How to Fix Delayed Skybell Notifications and Motion Alerts
A video doorbell's most important feature is its ability to alert you immediately when someone is at your door. If your Skybell notifications are delayed, arriving seconds or even minutes after the event, it can leave you unable to respond in time. This frustrating issue is usually caused by problems with your Wi-Fi network, your smartphone's settings, or communication with the Skybell servers.
This troubleshooting guide will walk you through the steps to identify the bottleneck and get your Skybell alerts back to real-time speed.
## Step 1: Strengthen Your Wi-Fi Connection
The most common culprit for delayed notifications is a poor Wi-Fi connection at the location of the Skybell itself.
Test Your Signal Strength
- The Wall Barrier: Your Wi-Fi signal has to travel from your router through your home's exterior walls, which significantly weakens it.
- Run a Speed Test: Stand outside, right next to your Skybell, and use a speed test app on your phone. Pay close attention to the upload speed. Skybell needs a consistent upload speed of at least 2 Mbps to function correctly. If your upload speed is lower than this, the doorbell will struggle to send data, causing delays.
How to Improve Your Wi-Fi Signal
- Move Your Router: If possible, move your router to a more central location in your home, closer to the front door.
- Install a Wi-Fi Extender or Mesh System: If moving the router isn't an option, a Wi-Fi extender or a mesh Wi-Fi system is the most effective solution. Place a mesh node or extender halfway between your router and the Skybell to boost the signal.
- Use the 2.4 GHz Band: Skybell doorbells connect to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band, not 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz band has a longer range and is better at penetrating walls, so ensure your router is broadcasting on this frequency.
Step 2: Optimise Your Smartphone Settings
Sometimes the delay isn't the network, but how your phone is handling the incoming alert.
Disable Battery Optimisation for the Skybell App
To save power, modern smartphones will often put apps to "sleep" if they haven't been opened recently. This can prevent them from receiving instant push notifications.
- For Android: Go to
Settings > Apps > Skybell HD. Find the "Battery" or "Power management" section and set it to "Unrestricted" or "Do not optimise". The exact wording varies by manufacturer. - For iOS: Go to
Settings > General > Background App Refreshand make sure it is turned on for the Skybell app.
Check 'Do Not Disturb' and Notification Settings
- Ensure you haven't accidentally silenced notifications from the Skybell app.
- Check that your phone's 'Do Not Disturb' or 'Focus' modes are not blocking the alerts. You can usually add Skybell as an exception if needed.
Step 3: Reboot and Reset
If the steps above don't solve the problem, a few simple resets can clear out any software glitches.
- Reboot Your Router: Unplug your internet router from power for a full 60 seconds before plugging it back in. This can resolve many underlying network issues.
- Reboot Your Skybell: You can reset your Skybell by pressing and holding the main button for about 45 seconds until it flashes blue. This will cause it to restart and reconnect to your network.
- Check for App Updates: Make sure you are running the latest version of the Skybell app from your phone's app store.
By systematically improving your Wi-Fi signal, checking your phone's settings, and performing a few key reboots, you can eliminate the frustrating delays and ensure your Skybell alerts you the moment a visitor arrives.