Canary Camera Showing No Video? Here's How to Fix It
A security camera that doesn't show video is a significant concern. If your Canary camera is offline, showing a black screen, or failing to connect, it leaves your home unmonitored. These connection issues are common and can usually be fixed with a few troubleshooting steps. Whether your Canary Pro, View, or Flex has stopped streaming, this guide will help you get it back online.
We'll cover everything from simple power cycles to network checks to resolve the 'no video' error and restore your peace of mind.
## Initial Diagnosis: Check the Basics
Before you start rebooting routers, let's check the most common and easily solvable issues that can cause your Canary to stop showing video.
- Check the Power Supply: Ensure the Canary camera is properly plugged in. Check that the micro-USB cable is securely connected to both the device and the power adapter, and that the adapter is firmly in a working power outlet. If the light at the bottom of the unit is off, it's not receiving power.
- Verify Your Internet Connection: Is your home Wi-Fi working? Try to access the internet on another device, like your smartphone (with Wi-Fi turned on) or a computer. If your internet is down, your Canary can't connect to the cloud, and you won't see any video. You'll need to resolve the internet issue first.
- Check the Canary Service Status: Occasionally, the problem might not be on your end. Visit the official Canary status page online to see if they are experiencing a service outage. If their servers are down, you'll have to wait for them to resolve the issue.
## Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for No Video
If the basics are in order, it's time to dig a little deeper. Follow these steps sequentially to get your camera back online.
### 1. Power Cycle the Canary Camera
This is the most effective first step for resolving connectivity problems. A reboot clears the device's memory and allows it to establish a fresh connection.
- Unplug the power cable from the back of your Canary device.
- Wait for at least 60 seconds. This is important to ensure all residual power is discharged.
- Plug the power cable back in.
- The light on the bottom will flash white while it boots up and reconnects. This can take a few minutes. Once it turns solid white, it's online. Check the app to see if the video feed has returned.
### 2. Reboot Your Home Router
If rebooting the camera doesn't work, the issue could be with your router. Like any electronic device, routers can benefit from a periodic restart.
- Unplug the power cable from your Wi-Fi router.
- Wait for about 60 seconds.
- Plug it back in and wait for it to fully restart (this can take several minutes).
- Once your internet is back online, your Canary should automatically reconnect.
### 3. Check Wi-Fi Network Changes
Did you recently change your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) or password? If so, your Canary camera will not be able to connect until you update it with the new credentials.
You will need to go through the setup process again in the Canary app to connect the device to the new network. The app will guide you through the steps to update the Wi-Fi information.
### 4. Move the Camera or Router
A weak Wi-Fi signal can cause the video feed to drop out. Physical obstructions like thick walls (especially concrete or brick), large metal appliances, or mirrors can block the signal.
- Try moving your Canary camera closer to your Wi-Fi router.
- Alternatively, try moving your router to a more central location in your home.
- If the video feed returns when the devices are closer, you've identified a signal strength problem. You may need a Wi-Fi extender to provide better coverage.
## Still No Video?
If you've followed all these steps and your Canary camera is still not showing video, it's time to contact Canary Support. Open the app and use the 'Contact Support' feature to get help from their technical team. They can perform more advanced diagnostics to determine if there is a hardware failure with your device.