How to Fix Blurry Night Vision on Your D-Link Camera
A D-Link security camera provides peace of mind by letting you see what's happening at your property, especially after dark. When your camera's night vision works correctly, you should get a clear black and white image. However, if you find your nighttime footage is blurry, foggy, or washed-out, it compromises your security and needs to be fixed.
Fortunately, the cause of blurry night vision is usually simple and easy to resolve. This guide will walk you through the most common causes and how to get your D-Link camera's night vision looking sharp again.
Common Symptoms of Poor Night Vision
- Foggy or washed-out image: The picture looks like it's in a dense fog, with very little detail visible.
- A bright halo or ring: A circular glare appears in the video, often obscuring the center of the view.
- Soft or out-of-focus picture: While clear during the day, the image becomes blurry and lacks sharpness at night.
- Dark footage: The camera's infrared LEDs are on, but the scene remains too dark to see anything.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for Blurry Night Vision
Follow these steps in order. The solution is often found in the first two steps.
1. Thoroughly Clean the Lens and Dome Cover
This is, by far, the most common reason for poor night vision. Over time, the camera's lens cover collects a thin layer of dust, dirt, and grime. While this might not be noticeable during the day, at night the camera's powerful infrared (IR) LEDs will light up every speck of dust, causing the light to reflect into the lens.
- Take a clean, dry microfibre cloth.
- Gently but firmly wipe the entire surface of the camera's lens and the transparent dome that covers it.
- Pay special attention to the black ring around the lens where the IR LEDs are housed.
- Do not use paper towels or abrasive cleaners, as they can leave scratches which will permanently affect the image.
- After cleaning, check the live feed at night to see if the image has improved.
2. Identify and Eliminate IR Reflection
The second most common cause is IR reflection, also known as IR glare. This occurs when the camera's own IR light bounces off a nearby surface and shines directly back into the lens, overwhelming the sensor.
- Check for Overhangs: Is the camera installed directly under a soffit, eave, or windowsill? If the surface is too close, the IR light will hit it and create a massive white glare.
- Look for Nearby Walls: Similarly, if the camera is mounted too close to a side wall, the light will bounce off it.
- The Solution: Adjust the camera's position. Try tilting it down slightly or panning it away from the reflective surface. Even a small adjustment of a few degrees can often completely eliminate the glare.
3. Check for Firmware Updates
D-Link periodically releases firmware updates for their cameras. These updates can include improved image processing algorithms that enhance night vision quality and fix known bugs.
- Open the mydlink app.
- Select your camera.
- Go to the device's settings page.
- Look for a Firmware Update option. The app will tell you if a new version is available.
- If an update is found, proceed with the installation. Do not unplug the camera during the update process.
4. Power Cycle the Camera
Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve temporary software glitches that may be affecting the camera's image sensor or IR cut filter.
- Unplug the camera's power adapter from the wall outlet.
- Wait for 30-60 seconds to ensure all power has dissipated.
- Plug the camera back in and wait for it to fully restart.
- Check the video feed again once night falls.
By methodically working through these steps, especially the cleaning and positioning, you can solve almost all cases of blurry night vision and restore your D-Link camera to perfect working order.