How to Fix Pixelated or Blurry Video on Your Laview Camera
You've invested in a Laview security camera to get clear, sharp video, so it's incredibly frustrating when the live feed or recordings are pixelated, blocky, or blurry. Poor video quality defeats the purpose of a security camera, as it makes it difficult to identify faces or important details.
The good news is that this is usually a solvable problem, often related to network performance or a simple camera setting. This guide will walk you through the most common causes and their solutions to help you restore a crisp, clear picture.
## Understanding Why Video Becomes Pixelated
Pixelation (seeing large, blocky squares) is a form of video compression. Your camera does this intentionally when it doesn't have enough network bandwidth to send a full-quality, high-definition video stream. It sacrifices quality to ensure the video doesn't stop completely. Blurriness, on the other hand, can be caused by network issues, a physical problem with the lens, or incorrect settings.
## Key Troubleshooting Steps for Better Video Quality
Let's start with the most likely culprits.
### 1. Check Your Network Connection
This is the #1 cause of pixelated video. Both your camera's connection to your router and your internet plan's upload speed are critical.
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Wi-Fi Signal Strength: A weak Wi-Fi signal between your camera and your router will force the camera to lower the video quality.
- Action: In the Laview app, check the Wi-Fi signal strength for that camera. If it's low (one or two bars), try moving your router closer to the camera, or consider installing a Wi-Fi extender or mesh system to improve coverage.
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Internet Upload Speed: Your internet's upload speed determines how well you can stream video from your camera to your phone when you are away from home.
- Action: Run an internet speed test. You need a stable upload speed of at least 2-4 Mbps per camera for good quality HD streaming. If your upload speed is consistently low, you may need to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) about upgrading your plan.
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Network Congestion: If other people in your home are heavily using the internet (e.g., streaming 4K movies, online gaming), it can leave little bandwidth for your camera.
- Action: Check if the video quality improves during times of low network activity. If it does, this points to a bandwidth issue.
### 2. Adjust In-App Video Quality Settings
Sometimes the solution is as simple as changing a setting in the app.
- Action: Open the Laview app and select the camera you're having trouble with. Go to its Settings and look for an option labelled "Video Quality," "Image Quality," or "Stream Quality." It might be set to "SD" (Standard Definition) or "Auto." Manually change this setting to the highest available option, such as "HD," "1080p," or "2K," and see if the image becomes clearer.
### 3. Clean the Camera Lens
A blurry or hazy image, as opposed to a pixelated one, is often caused by a physical obstruction on the lens.
- Action: Inspect the camera lens for dust, dirt, fingerprints, or spiderwebs. Power down the camera for safety, then gently clean the lens using a soft, clean microfibre cloth (the kind used for cleaning eyeglasses). Do not use paper towels or harsh cleaning chemicals, as they can scratch the lens.
### 4. Check Night Vision Performance
If your video quality is only poor at night, the issue is likely with the infrared (IR) night vision system.
- Action: Check for IR glare. This happens when the camera's IR light reflects off a nearby surface (like a white wall, soffit, or windowsill) and bounces back into the lens, washing out the image. If you see a bright, hazy area, try repositioning the camera slightly to angle it away from the reflective surface.
By systematically working through these network, software, and physical checks, you can identify the root cause of your video quality problems and restore the sharp, detailed image you expect from your Laview camera.