How to Fix Poor Video Quality on Your Reolink Camera
A security camera is only as good as the video it produces. If your Reolink camera's footage is blurry, pixelated, or lagging, it can be difficult to identify faces or important details. Poor video quality is a common issue that can usually be fixed by adjusting a few key settings or improving the camera's environment. This guide will walk you through the steps to diagnose and improve your Reolink's video feed.
Understanding Stream Settings: Clear vs. Fluent
The first thing to check is the stream quality setting in your Reolink app or client. Reolink cameras offer multiple streams to balance quality and performance.
- Clear Stream: This is the main stream and provides the highest resolution (e.g., 4K, 5MP, 1080p) and the highest bitrate. It looks the best but requires a strong, stable network connection.
- Fluent Stream (or Standard/Balanced): This is a sub-stream with a lower resolution and bitrate. It's designed for smooth viewing when your network connection is weak or when viewing multiple cameras at once.
Action: When viewing your camera live, ensure you have the "Clear" stream selected. If the "Clear" stream is constantly buffering or freezing, it's a strong indicator that you have a network problem.
Troubleshooting Steps for Better Video Quality
If your "Clear" stream looks poor, work through these troubleshooting steps.
### 1. Check Your Network Connection
A weak network connection is the #1 cause of poor video quality for Wi-Fi cameras.
- Signal Strength: In the Reolink app, go to your camera's settings and find the Wi-Fi signal strength indicator. If it's only one or two bars, the signal is too weak. The camera will automatically reduce quality to maintain a connection.
- Solution: Try moving your camera closer to your Wi-Fi router. If that's not possible, consider installing a Wi-Fi mesh system or a dedicated Wi-Fi extender to improve the signal in that area.
- For PoE Cameras: If you are using a Power over Ethernet (PoE) camera, this is less of a concern. However, ensure your Ethernet cable is not damaged and is securely connected at both ends.
### 2. Clean the Camera Lens
It sounds simple, but it's often overlooked. A smudged, dusty, or dirty lens will make any video look blurry or hazy.
- Action: Power down the camera for safety. Gently wipe the lens with a clean, soft microfibre cloth (the kind used for cleaning eyeglasses). For stubborn grime, you can slightly dampen the cloth with water or a dedicated lens cleaning solution. Never spray cleaner directly onto the lens.
### 3. Adjust In-App Video Settings
Within the Reolink app, you have control over parameters that directly impact quality.
- Navigate to
Settings > Display > Quality. - Bitrate: This setting controls the amount of data used for the video stream. A higher bitrate generally means better quality but requires more bandwidth. If you have a strong network, ensure this is set to the highest possible value. If you experience buffering, you might need to lower it slightly.
- Frame Rate (FPS): This is the number of frames per second. A higher FPS (like 25 or 30) results in smoother motion. A lower FPS can make motion look choppy. For most security purposes, 15-20 FPS is sufficient and saves bandwidth. Ensure it hasn't been accidentally set too low.
### 4. Improving Night Vision Quality
If your video quality is only poor at night, focus on the infrared (IR) illumination.
- Check IR LEDs: Ensure the IR LEDs are set to "Auto" in the camera's settings so they turn on automatically in low light.
- Avoid Obstructions: Make sure there are no nearby surfaces (like a soffit, wall, or leaf) reflecting the IR light back into the lens. This will cause a bright glare and make the rest of the scene appear dark.
- Add External Light: For the best possible night-time colour video, consider installing a motion-activated floodlight.
By systematically checking your stream settings, network strength, physical hardware, and in-app quality parameters, you can significantly improve your Reolink camera's video quality and ensure you always have a clear view.