Geeni Camera Live View Not Working? Here's How to Fix It
The primary function of a smart security camera is to provide a live view of your home when you're away. So, when your Geeni camera's live view fails to load, showing a black screen, a constant buffering wheel, or an 'offline' error, it can be both frustrating and worrying. Fortunately, most live view problems are caused by simple network or app issues that you can resolve yourself.
This guide will take you through the most common solutions to get your Geeni live stream working again.
## Step 1: Check the Basics (Your Phone and the App)
Before you start troubleshooting the camera or your router, let's make sure the problem isn't with the device in your hand.
- Check Your Phone's Internet Connection: Can you browse websites or use other internet-connected apps on your smartphone? Whether you are on Wi-Fi or mobile data, you need a stable connection to stream video. Try switching from Wi-Fi to your mobile data (or vice versa) to see if it makes a difference.
- Update the Geeni App: An outdated app can cause all sorts of compatibility issues. Go to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and check if there's an update available for the Geeni app. Install any pending updates.
- Restart the Geeni App: Force close the app completely and then reopen it. This can clear temporary glitches or memory issues within the app itself.
- On iOS: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and then swipe the Geeni app card up and off the screen.
- On Android: Open the recent apps screen and swipe the Geeni app away.
- Log Out and Back In: Inside the app's settings, find the option to log out of your account. Log out, then sign back in. This refreshes your connection to the Geeni servers.
## Step 2: Troubleshoot the Camera's Connection
If the app is working fine, the problem is most likely the connection between your Geeni camera and your home Wi-Fi network.
- Power Cycle the Camera: This is the most effective single step you can take. Unplug the Geeni camera from its power source. Leave it unplugged for at least 60 seconds to ensure it fully powers down. Then, plug it back in. The camera will take a minute or two to reboot and reconnect to your network. Now, try the live view again.
- Check the Camera's Status Light: Look at the small LED light on the camera. A solid blue light typically means it's connected and operating correctly. A blinking blue or red light usually indicates a connection problem.
- Verify Wi-Fi Signal Strength: Your camera needs a strong, stable Wi-Fi signal. Thick walls, metal objects, and even microwaves can interfere with the signal. In the Geeni app, go to the settings for the problematic camera and look for 'Device Info' or a similar menu. It should show you the signal strength. If it's below 30%, you may need to move the camera closer to your Wi-Fi router or consider a Wi-Fi extender.
- Confirm 2.4GHz Network: Geeni cameras, like most smart devices, connect exclusively to the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band. If you have a dual-band router, make sure you've connected the camera to the 2.4GHz network, not the 5GHz one.
## Step 3: Check Your Home Network
If the camera seems to have a decent connection, the issue might be with your wider home network.
- Restart Your Router: Just like the camera, your router can get bogged down. Unplug your Wi-Fi router from power, wait 60 seconds, and plug it back in. This can resolve many mysterious connection problems.
- Check Your Internet Upload Speed: Streaming video from your camera to the internet requires upload speed. Run an internet speed test. If your upload speed is very low (less than 2 Mbps), your network may struggle to send the live video feed, especially if other devices are also using the internet.
- Too Many Devices: Is your network overloaded? If you have dozens of devices connected and actively using the internet (streaming TV, gaming, etc.), your router might be struggling to provide enough bandwidth for the camera.
By working through these steps, you can solve the vast majority of Geeni live view issues. If the problem persists after trying everything, you may need to perform a factory reset on the camera and set it up again from scratch.