How to Troubleshoot and Fix Poor Unifi Camera Quality
You've invested in a Unifi Protect system for its performance and clarity, so it's incredibly frustrating when your video footage is blurry, pixelated, or just generally poor. Low-quality video can make it impossible to identify faces or read number plates, defeating the purpose of a high-definition security system.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the common causes of poor video quality and provide clear, actionable steps to help you restore the crisp, clear image you expect from your Unifi cameras.
## Understanding the Causes of Poor Video Quality
Poor video quality is almost always a result of one of three things: the network connection, the camera's physical condition, or its software settings.
- Network Issues: The camera needs sufficient bandwidth to send a high-quality video stream to the Network Video Recorder (NVR). If the connection is weak or unstable, the camera will compress the video heavily, resulting in pixelation and artefacts. This applies to both wired and wireless cameras.
- Physical Issues: A dirty lens, moisture inside the housing, or an incorrect focus setting can all lead to a blurry or hazy image.
- Configuration Settings: The settings within UniFi Protect might not be optimised for quality. You may have inadvertently prioritised storage space over image clarity.
## Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Let's start with the most likely culprits and work our way to more advanced solutions.
### Step 1: Check the Network Connection
A solid network is the foundation of a good video stream.
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For Wired Cameras (PoE):
- Inspect the Cable: Check the ethernet cable for any visible damage, kinks, or loose connectors.
- Test the Cable: A faulty cable is a common point of failure. Try swapping the existing cable with a new, known-good one.
- Check the Port: Look at the ethernet port on your switch. Does it show a stable connection light? Try plugging the camera into a different port on the switch.
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For Wireless Cameras (e.g., G4 Instant):
- Check Signal Strength: In the UniFi Protect controller, find the camera and check its wireless signal strength. A weak signal will directly lead to poor video quality.
- Improve the Signal: If the signal is weak, try moving the camera closer to the Wi-Fi access point or moving the access point closer to the camera. Minimise the number of walls and obstructions between them.
### Step 2: Clean the Camera Lens
This simple step is often overlooked but can have a huge impact.
- Use a Microfibre Cloth: Gently wipe the camera lens to remove any dust, smudges, fingerprints, or water spots.
- Check for Condensation: If the blurriness is on the inside of the lens, it means moisture has entered the camera's housing. The camera may need to be brought indoors to dry out, and you should check that all seals are properly fitted to prevent it from happening again.
### Step 3: Optimise Settings in UniFi Protect
Ensure your camera is configured to record at its best possible quality.
- Log in to UniFi Protect: Select the camera you want to adjust.
- Go to Settings: Navigate to the 'Recording' or 'Video' settings menu.
- Adjust Quality Settings: You will often see sliders or drop-down menus for Resolution, Frame Rate (FPS), and Image Quality (or bitrate).
- Resolution: Set this to the highest available option (e.g., 1080p, 4K).
- Frame Rate: A higher FPS (like 24 or 30) will result in smoother video.
- Image Quality/Bitrate: Drag the slider towards the 'High Quality' end. This will use more storage but will dramatically reduce compression and pixelation.
- Save and Observe: Apply the changes and observe the live stream to see the improvement.
### Step 4: Check Focus (If Applicable)
While most Unifi cameras are fixed-focus, some models (particularly older or pro models) may have a manual focus ring. If the image is uniformly blurry, the focus might be off.
- Consult Your Model's Manual: Check if your camera has a manual focus adjustment.
- Adjust Carefully: If it does, you will typically need to twist the lens ring while watching the live feed until the image is perfectly sharp.
By following these steps, you can systematically identify the bottleneck and restore your Unifi camera's video feed to the high-quality standard you expect.