Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Blink FAQ. Here you will find answers to commonly asked questions that you may have regarding your new product. We hope you can find the answers you need.

If your question is not answered below, visit our dedicated FAQ category or use the search bar at the top of the knowledge base.

Still need help? Contact our support team. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Do I need Wi-Fi?

Yes. Wi-Fi is a main component of your Blink system. Blink requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi Internet connection with a minimum of 2Mb per second upload speed (from your network to the internet).

Can I access my Blink system from my computer?

You can not access your Blink system from your computer. However, if you purchase a newer camera and Sync Module 2, you can store up to 256GB of files on a removable USB drive. The drive can be removed and inserted into your computer to view the files.

The Blink mobile app contains all camera and system settings, camera scheduling, and clip sharing functions.

Can my Blink account and systems be accessed by family members?

Yes. Download our free app to as many iOS and Android devices as you like, using the same account login information on each one. That way, the entire household can receive alerts and view systems. To ensure only authorized persons can access your Blink account, every time someone logs in, they must complete a multi-factor authentication process. Learn more about security best practices.

What is a Blink system?

A system is a compilation of one or more cameras. When multiple cameras are added to the same system, they are linked together so that when you arm your system, all of the cameras in that system will arm at the same time.

With Blink, there are two kinds of systems: Sync Module-managed, and camera-managed.
  • Sync Module-managed systems require a Sync Module 2 and works with all Blink devices.
  • Camera-managed systems are available with the following devices: Blink Mini, Wired Floodlight Camera, and Video Doorbell.

If you own cameras that require a Sync Module to manage its system, then the Sync Module is the first device to be added to your Blink account. If you are adding a camera that can manage its own system, a Sync Module is optional, and you can create a new system when adding the camera.

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How many devices can I add to a Blink system?

Ten per Sync Module.

Blink Video Doorbell, Wired Floodlight and Mini cameras manage their own individual systems, or can be added to Sync Module-managed systems as one of its ten devices. For cameras on a Blink Plus Subscription Plan, an unlimited number of devices are covered in total, but each Sync Module manages ten devices at most.

What is the range of the Sync Module? How far away can camera units be placed?

Under normal circumstances, the Sync Module is capable of communicating with Blink cameras up to 100 ft. away in any direction.

We recommend keeping the Sync Module near your wireless router for the best signal strength. Learn more about understanding Blink Wi-Fi and network requirements.

Can I power my cameras with a USB cable or solar panels?

Blink cameras are designed to be powered by size AA 1.5 volt Lithium non-rechargeable batteries, or a USB power cable. All cameras ship with their own power supply. The Blink Solar Panel Mount accessory is available at amazon.com.

Some third party manufacturers claim to be compatible with Blink products. Third party power solutions are not supported because of the various problems and safety issues that may arise. Blink accessories are designed be safe for your use.

We cannot warranty devices connected to unreliable power sources, or when weather protection is removed. For the best experience, please only use the power solution that was provided in the original packaging, or authorized Blink products.

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What kind of batteries does Blink use? Are they easy to replace?

Blink cameras are powered by size AA 1.5 volt Lithium non-rechargeable batteries. Battery powered cameras ship with batteries, and they’re easy to replace when the time comes. Simply open the battery compartment, take out the old batteries, and insert the new pair. The device powers up and regain communications without input from you.

Blink camera batteries should be replaced with Energizer Ultimate size AA 1.5 volt Lithium non-rechargeable batteries, or an equivalent.

How long do the batteries last?

Battery life of up to two years is expected based on default settings. Battery life will vary based on device settings, use, and environmental factors.

Your battery life varies based on device settings, type of use, heat, cold, or other environmental factors. These things can affect battery life:
  • Using alkaline, re-chargeable, or any other battery type other than the recommended type.
  • Slow internet connection
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Weak signal strength between camera and Wi-Fi
  • Weak signal strength between camera and Sync Module

Blink cameras are compatible with Energizer Ultimate size AA 1.5 volt Lithium non-rechargeable batteries, or an equivalent.

How far from the camera can a person be seen?

Using your Blink camera at highest resolution, you will be able to view a person's facial features about up to 30 feet from the camera. At 32 feet, facial features can not be made out clearly, but a person can be recognized. Beyond 32 feet, recognition depends on the lighting conditions. For example, night vision is provided by an infrared illuminator and will not normally show the same detail and clarity of a daytime image.

