Cove Camera Stopped Working? Here’s How to Fix It
A Cove security camera is a vital part of your home's protection, so when it suddenly stops working, it's important to get it back online quickly. Whether your camera is offline, not recording, or has no power at all, this guide will walk you through the most common problems and their solutions in a clear, step-by-step manner.
Initial Diagnosis: Identifying the Symptom
First, let's figure out what's wrong. "Stopped working" can mean several things. Check the Cove app and the camera itself to identify the primary issue:
- No Power: The camera's status LED is completely off, and it's unresponsive.
- Camera Offline: The app shows the camera as "Offline," and you cannot access the live view. The LED might be flashing a specific colour.
- Connection Failed: You receive an error message when trying to view the live stream, even though the camera appears to be online.
- Not Recording: The camera is online and you can view the live feed, but no new event recordings are being saved.
How to Troubleshoot Your Cove Camera
Let's address each of these scenarios, starting with the most common and simple fixes.
Scenario 1: The Camera Has No Power
If the LED light is off, we need to check the power supply from the outlet to the camera.
- Check the Power Cable: Ensure the power cable is securely plugged into the back of the camera and that the power adapter is firmly seated in the wall outlet.
- Test the Wall Outlet: The outlet itself might be the problem. Unplug the camera and plug in a different device that you know works, like a lamp or a phone charger, to confirm the outlet has power.
- Inspect the Cable: Check the entire length of the power cable for any visible signs of damage, such as cuts or severe kinks. A damaged cable can interrupt the power flow.
- Try a Different Adapter: If you have another compatible power adapter, try using it. The original adapter may have failed.
Scenario 2: The Camera is 'Offline' in the App
An offline status almost always points to a network connectivity issue.
- Reboot Your Home Router: This is the most effective first step for any Wi-Fi issue. Unplug your router from power, wait for a full 60 seconds, and then plug it back in. Give it 5-10 minutes to fully restart and for your camera to attempt to reconnect.
- Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength: Is the camera too far from your router? Physical obstructions like brick walls, metal appliances, and even water can weaken a Wi-Fi signal. If the signal is poor, try moving the camera closer to the router to see if it reconnects. If it does, you may need a Wi-Fi extender for reliable performance in its original location.
- Check Your Network Name/Password: Have you recently changed your Wi-Fi network's name (SSID) or password? If so, the camera can no longer connect. You will need to go through the setup process in the Cove app to reconnect the camera to the network with the new credentials.
Scenario 3: The Camera Is Not Recording Events
If you have a live view but no recordings, the issue lies with the motion detection settings or storage.
- Check Motion Detection Settings: Open the Cove app, select your camera, and go into its Settings.
- Ensure that Motion Detection is turned on.
- Check the Motion Sensitivity level. If it's too low, it may not be picking up activity. Try increasing it.
- Verify that you haven't set up Activity Zones that exclude the area where motion is occurring.
- Review Recording Schedules: Make sure you don't have a schedule set that disables recording during certain times of the day.
- Check Cloud Storage/SD Card: Ensure your cloud storage subscription is active or that your local SD card (if your model has one) is not full or corrupted.
The Final Step: A Factory Reset
If you have tried all the relevant steps above and the camera is still not working, you can perform a factory reset as a last resort. This will wipe all your settings and force you to set up the camera from scratch.
- Find the reset button on the camera. It is usually a small, recessed button that you will need a paperclip or SIM-eject tool to press.
- With the camera powered on, press and hold the reset button for 15-20 seconds until the camera gives an audible confirmation or the LED light changes pattern.
- Release the button. The camera will reboot.
- Once it has restarted, open the Cove app and follow the instructions to add a new device.
If the camera still fails to work after a factory reset, it likely indicates a hardware failure. In this case, you should contact Cove Support for further assistance and to discuss warranty options.