or above the doorbell can create glare or confuse the camera's light sensor, causing it to flicker between day and night modes. Try turning the light off to see if the image improves. If it does, you may need a less powerful bulb or a fixture that directs light away from the doorbell.
- Decorative Lights: Holiday lights or landscape lighting pointing towards the camera can also cause issues.
### 4. Check In-App Settings
Ensure that the night vision feature is enabled correctly within the August app.
- Open the August App: Navigate to the settings for your doorbell camera.
- Verify Night Vision is On: Find the video or night vision settings and ensure that the feature is turned on or set to 'Auto'. If it's off, the camera will not be able to see in the dark.
### 5. Reboot the Doorbell
If the night vision is completely black and you've confirmed it's enabled in the app, a simple reboot might solve a temporary software glitch.
- Use the Circuit Breaker: Since the doorbell is hardwired, you'll need to find the circuit breaker that controls it.
- Power Cycle: Turn the breaker off, wait for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. This will force the doorbell to restart.