Frustrated by Skybell Missed Recordings?
Your Skybell video doorbell is a crucial part of your home security, and you rely on it to capture every important event at your doorstep. It can be incredibly frustrating and concerning when you discover that it has missed recording a visitor, a delivery, or any other motion event. These gaps in your video history can leave you feeling vulnerable.
If your Skybell is not recording consistently, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the most common causes of missed recordings and provide clear, step-by-step solutions to get your doorbell working reliably again.
Common Symptoms of Recording Problems
Before we dive into the fixes, let's identify the specific issue you're facing. Understanding the symptom can help you pinpoint the root cause more quickly.
- No Motion Recordings: The doorbell rings and you get a notification, but no video is recorded for motion events.
- Gaps in Event History: You know there was activity (e.g., a package was delivered), but there is no corresponding video in your app's history.
- Intermittent Recording: The Skybell records some events perfectly but seems to miss others randomly.
- Failed Recording Notifications: You receive an alert that a recording failed to save or upload.
- Delayed Notifications: You get a motion alert, but by the time you open the live view, the person is gone, and no recording is saved.
- Only Records Short Clips: The recording starts but cuts off after only a few seconds, missing the rest of the event.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Follow these instructions to diagnose and resolve the recording issue with your Skybell device.
1. Check Your Wi-Fi Connection and Signal Strength
A poor Wi-Fi connection is the number one cause of missed recordings. The Skybell needs a stable connection to upload video to the cloud.
- Test Signal Strength: In the Skybell app, go to Device Settings and look for a Wi-Fi status or signal strength indicator. If the signal is weak or poor, the device will struggle to upload videos.
- Run a Speed Test: Stand near your door with your smartphone and run an internet speed test. You need a consistent upload speed of at least 1.5-2.0 Mbps for reliable HD video uploads.
- Improve Your Signal: If the signal is weak, try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the Skybell. If that's not possible, a Wi-Fi extender or a mesh Wi-Fi system can provide a much-needed boost and improve stability.
2. Verify Power Supply and Transformer
Insufficient or fluctuating power can prevent the Skybell from functioning correctly, especially during the power-intensive task of recording and uploading video.
- Check Transformer Specs: The Skybell requires a transformer with a voltage rating of between 16 and 24 volts AC. Check your existing doorbell transformer to ensure it meets these requirements. An underpowered transformer is a very common problem.
- Test the Voltage: If you are comfortable doing so, you can use a multimeter to test the voltage at the Skybell's terminals to ensure it's receiving consistent power.
- Digital Doorbells: If you have a digital doorbell chime, you may need to install a Digital Doorbell Adapter to ensure the power flow to the Skybell is regulated correctly.
3. Adjust Motion Detection Settings
Incorrectly configured motion settings can lead to the device either ignoring events or becoming overwhelmed.
- Adjust Sensitivity: Open the Skybell app and navigate to the Motion Settings. If the sensitivity is too low, it may not trigger for subtle movements. If it is too high, it may be constantly triggered by irrelevant motion (like cars on a distant street), causing it to enter a cooldown period and miss subsequent, more important events. Adjust this to a medium level and test again.
- Activity Zones: If your model supports it, configure activity zones to focus only on the areas you care about, like your walkway or porch, and ignore public areas.
4. Perform a Hard Reset
A hard reset can often clear up internal software glitches that may be causing recording failures.
- Press and hold the main Skybell button for approximately 45-50 seconds.
- The button will start flashing rapidly. Release the button.
- The Skybell will now reboot. This can take a few minutes. Once it is blinking red and green, you will need to reconnect it to your Wi-Fi network through the app.
By systematically working through these troubleshooting steps, you can identify and fix the root cause of your Skybell's missed recordings and restore its reliability as a key part of your home security.