What's the maximum distance Blink cameras sense motion detection?

The maximum motion detection range is approximately 20 feet for all blink cameras. Some factors that influence motion detection are the app sensitivity setting, camera placement, object size, infrared illumination and object temperature.

Can a Blink camera detect motion through a window or glass?

The Blink PIR sensor on XT and XT2 cameras can not reliably detect motion on the other side of glass. Some users have placed cameras facing out a window or through a glass door to use Blink's Live View option. A Blink XT, or XT2 camera looking through glass will react to heat on the near side of a pane of glass, so it will not reliably activate with motion beyond it.

Mini cameras can detect some motion through glass since they use pixel difference analysis instead of IR heat signature. However, this can only work under very limited conditions such as when light is present, with the camera positioned as close as possible to the glass, and with the recording LED and IR LED disabled to reduce reflections. The Blink Mini was not designed to detect motion through glass and the results can be unreliable.

How wide is the field of view?

The Blink camera has a field of view of 110°. When you have connected your camera during the setup process, you can open a Live View to see your camera's perspective with a short delay. This will enable you to position your camera and ensure that the field of view can adequately capture the area(s) you want to cover.

Do Blink cameras pan and tilt?

Yes, the Pan-Tilt Mount is designed exclusively for use with the Blink Mini camera and supports user-controlled pan-tilt functionality directly from the Blink app. Learn more about the Pan-Tilt Mount.

For our other cameras, Blink’s included mount will allow you to easily set the positioning of a camera view, but the standard mount is not electronic or controlled remotely.

Please visit the appropriate article for more information:

Mounting your Outdoor 4 Camera
Mounting Your Blink Wired Floodlight Camera
Mounting Your Blink Mini Camera
Mounting the Blink Video Doorbell‍
Mounting Your Blink Indoor (3rd Gen) and Outdoor Camera
Mounting Your Blink XT2 Camera
Mounting Your Blink XT
Mounting Your gen 1 Indoor Camera

What is the camera resolution for Blink cameras?

Blink cameras can record up to 1080p resolution, except for the Blink Indoor (1st Gen) which has a resolution of 720p. The resolution can be changed in camera settings in the Blink app.

The camera frame rate ranges from 7.5 frames per second in low light situations to 30 frames per second in good lighting. The decreased frame rate in low light allows the camera to capture more light and present a clearer picture. Learn more about how to set up your camera to record in low light.

What is Instant-On?

With Blink’s Instant-On technology, recording starts within a fraction of a second, so you get a clear look at who or what triggered the alert.

How long can I set the camera to record for?

Clip length can differ among cameras. Most can be set between 5 and 60 seconds. Learn more about how to change your clip length.

How much data does a single clip use?

A five-second motion clip with audio is roughly 750 KB of data. This is important to note when you are viewing clips via cellular data rather than Wi-Fi.

With just five-second motion clips, a 256 GB USB drive will be full after approximately three-hundred and forty thousand (340,000) clips are stored.

Where are motion clips stored?

New device owners are given a free trial subscription of the Blink Plus Plan to store an unlimited number of clips in Cloud Storage.

By default, clips are automatically deleted when they reach 60 days old (30 days max in EU and UK). You can adjust when clips are automatically deleted from 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days (30 days max in EU and UK). Learn more about how to share your motion clips.

Note: If your account was created on or before April 15th, 2020, you will continue to have access to free cloud storage and other features for any devices set up on your account. You are allotted 7,200 seconds of recording per Sync Module.

You can upgrade to saving an unlimited number of clips by purchasing a Blink Subscription Plan at any time.

Is there Local Storage?

The Sync Module 2 has an active USB 2.0 port that accepts a USB drive between 1 GB and 256 GB in size, with at least 375 MB of free space available.

By default, the USB drive directly records motion clips from Blink Outdoor 4, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen), and Mini cameras that are attached to the Sync Module 2 system. These clips are available in the Blink app Clip List. Local Storage does not need to be configured other than to set up the Sync Module 2 with a USB drive and connect one or more of the cameras mentioned. Live Views are never saved to the USB drive.

