How to Fix a Yi Camera That Keeps Going Offline
It's a common and frustrating problem: you open the Yi Home app to check on your home, only to be met with a "Camera is offline" message. An offline camera provides no security and no peace of mind. Fortunately, most of the reasons a Yi camera goes offline are related to its power supply or its connection to your Wi-Fi network, and they can be solved with some simple troubleshooting.
This guide will walk you through the most likely causes and the steps you need to take to get your Yi camera back online and stable.
## 1. Check the Power Supply
Before diving into complex network diagnostics, always start with the most basic element: power.
- Inspect the Power Cable: Ensure the micro-USB cable is securely plugged into both the camera and the power adapter. Check the adapter is firmly seated in the wall socket.
- Look at the Status Light: Is the camera's LED status light on at all? If there is no light, the camera is not receiving power.
- Try a Different Cable and Adapter: USB cables and power adapters can fail. Try swapping them out with a different set that you know is working (for example, a phone charger) to rule out a faulty power supply.
- Test the Power Outlet: Plug another device into the same power outlet to confirm the outlet itself is working.
## 2. Diagnose the Wi-Fi Connection
The vast majority of offline issues are caused by an unstable Wi-Fi connection.
- Signal Strength is Key: Your Yi camera needs a consistently strong signal from your router. How far is the camera from your router? Are there multiple thick walls, floors, or large appliances between them? A weak signal will cause the camera to disconnect. Try moving the camera closer to the router temporarily to see if the connection becomes stable. If it does, you may need a Wi-Fi extender to improve coverage in that location.
- Understand the Status Light: The light on the front of the camera is your best diagnostic tool.
- Solid Blue: Everything is normal, and the camera is connected.
- Flashing Blue: The camera is trying to connect to your Wi-Fi but is failing. This points directly to a Wi-Fi issue (weak signal or wrong password).
- Yellow/White: The camera is booting up. If it's stuck on this colour, it may have a hardware or firmware issue.
- Reboot Your Router: Your home router can sometimes develop temporary glitches that affect one device while others seem fine. Unplug your router from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Give it a few minutes to fully restart, and see if your camera comes back online.
## 3. Review Your Network's Configuration
Yi cameras have specific network requirements that your router must meet.
- Connect to the 2.4 GHz Band: Yi cameras can only connect to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. They are not compatible with 5 GHz networks. If your router uses the same name for both bands, your camera might struggle to connect. Log into your router's settings and ensure the 2.4 GHz band is enabled. It can be helpful to give the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks different names to ensure the camera connects to the correct one.
- Check for Network Congestion: How many other devices are connected to your Wi-Fi? If you have dozens of devices all streaming and communicating, an older router can struggle, sometimes dropping less important devices like a camera.
## 4. The Final Step: Reset and Re-Pair
If all else fails, starting from scratch can often resolve persistent issues.
- Update Firmware: If you can get the camera online, even briefly, check for a firmware update in the Yi Home app. Go to the camera's Settings > Camera Settings > Firmware Version.
- Delete and Re-add the Camera: In the app, delete the offline camera from your account. Then, perform a factory reset on the camera itself by pressing the reset button until it beeps. Once reset, go through the entire setup process again, carefully re-entering your Wi-Fi password.
By methodically working through these steps, from power to Wi-Fi to a full reset, you can solve the vast majority of issues causing your Yi camera to go offline.