Simplisafe Snapshot Not Working? A Troubleshooting Guide
The snapshot feature on your Simplisafe camera is a key part of your security setup, providing a quick visual summary of events on your timeline. When this feature stops working, it can be difficult to quickly assess what's happening at home. This guide will walk you through the most common reasons for Simplisafe snapshot failures and how to resolve them.
The root cause of the issue is often related to your subscription plan, camera settings, or network connectivity. Let's troubleshoot this step-by-step.
### Step 1: Verify Your Monitoring Plan and Camera Settings
Before we look at the hardware, it's crucial to ensure your account and camera are correctly configured to take snapshots.
- Check Your Subscription Plan: The snapshot capture feature is not available on all Simplisafe monitoring plans. You need to be subscribed to a plan that includes camera recordings and cloud storage.
- Log in to your account on the Simplisafe website.
- Navigate to the 'Monitoring' section and verify that your plan (e.g., Interactive Monitoring) supports this feature.
- Ensure the Privacy Shutter is Open: This is a very common oversight. The SimpliCam has a mechanical privacy shutter that closes for privacy. When the system is disarmed or in 'Home' mode, this shutter might be closed by default depending on your settings. If the shutter is closed, the camera is physically blocked and cannot take a snapshot. Check the camera's live view in the app; if it's black or says the shutter is closed, you need to adjust your system state or settings.
- Enable Snapshots in Camera Settings:
- Open the Simplisafe app and go to the 'Cameras' section.
- Select the gear icon for the camera that isn't working.
- Ensure that motion detection and snapshot capture are enabled.
Step 2: Troubleshoot Network and Connectivity Issues
A stable internet connection is vital for your camera to upload snapshots to the cloud.
### Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength
A weak or intermittent Wi-Fi signal is a leading cause of failed snapshot uploads. The camera might have just enough signal to send a tiny data packet for a motion alert, but not enough to upload a much larger image file.
- Review Camera Signal: In the camera's settings within the Simplisafe app, you should be able to see the reported Wi-Fi signal strength. If it is low or poor, this is likely the cause.
- Improve the Signal: Try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera, or vice-versa. If that's not possible, consider installing a Wi-Fi extender to boost the signal in the area where your camera is located.
### Reboot Your Camera and Router
A power cycle is a classic troubleshooting step that reboots the software on your devices and can clear up many temporary issues.
- Unplug your Simplisafe camera from the power outlet (or remove the battery for wireless models).
- Unplug your main internet router from power.
- Wait for 60 seconds.
- Plug the router back in first and wait for it to fully connect to the internet (usually 3-5 minutes).
- Once your network is back online, plug your camera back in.
- Allow the camera a few minutes to boot up and reconnect. Test by triggering a motion event to see if a snapshot is now captured.
Step 3: Advanced Solutions
If you've confirmed your plan, settings, and network are all correct, you can try these more advanced steps.
### Re-install the Camera
Removing the camera from your Simplisafe system and setting it up again can resolve deeper software glitches.
- In the Simplisafe app, navigate to the camera's settings and find the option to 'Remove Camera'.
- Once removed, follow the on-screen instructions in the app to 'Add New Camera'.
- You will need to go through the entire installation process again, including connecting it to your Wi-Fi network. This process ensures the camera has the latest configuration and a fresh connection to the Simplisafe servers.
### Check for App Updates
Make sure your Simplisafe app is up to date. Go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) to check for and install any available updates. An outdated app can sometimes have trouble displaying recently captured snapshots.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can identify the reason your Simplisafe snapshots are not working and get this important security feature running again.