Mobotix App Not Working? An Expert Solutions Guide
When your Mobotix app, such as Mobotix Live or the older MxGo, fails to work, it compromises your ability to monitor your high-resolution cameras. Due to Mobotix's decentralised architecture, connection issues are often related to network configuration rather than the app itself. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough to help you troubleshoot and resolve common problems.
Whether you are facing connection failures, login issues, or problems viewing live video, these steps will help you restore functionality.
### Fundamental Checks for Mobotix App Connectivity
Always start with the basics. These initial checks can save you a lot of time by ruling out simple oversights.
- Verify Camera and Network Details: The most common cause of failure is a simple typo. Carefully check the IP address or domain name of the camera, as well as the username and password you have entered into the app.
- Check Your Phone's Connection: Ensure your smartphone has a stable internet connection. Try opening a web browser to confirm. If you are trying to connect locally, make sure you are on the correct Wifi network.
- Reboot Your Camera and Router: Power cycling your Mobotix camera and your network router can resolve temporary network glitches that may be preventing a connection. Unplug both devices, wait a minute, and then plug them back in.
## Diagnosing and Solving Connection Errors
If the basic checks do not resolve the problem, you will need to investigate your network settings. This is particularly important for accessing your cameras from outside your local network.
### Problem 1: "Connection Failed" or "Host Not Found"
This error means the app cannot reach your camera at the address provided.
- Local vs. Remote Address: Mobotix cameras have a local IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100) and a public IP address or domain name for remote access. Ensure you are using the correct one. The local IP will only work when your phone is on the same Wifi network. For remote access, you need to use your public IP address followed by the correct port number (e.g., 81.200.10.50:8081).
- Port Forwarding: For remote access, your router must be configured to forward external traffic to your camera. You need to create a port forwarding rule that directs a specific external port to the camera's internal IP address and port (usually port 80 for HTTP). If you have multiple cameras, each will need a unique external port number.
- Firewall Rules: Check that no firewall on your router or network is blocking the ports you are trying to use to connect to the camera.
### Problem 2: Live Video Stream is Black or Not Loading
If the app seems to connect but you cannot see an image, the issue is likely with the video stream itself.
- Bandwidth Limitations: High-resolution Mobotix streams require significant upload bandwidth from your network. If your connection is slow, the stream may fail to load. Try connecting to a lower-resolution substream if you have one configured on the camera.
- Camera Firmware and App Version: An incompatibility between the camera's firmware and the app's version can sometimes cause streaming issues. Visit the Mobotix website to ensure both your camera and your app are running the latest official versions.
- Check Stream Settings: Log in to your camera's web interface from a computer. Under the stream or network settings, ensure that the video codec and stream profiles are configured correctly and are not using a format the mobile app cannot decode.
By carefully working through these network and configuration-specific steps, you can solve the majority of issues preventing your Mobotix app from working correctly.