How to Fix a Skybell That Keeps Disconnecting from Wi-Fi
A Skybell video doorbell that constantly disconnects from your Wi-Fi network is more than just an annoyance—it is a reliability issue that undermines your home security. If your Skybell frequently goes offline, you might miss important motion alerts or the chance to answer your door remotely. The primary causes for these disconnections are almost always related to three key areas: Wi-Fi signal strength, power supply, or network configuration. This guide will help you systematically troubleshoot and resolve the root cause of the problem.
Common Symptoms of Skybell Disconnection
First, let's verify the symptoms you are experiencing. These are all signs of an unstable connection:
- "Offline" Status in the App: The Skybell app frequently shows your device as offline, then it might come back online later without you doing anything.
- Flashing LED Lights: The LED light on the Skybell device flashes, indicating it is trying to reconnect to the network.
- Delayed or Missed Notifications: You do not receive notifications, or they arrive long after the event occurred.
- Inability to Access Live Video: You get a connection error when you try to view the live video stream.
- Choppy Video and Audio: When it is online, the video and audio quality are poor and frequently break up.
Step 1: Check Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength
This is the most common culprit. The small antenna in a video doorbell needs a strong, stable signal to work correctly.
- Test with Your Phone: Go to your front door and stand right next to your Skybell. Connect your smartphone to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. How many signal bars do you have? For a reliable connection, you need a strong signal—ideally, full bars, but at least two-thirds.
- Understand Building Materials: Wi-Fi signals are weakened by physical obstructions. Stucco, brick, metal doors, and concrete walls are particularly bad for signal strength. If your router is far away and the signal has to pass through these materials, disconnections are likely.
- The Solution: If your signal is weak, you must boost it. The most effective way to do this is with a Wi-Fi extender or by upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi system. Place the extender or mesh node halfway between your router and the Skybell to provide a strong, consistent signal.
Step 2: Verify Your Power Supply (The Hidden Culprit)
Skybell devices are sensitive to power. An inadequate or fluctuating power supply from your doorbell transformer is a very common, yet often overlooked, cause of disconnections.
- Check Transformer Specs: Skybell requires a transformer with a rating of at least 16 volts AC and 10 VA. Many older homes have underpowered transformers (e.g., 10V AC) that are not sufficient.
- Symptoms of Low Power: An underpowered Skybell may seem to work fine, but it will often reboot (and thus disconnect from Wi-Fi) when it needs more power, such as when the button is pressed, when night vision activates, or during a live video call.
- How to Fix: Check the voltage rating printed on your existing transformer. If it is below the required specification, you must replace it. This is a job for a qualified electrician if you are not comfortable working with wiring.
Step 3: Optimise Your Router and Network Settings
Your router's configuration can also play a role in connection stability.
- Use a 2.4 GHz Network: Like many smart home devices, Skybell is designed to work exclusively on the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band. The 2.4 GHz band offers better range and penetration through walls than the 5 GHz band.
- Separate Your Networks: Many modern routers combine the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands under a single network name (SSID). This feature, sometimes called "band steering," can confuse devices like Skybell. Log in to your router's settings and create a separate, dedicated SSID for your 2.4 GHz network (e.g., "MyHome_2.4GHz_IoT"). Connect your Skybell and other smart devices to this network only.
- Change the Wi-Fi Channel: Interference from other Wi-Fi networks in your area can cause dropouts. Manually set your router's 2.4 GHz channel to 1, 6, or 11 to avoid the most common sources of interference.
By methodically checking your Wi-Fi signal, power supply, and router settings, you can find and fix the reason your Skybell keeps disconnecting, leading to a much more stable and reliable device.