Troubleshooting Motion Notifications

Learn how to troubleshoot motion notifications

Try these troubleshooting steps if you're not getting motion notifications when you expect them to appear, or if you're getting too many.

Test motion in front of your camera

While troubleshooting, test your settings to ensure you're getting the desired result. To perform a simple test, arm your system and then make a significant motion in front of your camera. Note: slow network speeds can delay your notifications.

Check if your camera or system is set up correctly

  1. Is your system Armed ?
    • Your must Arm the camera system‍ to receive motion notifications.
    • When a system is armed, the icons for Motion Detection and Snooze appear.
  2. Is the camera's Motion Detection on solid color running man means the camera is active, or offmotion detection is not active?
    • Each camera has a Motion Detection setting. The gray running man means Motion Detection is off.
    • Tap the icon to turn it on and the running man appears blue.
    • You can also check your Camera Settings device settings icon to see if Enable Motion Detection is turned on . If this is off, your device will not detect motion, and motion notifications will not be sent to your mobile device.
  3. Is Snooze Notifications on, or offa bell shaped grey outline with smaller letter Z to show a snoozing bell?
    • If it's solid blue, motion detection notifications have been temporarily paused. However, clips are saved to their designated storage location.
    • Tap the Snooze icon snooze icon is a solid blue bell shape with letter z, tap it to stop snooze to change or stop Snooze and the icon turns gray.
  4. Sign out of the Blink app, then sign back in. This may reset some of your app settings.
    • After you sign in, go back to Step 1 to make sure the Blink system is armed and your camera has Motion Detection set to on.
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Check the Blink app's notification options


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Check your mobile device settings

Is your phone on Mute or Silent?

Is Do Not Disturb enabled?

Check for app conflicts

Check your device's notification settings

Delete the Blink app from your mobile device

  • Delete the Blink app, then re-download it from the Google Play Store, iOS App Store, or Amazon Fire Store.
    • Your onboarded cameras and systems you have created are not affected when you delete the Blink app.
  • Open the Blink app and sign in to your account.
    • You may have to update your app store to find the latest version of the Blink app.

Turn your mobile device off and on

  • Turn your mobile device off, and then back on.
  • Open the Blink app, and sign in.
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Check if your mobile device's OS needs to be updated

In order to run the latest version of the Blink application, it is extremely important that your mobile device meets minimal requirements. Learn more about system requirements for using Blink products.

How to auto update your mobile devices

The easiest way to keep the app version of your mobile device current is to turn on the Automatic Update option in your device settings:

How to manually update your mobile devices

  • iOS devices can also be updated manually, which may be necessary if the auto update hasn't occurred yet. Learn more about manually updating your iOS device.
  • Learn more checking and updating your Android app version.
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Note

We recommend that you always backup your data prior to updating your mobile device. Learn more about backing up iOS devices, or learn more about backing up Android devices.




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My camera is sending me notifications when there isn't any motion.

If your camera is sending motion notifications to your mobile device, but when you go to Live View or look at the clip, no movement occurs, you may need to adjust the camera or its settings. Consider these factors for optimal motion notifications.

  • Thermal detection. The motion sensor detects changes in temperature in the camera's field of view. Big sources of heat or cold could cause false triggers. Try moving the camera to a different location. This will isolate any environmental factors that may be triggering the motion sensor.
  • Retrigger time. Increase the Retrigger Time to 15 seconds. Learn more about Retrigger Time.
  • Location. Is your camera located where it will get the view you want?
    • If your camera is placed outdoors, it will be more prone to false motion alerts. When it is outside, the changing temperatures or moving objects (at slightly different temperatures) can trip the motion sensor.
    • Angle the camera to avoid viewing random motions, bright spots from reflections, blowing trees or high traffic areas.
    • Learn more about how to properly place your cameras for motion detection.
  • Sensitivity. Each camera has a setting to control how responsive it is to motion.
    • Low Sensitivity means the camera is less responsive to motion, so it takes more motion to trigger an event.
    • High Sensitivity will respond to just about any motion like blowing leaves or rain.
    • Set the sensitivity so that your movement is detected, then use Activity Zones to block out areas of random motion or reflections.
    • Learn more about adjusting sensitivity for your Blink camera.
  • High motion areas. Is there a regular source of motion in the camera view?
    • Active roads, moving shadows, flocks of birds, and neighborhood pets can all cause a motion event.
    • Activity Zones can be set to block out motion in a certain area. Learn more about Activity Zones.
  • Network. If the camera has a weak connection to your wireless router, it may cause the camera to record false motion clips. Increasing the Retrigger Time should resolve this issue. You can also move the camera closer to your wireless router.  
  • Power cycle. Power cycling the camera may also resolve this issue. Try removing and then reinserting the batteries or the USB cable connection.

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Why is my Alexa device not announcing a doorbell press?

When you setup a Blink Video Doorbell for Alexa, you have to turn on Announcements for Doorbell Press and Motion Detection in the Alexa app.

Click to learn more about Using Alexa devices with the Blink Video Doorbell.

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Rename your mobile device

In some cases, renaming your mobile devices enables motion detection alerts to be sent to your phone. Use the following steps to change the name of your mobile device.

  • Change the name of your iOS device.
  • Change the name of your Android device.
    • Navigate to your phone's Settings > About Phone > Edit and then type in what you'd like your device to be named.
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If none of the above resolves the issue, please contact Technical Support.




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