How to Fix Blurry or Poor-Quality Reolink Night Vision
Clear night vision is a fundamental feature of any good security camera, and Reolink cameras are known for their excellent performance in the dark. However, if you're suddenly faced with a blurry, foggy, or glaring image at night, it can render your security footage useless. Don't worry—this is a common issue that can almost always be fixed.
This troubleshooting guide will walk you through the most frequent causes of poor night vision quality on Reolink cameras and provide simple, effective solutions to restore a sharp, detailed image.
## Identifying the Night Vision Problem
First, let's pinpoint the specific issue you are seeing in your camera's feed at night.
- Foggy or Hazy Image: The entire picture looks soft and washed out, like you're looking through a mist.
- Bright White Glare: An intense white light or halo effect, often on one side of the image, that obscures everything else.
- Grainy or 'Noisy' Picture: The image is filled with flickering speckles, making it hard to see fine details.
- Completely Black Screen: You can't see anything at all, as if the camera is switched off.
- 'Spiderweb' Effect: Bright, glowing lines that look like a spider's web are covering the view.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Reolink Night Vision
Let's start with the most common and easiest fixes first.
### 1. Clean the Camera Lens
This simple step solves the problem more than 90% of the time. The infrared (IR) light used for night vision is extremely reflective. Even the smallest amount of dust, a fingerprint smudge, or dried raindrops on the lens will cause the IR light to scatter, resulting in a foggy or blurry image.
- Action: Take a clean, dry microfibre cloth (the kind used for cleaning eyeglasses) and thoroughly wipe the camera's lens dome or cover. Make sure it is completely clean and dry.
### 2. Eliminate IR Bounce-Back
This is the number one cause of a bright white glare. It happens when the IR light from the camera hits a close object and reflects directly back into the lens.
- Check for Obstructions: Look for any nearby surfaces in the camera's field of view. Common culprits include walls, the eaves or soffits of your roof, drainpipes, or even a window frame.
- Action: If you identify a nearby surface, you have two options:
- Reposition the Camera: Move the camera slightly further away from the surface. Even a few inches can make a huge difference.
- Adjust the Angle: Tilt the camera so it points slightly away from the reflective surface.
### 3. Check the In-App Settings
If the screen is completely black, the issue is likely a setting in the Reolink app.
- Action:
- Open the Reolink app and go to your camera's live view.
- Tap the Settings gear icon.
- Go to Display -> Advanced.
- Find the setting for Infrared Lights. Make sure it is set to Auto. If it's on 'Off', the camera's night vision will not activate.
### 4. Clear Away Spiderwebs
Spiders are drawn to the warmth of security cameras and their webs are almost perfectly designed to reflect IR light, making them glow brightly at night.
- Action: Use a soft brush or cloth to clear away any webs from the camera and its immediate surroundings. To help deter them from returning, you can wipe a tiny amount of natural insect repellent (like peppermint oil) on the camera body, but be extremely careful not to get any on the lens itself.
### 5. For Colour Night Vision Models
If your camera has spotlights and the colour night vision isn't working, it's because the spotlights aren't turning on.
- Action: In the camera's settings, find the Spotlight menu. Here you can configure when you want the spotlight to activate at night. Set it to 'Auto-on for Motion Events' or a similar setting to enable colour night vision when movement is detected.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the vast majority of night vision issues and ensure your Reolink camera provides the clear, reliable 24/7 protection you depend on.