Troubleshooting: Can't Add a Unifi Camera to Protect
Setting up a new Unifi camera is usually a seamless experience, but when you can't add a camera to your Unifi Protect controller, it can be a frustrating roadblock. This guide will walk you through the most common reasons for adoption failures and how to resolve them.
## Pre-Adoption Checklist: The Fundamentals
Before you even attempt to adopt, ensure the basics are in place. These steps solve the majority of "camera not found" issues.
- Physical Connection: Verify the Ethernet cable is securely connected to both the camera and a Power over Ethernet (PoE) enabled port on your switch. Look for a link light on the switch port to confirm a physical connection.
- Power Confirmation: Check the camera's LED status light. It should illuminate, indicating it is receiving power.
- Same Network (VLAN): This is the most critical step. The Unifi camera and the Unifi Protect controller (e.g., Cloud Key Gen2+, UDM Pro, NVR) must be on the same Layer 2 network or VLAN. The initial discovery and adoption process happens via local network broadcasts. If the camera is on your 'IoT' VLAN and your controller is on the 'Default' VLAN, they will not be able to see each other.
## Solving 'Camera Not Found' Issues
If your camera doesn't appear at all in the "Add Devices" section of Unifi Protect, it means the controller cannot discover it on the network.
- Check the Camera's IP Address: Log in to your Unifi Network Controller (or router) and look at the client list. Can you see the camera? Has it received an IP address via DHCP? If it has no IP address, you have a fundamental network or cabling problem.
- Camera is Managed by Another Controller: A Unifi camera can only be managed by one controller at a time. If this camera was previously installed on another Unifi Protect system, it will not be available for adoption.
- Solution: You must perform a factory reset on the camera. Use a paperclip to press and hold the small, recessed reset button on the camera for 10-15 seconds until the status light changes. After it reboots, it will be in a factory default state, ready for adoption.
## Solving 'Adoption Failed' Errors
This error is different. It means the controller can see the camera and tried to add it, but the configuration process failed.
- Firmware Mismatch: Sometimes, a camera with very old firmware can't be adopted by a controller running the latest version of Protect.
- Solution: You may need to manually update the camera's firmware. You can do this by finding the camera's IP address, accessing its local web interface, or using SSH to push the latest firmware file available from Ubiquiti's website.
- Network Firewalls or Port Blocking:
- Solution: While the camera and controller need to be on the same VLAN for discovery, ensure there are no firewall rules on your router or switch that would block communication between the camera's IP address and the controller's IP address once the adoption starts. Specifically, ensure TCP port 7442 is open for communication from the cameras to the Protect controller.
- Device Authentication Password:
- In your Protect controller settings, there is a "Device Authentication" password. This password is used to adopt and manage devices. If you have changed this password, sometimes older devices struggle to adopt. Try resetting it to the default or a simpler password during the adoption process.
## The Step-by-Step Process for a Clean Adoption
- Connect and Power On: Connect the camera to your network via PoE. Wait for it to fully boot up (this can take a couple of minutes).
- Factory Reset: If the camera is not brand new, perform a factory reset to ensure it's in a clean state.
- Verify Network: Confirm the camera appears as a client in your network controller and is on the same VLAN as your Protect controller.
- Adopt in Protect: Open your Unifi Protect interface. The camera should now appear as a manageable device with a blue "Click to Adopt" button.
- Update Firmware: After adoption is successful, immediately check for and apply any available firmware updates to the camera through the Protect interface.
By following these structured troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the vast majority of issues preventing you from adding a new Unifi camera to your Protect system.