What to Do When Your Panasonic Security Camera Stops Working
Your Panasonic security camera is a reliable tool for keeping your property safe, so it can be alarming when it suddenly stops working. Whether the video feed has disappeared, the camera shows as 'offline', or it seems to be completely dead, there are several common causes that can often be fixed with some basic troubleshooting.
This guide will help you systematically diagnose the problem, covering power, network, and hardware issues to help you get your camera back online.
## Common Symptoms of a Failed Camera
- No Power: The camera is completely unresponsive, and its status LEDs are off.
- Camera is Offline: The camera has power, but you cannot connect to it or view the live feed from your app or monitoring software.
- Not Recording: The live view might work, but the camera is no longer recording new footage to the SD card, NVR, or cloud.
- Flashing Error Light: The status LED on the camera is blinking in a red or amber colour, indicating a specific fault.
A Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Process
Follow these steps in order to isolate and solve the issue.
### 1. Verify the Power Supply
This is the most fundamental step. No device can work without a correct and stable power source.
- For AC-Powered Cameras: Check the power adapter. Is it firmly plugged into a working wall socket? Is the cable securely connected to the camera's power input? Try plugging another device into the same socket to confirm the outlet has power.
- For Power over Ethernet (PoE) Cameras: If your camera is powered by its network cable, check the PoE switch or injector. Are the port lights on the switch active? Is the switch itself powered on? Try plugging the camera into a different PoE port.
- For Battery-Powered Cameras (e.g., Panasonic HomeHawk): The batteries may simply be depleted. Remove the batteries and charge them fully using the official charger. Ensure they are inserted correctly back into the camera.
Pro Tip: Power adapters can fail. If you suspect the adapter is faulty, and you have another device with a compatible adapter (the voltage and polarity must match exactly), you can test it.
### 2. Check the Network Connection
If the camera has power but is offline, the problem lies with its connection to your network.
- Wired (Ethernet) Connection: Ensure the network cable is securely clicked into both the camera and your router or network switch. Look for the network activity lights on the camera's port. If they are off, it means there is no network link. Try a new, known-working Ethernet cable.
- Wireless (Wi-Fi) Connection: Wi-Fi signals can be unreliable.
- Have you recently changed your Wi-Fi password or router? If so, you will need to reconnect the camera to the new network.
- Try moving the camera temporarily closer to your Wi-Fi router. If it connects, the issue is a weak signal in its original location. You may need a Wi-Fi extender.
### 3. Reboot the Camera and Your Network
A simple restart can often resolve temporary software freezes or network address conflicts.
- Power Down the Camera: Unplug the camera from its power source (or remove its batteries).
- Reboot Your Router: Unplug your main internet router from the wall.
- Wait: Leave everything unplugged for at least 60 seconds.
- Power Up: Plug your router back in and wait for it to fully connect to the internet. Once it's online, reconnect power to your camera and give it a few minutes to boot and reconnect.
### 4. Check the Recording Storage (SD Card / NVR)
If the issue is that the camera has stopped recording, the problem might be with the storage medium.
- Full or Corrupted SD Card: Many cameras will stop recording if the local SD card is full or has become corrupted.
- Power down the camera and remove the SD card.
- Insert the card into a computer. Can you read the files? If not, the card may be corrupt.
- It's often best to format the SD card (erasing all footage) and re-insert it into the camera.
- Important: Always use a 'High Endurance' or 'Industrial' grade microSD card designed for the constant rewriting that security cameras perform. A standard SD card will fail quickly.
### 5. Perform a Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If none of the above steps work, you can reset the camera to its factory default settings. Warning: This will erase all your custom settings, including Wi-Fi passwords and network configurations.
- Find the Reset Button: This is usually a small, recessed button that you'll need a paperclip to press. Its location will be in your camera's user manual.
- Press and Hold: With the camera powered on, press and hold the reset button for 10-15 seconds until the status lights change to indicate the reset is in progress.
- Re-configure: After the camera reboots, you will need to set it up again from scratch using the Panasonic app or software, just like you did when it was new.