How to Fix Pixelated or Blurry Video on Your Reolink Camera
You invested in a high-resolution Reolink camera to get crisp, clear video footage. So, it can be incredibly disappointing when your live stream or recordings appear pixelated, blocky, or blurry. The good news is that poor image quality is rarely a fault of the camera itself. It's almost always related to network performance or incorrect settings.
This guide will explain why pixelation happens and provide you with a step-by-step process to troubleshoot the issue and restore the high-quality video you expect.
## Understanding "Clear" vs. "Fluent" Streams
Before diving in, it's crucial to understand a key feature in the Reolink app. Reolink cameras offer dual-streaming capabilities to adapt to different network conditions:
- Clear Stream: This is the main, high-resolution stream that captures video at the camera's maximum quality (e.g., 4K, 5MP). It provides the best detail but requires a lot of network bandwidth.
- Fluent Stream: This is a secondary, low-resolution stream. It requires much less bandwidth, providing a smoother video experience when your network connection is poor. It's designed for quick viewing, not for capturing fine details.
Often, pixelation issues arise because the app is automatically showing you the "Fluent" stream due to network limitations.
## Common Causes of Pixelated Video
Poor video quality is a symptom of the camera not being able to send a complete, high-quality data stream to your device. Here are the most common reasons why:
- Weak Wi-Fi Signal: For Wi-Fi cameras, this is the number one cause. If the camera has a poor connection to your router, it can't send data fast enough, resulting in a compressed, blocky image.
- High Network Traffic: If many other devices in your home are using the internet (streaming TV, gaming, etc.), there may not be enough bandwidth available for the camera's high-quality stream.
- Incorrect In-App Settings: You might simply be viewing the low-resolution "Fluent" stream without realising it.
- Faulty Ethernet Cable: For PoE cameras, a damaged or low-quality network cable can cause data packet loss, leading to a corrupted and pixelated image.
- Dirty Camera Lens: Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one. A smudged or dirty lens can make the entire image appear blurry.
## Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for Better Video Quality
Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the problem.
### 1. Clean the Camera Lens
Start with the easiest fix. Use a clean, soft microfibre cloth to gently wipe the camera's lens. This can resolve simple blurriness caused by dust, fingerprints, or water spots.
### 2. Select the "Clear" Stream in the App
Open the Reolink app and view the live feed from your camera. On the video screen, you will see a button, often labelled "Fluent" or "Balanced". Tap this button and select "Clear" from the options. This forces the app to request the highest quality stream from the camera.
If the "Clear" stream loads successfully but is choppy or constantly buffering, it confirms the issue is with your network bandwidth. If it's pixelated, continue to the next steps.
### 3. Check Your Network Connection
This is the most critical step for Wi-Fi cameras.
- Check Signal Strength: In the Reolink app, go to Device Settings > Wi-Fi. You will see the signal strength displayed as a set of bars. If you only have one or two bars, your signal is too weak.
- Improve the Signal: To fix a weak signal, you can either move the camera closer to the Wi-Fi router or move the router closer to the camera. If this isn't possible, installing a Wi-Fi range extender or a mesh Wi-Fi system can provide a much-needed boost.
For Power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras, inspect your Ethernet cable. Ensure it's a high-quality cable (Cat5e or better) and check for any signs of damage, such as kinks or cuts. Try swapping it with a new cable to rule out a fault.
### 4. Adjust Advanced Stream Settings
If your network is struggling to keep up even with a decent signal, you can manually adjust the stream parameters to find a better balance.
- Go to Device Settings > Stream.
- Here you can manually change settings like Resolution, Frame Rate, and Max Bitrate.
- Max Bitrate is the most important setting for pixelation. A higher bitrate means better quality but requires more bandwidth. If your "Clear" stream is blocky, try lowering the Max Bitrate slightly. This can help the stream become more stable without sacrificing too much quality.
By systematically working through these steps, you can ensure your camera has the network resources it needs to deliver a consistently clear and detailed video stream.