Tend Camera Stopped Working? A Troubleshooting Guide
It's frustrating when your Tend Secure camera, which you rely on for monitoring your home, suddenly stops working. Whether it's showing as offline, won't power on, or is failing to connect to your Wi-Fi, there's often a simple solution to get it back up and running.
This guide provides a step-by-step process to help you diagnose the issue and resolve the most common problems that cause a Tend camera to fail.
## Step 1: Check the Power Supply and LED Light
Before diving into more complex troubleshooting, let's start with the basics. The small LED status indicator on the camera is your first clue.
- If the LED light is off: This indicates a power problem.
- Ensure the USB power adapter is securely plugged into a working wall socket. Test the socket with another device to be sure.
- Check that the USB cable is firmly connected to both the power adapter and the camera itself.
- Inspect the cable for any signs of physical damage. Try using a different micro-USB cable and adapter if you have one.
- If the LED light is on but flashing: This typically signals a problem with the Wi-Fi connection. Proceed to the next step.
- If the LED light is solid: This usually means the camera is powered on and connected to the network. The issue may lie with the Tend Secure app on your phone.
## Step 2: Power Cycle Your Camera and Router
The classic "turn it off and on again" is the most effective fix for a huge range of tech problems. It works by clearing temporary glitches in the memory of the devices.
- Power Cycle the Camera: Unplug your Tend camera from the power source. Leave it unplugged for at least 60 seconds. This is important to ensure it fully powers down. Then, plug it back in and give it a few minutes to boot up and try to reconnect.
- Reboot Your Router: While the camera is unplugged, do the same for your home's Wi-Fi router. Unplug it from power for 60 seconds and then plug it back in. It can take 5-10 minutes for your router to fully restart and for your internet service to come back online.
Once both devices have restarted, check the Tend Secure app to see if the camera has come back online. This single step resolves the majority of "camera offline" issues.
## Step 3: Troubleshoot Wi-Fi Connection Issues
If a reboot didn't fix the problem and the LED is still flashing, focus on the Wi-Fi connection.
- Check for Password Changes: Did you recently change your Wi-Fi network's name (SSID) or password? If you did, the camera cannot connect. You will need to perform a factory reset (see Step 4) and set the camera up again with the new Wi-Fi details.
- Check Router Distance: Has the camera or router been moved recently? A weak Wi-Fi signal can cause the camera to disconnect. Try moving the camera temporarily closer to the router to see if the connection becomes stable. If it does, you may need a Wi-Fi extender to provide a reliable signal to its permanent location.
- Check Your Router's Settings: Ensure your router is broadcasting a 2.4GHz network, as most Tend cameras are not compatible with 5GHz networks. Also, check that no new firewall or security settings on your router could be blocking the camera from accessing the internet.
## Step 4: Perform a Factory Reset
If all else fails, a factory reset is your last resort. This will erase all the camera's settings, including its Wi-Fi configuration, and return it to its original out-of-the-box state. You will need to set it up again in the app as if it were a new device.
- Make sure the camera is plugged in and powered on.
- Locate the reset button. This is usually a small, recessed button that you will need a paperclip or a pin to press.
- Press and hold down the reset button for 15-20 seconds.
- The camera will typically give an audible cue (like a beep or chime) or the LED light will flash in a specific pattern to indicate that the reset was successful.
- Release the button and wait for the camera to reboot.
- Once it's ready, open the Tend Secure app and follow the instructions to add a new camera.
If your camera is still not working after a factory reset, it may indicate a more serious hardware failure, and you should contact Tend Secure customer support for further assistance.