Verkada Night Vision Not Working? Troubleshooting Guide

Is Your Verkada Camera Struggling in the Dark?

Verkada cameras are renowned for their clarity and performance, but when the sun goes down, you rely on their night vision capabilities to maintain security. If you've noticed that your nighttime footage is pitch black, grainy, or simply not there at all, it can be a significant cause for concern. A camera that can't see in the dark is a critical failure in your security setup. This guide is here to walk you through the common causes of Verkada night vision problems and provide clear, actionable steps to get your cameras seeing clearly in the dark once again.

Common Causes for Verkada Night Vision Failure

Several factors can disrupt your camera's ability to switch to night mode and record clear footage. Understanding these potential causes is the first step toward a solution.

• Incorrect Settings: The camera's night mode settings might be misconfigured in the Verkada Command platform.
• Insufficient Power: The camera may not be receiving enough power to activate the infrared (IR) LEDs required for night vision.
• Physical Obstructions: Dirt, dust, fingerprints, or even a poorly placed spiderweb on the lens or dome can block or reflect the IR light.
• Firmware Issues: Outdated firmware can sometimes contain bugs that affect the camera's performance, including its night vision functionality.
• Environmental Factors: Reflections from nearby windows or surfaces can confuse the camera's light sensor.
• Hardware Malfunction: In some cases, the IR LEDs or the light sensor itself may have failed.

How to Troubleshoot Your Verkada Camera's Night Vision

Follow these steps in order to diagnose and resolve the issue with your Verkada camera. We recommend performing these checks after dark to properly test the night vision functionality.

Step 1: Inspect for Physical Obstructions and Clean the Lens

The simplest solution is often the right one. The camera's lens or dome cover can accumulate dust and grime, which severely impacts night vision performance by reflecting the IR light back into the lens.

1. Visually Inspect: Look closely at the camera's dome and lens for any smudges, dirt, dust, or small spiderwebs.
2. Power Down (Optional but Recommended): For safety, you may wish to disconnect the camera's power.
3. Clean Gently: Use a microfibre cloth to wipe the lens and dome cover. For stubborn smudges, you can slightly dampen the cloth with water or an approved lens cleaning solution. Never use abrasive materials or harsh chemicals.
4. Check Again: Once clean, power the camera back on and check the video feed at night to see if the image quality has improved.

Step 2: Verify Camera Power and Connectivity

Infrared LEDs require a certain amount of power to function correctly. If the camera isn't receiving a stable power supply, night vision is often the first feature to fail.

• Check PoE Supply: Most Verkada cameras are powered via Power over Ethernet (PoE). Ensure the camera is connected to a PoE switch or injector that meets the power requirements (e.g., 802.3af or 802.3at) specified for your camera model.
• Cable Integrity: Inspect the Ethernet cable for any signs of damage or wear. Try using a different, known-good cable and a different port on the switch to rule out a faulty connection.

Step 3: Review Night Mode Settings in Command

Verkada Command gives you control over how your camera behaves in low light. It's possible the settings have been inadvertently changed.

1. Log In: Access your Verkada Command account.
2. Select Camera: Navigate to the specific camera that is having issues.
3. Go to Settings: Find the device settings page for that camera.
4. Check Video Settings: Look for sections related to 'Night Mode' or 'Video Quality'. Ensure that Night Mode is set to 'Auto' and that the IR illuminators are enabled. While you can force it to be 'Always On' for testing, 'Auto' is the correct setting for normal operation.

Step 4: Update Camera Firmware

Verkada typically pushes firmware updates automatically, but it's worth checking to ensure your camera is running the latest version.

1. In Verkada Command: Go to the settings for the problematic camera.
2. Check Firmware Version: The device information should display the current firmware version. You can check for any pending updates in the main admin panel. If an update is available, allow it to proceed.
3. Reboot: After an update, the camera will reboot. Check its performance again once it's back online.

Step 5: Factory Reset the Camera

If all other steps have failed, a factory reset can resolve deeper software or configuration issues. Be aware that this will erase the camera's current settings.

1. Locate the Reset Button: Find the physical reset button on the camera. Its location varies by model, so you may need to consult the installation guide.
2. Press and Hold: With the camera powered on, press and hold the reset button for 15-20 seconds until the status LED changes colour (often to solid orange or flashing blue).
3. Re-provision: The camera will reboot and need to be re-added to your Command account.

When to Contact Verkada Support

If you have completed all the troubleshooting steps above and your camera's night vision is still not working, it may indicate a hardware failure. At this point, you should contact Verkada's technical support team. Provide them with the camera's serial number and a detailed list of the troubleshooting steps you have already taken. Their team can perform remote diagnostics and will be able to arrange for a replacement if the unit is found to be faulty.