Wyze Camera Not Working? A Complete Troubleshooting Guide
A Wyze camera is a fantastic and affordable way to keep an eye on your home, but it can be a major headache when it suddenly stops working. Whether your camera is showing as "offline," you can't view the live stream, or it's simply unresponsive, the good news is that most issues are straightforward to fix.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the most common Wyze camera problems and provide clear, step-by-step instructions to get your camera back online and functioning correctly.
Common Reasons Your Wyze Camera Isn't Working
Understanding the potential cause of the problem can make fixing it much quicker. Nearly all Wyze cam issues can be traced back to one of these areas:
Power Supply Issues
The simplest explanation is often the right one. The camera may not be receiving power due to a loose USB cable, a faulty power adapter, or a problem with the wall outlet.
Wi-Fi Connectivity Problems
Wyze cameras require a stable 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection to function. If your router is down, if you've recently changed your Wi-Fi password, or if the camera is in a location with a weak signal, it will be knocked offline.
Wyze Service Outage
Occasionally, Wyze's own servers may experience issues, which can prevent your camera from connecting. This is less common, but it does happen. You can check the official Wyze Service Status page to rule this out.
Outdated Firmware or App
Running an old version of the Wyze app or the camera's firmware can lead to bugs and compatibility issues that prevent the camera from working properly.
How to Troubleshoot Your Wyze Camera
Follow these steps in order. They are arranged from the simplest and most common solutions to the more involved ones.
Step 1: Check the Status Light
The small LED light on the back of your Wyze cam is a powerful diagnostic tool.
- Solid Blue: The camera is connected and working correctly. If the app says it's offline but the light is blue, the problem is likely with the app. Try force-closing and reopening it.
- Flashing Blue: The camera is attempting to connect to the network.
- Flashing Red/Blue: The connection has failed.
- Solid Red: The camera has power but has not been set up or has failed to boot.
- No Light: The camera is not receiving power.
Step 2: Verify the Power Supply
If there is no light on the back of the camera:
- Ensure the USB cable is securely plugged into both the camera and the power adapter.
- Make sure the power adapter is firmly plugged into a working wall outlet. Try plugging a lamp or phone charger into the same outlet to confirm it has power.
- Try using a different USB cable and power adapter if you have a spare one.
Step 3: Power Cycle the Camera
The classic "turn it off and on again" trick works wonders for electronic devices.
- Unplug the USB power cable from the Wyze camera.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds.
- Plug the power cable back in.
- Wait a few minutes for the camera to boot up and try to reconnect. Observe the status light to see what it does.
Step 4: Reboot Your Wi-Fi Router
If the camera's status light is flashing, the issue is likely with the network connection.
- Unplug your internet router from its power source.
- Wait for 60 seconds.
- Plug the router back in and wait 5-10 minutes for it to fully restart and establish an internet connection.
- Your Wyze camera should automatically try to reconnect once your network is back online.
Step 5: Update the Wyze App and Firmware
If you can get the camera online, even intermittently, check for updates.
- App: Go to the App Store or Google Play Store to ensure you have the latest version of the Wyze app.
- Firmware: In the Wyze app, go to Account > Firmware Update to see if a new version is available for your camera.
Step 6: Factory Reset and Re-Setup
This is a last resort, as it will require you to set up the camera from scratch.
- With the camera plugged in, press and hold the setup button on the bottom or back of the device.
- Continue holding the button until the status light turns solid red and you hear a tone.
- Release the button. The camera is now reset.
- In the Wyze app, tap the '+' icon to add a new device and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your camera again.
If you've followed all these steps and your camera is still not working, it's time to reach out to Wyze's official customer support.