How to Fix Poor Video Quality on Your Canary Camera
Your Canary camera is designed to provide a clear view of your home, but when the video feed is blurry, pixelated, or constantly buffering, it can undermine your sense of security. Poor video quality is a common issue, and it's almost always related to the camera's ability to stream data over your network.
This troubleshooting guide will walk you through the most common causes of poor video quality on Canary devices. By addressing issues with your Wi-Fi connection, camera placement, and physical condition, you can significantly improve the clarity and stability of your video stream.
Common Symptoms of Poor Video Quality
"Poor quality" can mean several different things. Let's identify the specific problem you're seeing:
- Pixelation: The image looks blocky or chunky, especially during movement.
- Blurriness: The entire image is soft and out of focus, lacking sharp details.
- Low Resolution: The video looks like a low-quality web video from years ago, not the HD feed you expect.
- Buffering: The video frequently freezes and shows a loading or buffering symbol.
- Hazy or Foggy Image: The video looks like there's a haze or film over the lens.
- Colour Issues: The colours are distorted, washed out, or have an unusual tint.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for a Clearer Picture
Let's start with the most likely cause and work our way down.
### 1. Check Your Wi-Fi and Internet Connection
This is the number one cause of poor video quality. Your Canary camera automatically adjusts the quality of its video stream based on the available network bandwidth. If the connection is weak, it will lower the quality to avoid dropping the stream altogether.
- Test Your Internet Speed: Use a speed testing app on your phone while standing next to your Canary camera. You need to look at the upload speed. A single Canary camera requires at least 1-2 Mbps of stable upload speed to stream in high quality. If your upload speed is low, your video quality will suffer.
- Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength: How far is your camera from your Wi-Fi router? Walls, floors, and large appliances can block the signal. Try moving the camera closer to the router temporarily. If the quality improves dramatically, you've found the problem.
- Solution: You may need to move your router to a more central location, or invest in a Wi-Fi extender or mesh network system to provide a stronger signal to the camera's location.
- Reduce Network Congestion: If other people in your home are streaming 4K movies, gaming online, or downloading large files, it can consume all your available upload bandwidth, leaving none for your camera. Try testing the camera's quality when the network is not in heavy use.
### 2. Clean the Camera Lens
This might sound simple, but it's a very common cause of blurry or hazy images.
- Action: Take a clean, dry microfibre cloth (the kind used for cleaning eyeglasses or phone screens). Gently wipe the camera's lens to remove any dust, fingerprints, or smudges. Do not use paper towels or harsh chemical cleaners, as they can scratch or damage the lens.
### 3. Check for Physical Obstructions and Lighting
The camera's environment plays a big role in image quality.
- Protective Film: If the camera is new, double-check that you have removed the thin, clear protective film from the lens.
- Infrared (IR) Reflection: At night, if the camera is too close to a wall, shelf, or looking through a window, the infrared lights used for night vision can reflect off the surface and back into the lens. This creates a bright, hazy glare that washes out the image. Try repositioning the camera to avoid any nearby reflective surfaces.
- Lighting: Very low light can cause the image to look grainy or "noisy" as the camera's sensor tries to compensate. Ensure the area has adequate lighting for the best daytime colour video.
### 4. Reboot Your Camera and Router
When in doubt, a simple restart can often clear up temporary glitches.
- Reboot the Canary: Unplug your Canary camera from the power outlet. Wait for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Give it a few minutes to reconnect to the network.
- Reboot Your Router: Unplug your Wi-Fi router from power, wait a minute, and plug it back in. This can resolve underlying network issues that might be throttling your camera's connection.
If you've tried all of these steps and your video quality is still poor, the issue might be more complex. Contact your Internet Service Provider to inquire about your upload speeds, or reach out to Canary's customer support for further assistance.