When Cloud Storage is active either with a subscription or free trial, Live View sessions and Motion Clips from Blink Outdoor 4, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen), and Mini cameras are saved to the Cloud. If there is a USB drive available, all unsaved clips will be stored in a Clip Backup once per day.
XT2, XT, and Indoor (1st Gen) cameras are not compatible with Local Storage. These cameras are given 7200 seconds of basic cloud storage for the life of the product.
The original Sync Module (black plastic case) has an inactive USB port, and will not save any files if you insert a USB drive.

How much storage do I get for recorded clips?

Your Blink Subscription Plan, or free trial, includes unlimited storage space for either a single camera (Basic Plan) or an unlimited number of cameras (Plus Plan). By default, each clip is automatically deleted when it reaches 60 days of age. You can change the Auto-delete setting to a maximum of 60 days (30 days in the EU/UK) at the top of the Clips screen.
A Mini camera can save clips to the cloud when attached to a subscription plan. To use Local Storage, the Mini camera must be attached to a Sync Module 2 system. Learn more about Blink Mini storage options.
For older cameras - Blink XT2, XT, and Indoor (1st Gen) - Blink provides 7,200 seconds (2 hours) of free storage space for the life of the product. 

Can my system automatically arm/disarm?

Yes. With our scheduled arming feature, you can set times in advance for the system to automatically arm or disarm for motion detection. Learn more about how how to activate a schedule.

For Schedules to work, each camera must have motion detection enabled.

What’s Live View?

Live View gives you access to video and audio directly from a Blink camera. A microphone and speaker enables live two-way audio from the Blink Outdoor 4, Wired Floodlight, Video Doorbell, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen), XT2, and Mini cameras.

With a subscription plan, you can save Live View sessions to cloud storage for later viewing. Blink Subscription Plans also enable Extended Live View. This new feature provides images and sound directly from a Mini to the Blink app, up to 90 minutes at a time without user intervention. In addition, you can view regular Live View sessions up to five minutes without tapping on Continue.

Enter Live View from the Motion Alert system notification on your mobile device. Learn how to access Live View.

Some Alexa devices can access Live View as well as two-way audio from your voice command. Learn more about using Alexa devices with your Blink cameras.
  • Alexa devices allow Live View for five minutes.
  • Live Views are never saved to the local storage USB drive.
  • Learn more about Extended Live View, one of the benefits of having a Blink Subscription Plan.

Can I record when I’m in Live View mode?

If you have a subscription, Live View sessions can be saved in Clips. Learn more about saving Live View sessions.

Do I need to run software updates on my Sync Module and camera(s)?

Firmware updates will automatically be sent to your Sync Module and camera(s). It is important that your Wi-Fi internet connection has at least 2 MB per second upload speed, and that it is available until the entire update is downloaded. Incomplete updates can cause the system to become stuck or unusable. Learn more about troubleshooting connectivity issues.


Does Blink have Alexa or IFTTT functionality?

Yes. This will allow you to integrate Blink into other services that you may already use and love. 
  • The Alexa Skill is available in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
  • Other third party scripts are not compatible with Blink products at this time.
  • Alexa Motion Announcements and Clip Viewing/Clip Status are not supported on cameras without an attached subscription or legacy devices with free cloud storage.

Do Blink devices use Bluetooth?

No. Blink devices only operate through 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and Blink's proprietary Low Frequency Radio, not Bluetooth.

Can a Siren still be added to a Blink System?

Sirens are discontinued devices and no longer supported by the current version of the Blink app. It's extremely important to ensure that your Blink app is kept current with the latest version. Contact support if you have additional questions regarding Blink Sirens.

Can a single camera exist in multiple systems or accounts?

No. A camera can only be added to a single account or system.

Cameras must first be deleted before added them to different systems within the same account, or to a different account. Learn more about deleting cameras from the Blink app.

Can my battery powered camera operate during a power outage?

Battery powered cameras require a connection to a Sync Module and Wi-Fi. Blink Outdoor 4, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) cameras will attempt to record the first motion event after a power loss and upload that clip to the cloud once the system is back online. The offline or power-out recording feature is not reliable, however. Power and internet outages are a cause of system problems, for consistent clip recording, make sure both are always available. Learn about setting up Blink cameras.

Are Blink systems eligible for home insurance discounts?

No. Blink systems are not eligible. In order for a discount, most home insurance companies require your surveillance security system to be wired and be able to trigger an alert to 9-1-1 dispatch.

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