How to power cycle your Wyze Camera

May 01, 2023by Joel Manansala

Wyze cameras have gained popularity as reliable and versatile home security devices, providing the convenience of monitoring your home through your smartphone or other mobile device.

Like any electronic device, though, Wyze cameras sometimes need a power cycle to reset settings and status.

Power cycling your Wyze camera is easy and can help resolve various issues, including connectivity problems, freezing, or other issues.

In this post, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to power cycle your Wyze camera, including troubleshooting tips and best practices to ensure you get a successful reset.

How power cycling works

Also known as a hard reset or a reboot, power cycling is the process of turning off an electronic device, waiting for a few seconds, and then turning it back on.

This can help clear the device's memory and reset any settings that may have been causing performance issues.

Why you should use power cycles

Connectivity: If your Wyze camera is having connectivity issues, power cycling can reset the camera and establish a new connection with your WiFi channel. This can also help improve the camera's streaming quality and reduce buffering or lag.
Performance: If your camera is freezing, crashing, or experiencing other performance issues, power cycling can help clear the camera’s memory or reset settings that may be causing the issue. This can also help improve the camera's overall performance.
Firmware Updates: If you’ve updated the camera’s firmware, power cycling may be needed to complete the update and ensure that the camera is running the latest software version.
Power Outages: If your home has a power outage or surge, power cycling the camera can reset the camera to ensure it works properly.
Battery Life: If your Wyze camera is battery-powered, power cycling can help to conserve and protect battery life by resetting any settings that may be draining the battery.

The step-by-step guide

1. Turn off your camera. To do this, locate the power cord or USB cable connected to your camera and unplug it from the power supply. If your camera is battery-powered, you may need to remove the batteries instead.

2. Wait at least 10-15 seconds. This will give the camera's memory and settings time to clear.

3. Reconnect the power source to your camera. If it is connected via the power cord, plug it back into the outlet. If it is battery-powered, reinsert the batteries.

4. Wait for the camera to reboot. This may take a few seconds or up to a minute.

5. Verify that the camera is working properly. Open the Wyze app on your Android or Apple phone to see if the camera is connected and streaming video.

How to reconnect your Wyze Camera

If you recently disconnected your Wyze camera or if it has lost its connection to your WiFi network, you may need to reconnect the camera to resume monitoring your home.

Make sure your WiFi frequency band is set to 2.4 GHz. Most WiFi routers are dual-band, including 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Wyze devices will not work on WiFi access points that have a landing page or sign-in portal. If you are using an enterprise connection with a WiFi access point, consider getting a separate WiFi transmission channel for your camera. Check to see if other devices in your home can connect to your WiFi network, and try resetting your router or modem if necessary.
Power cycle your Wyze camera to establish a new connection with your WiFi network, as described in the steps, above. Once the camera completed its reboot, check to see if it made a new connection to your WiFi network.
If your camera hasn’t connected, open the Wyze app on your smartphone or mobile device.
To add your camera through the Wyze app, navigate to the "Devices" tab and tap on the "+" icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
From the list of available Wyze devices, select your camera model.
Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your camera to the WiFi network. Enter the required information, such as your WiFi network name and password.
Once you have completed the setup process, verify that your Wyze cam is working properly by checking the live stream in the Wyze app.

How to power cycle Wyze Camera V2/V3

Turn off your Wyze camera. To do this, locate the camera power adapter or micro-USB cable connected to your camera and unplug it from the power source. If your camera is battery-powered, remove the batteries.
Wait for at least 10-15 seconds before going to the next step. This will give the camera's memory and settings time to clear.
Reconnect the power source to your Wyze cam. If your camera is battery-powered, reinsert the batteries.
Wait for the camera to reboot.
Open the Wyze app on your smartphone or mobile device to check that the camera's live footage is showing.

How to remotely power cycle Wyze Camera

Power cycling your Wyze camera remotely can be a useful solution if you are unable to physically access your camera or if you are away from home. To remotely power cycle your camera:

Open the Wyze app on your smartphone or mobile device and navigate to the camera you want to power cycle remotely.
Tap on the "Settings" icon (gear icon) in the top-right corner of the screen. From there, scroll down and tap on "Advanced Settings." Then, tap on "Restart Device" and confirm that you want to restart the camera. This will turn off your Wyze camera remotely.
Wait for at least 10-15 seconds before proceeding to the next step. This will give the camera's memory and settings time to clear.
In the Wyze camera app, tap on the "Settings" icon (gear icon) in the top-right corner of the screen. From there, scroll down and tap on "Advanced Settings," and then tap "Restart Device" and confirm that you want to restart the camera. This will turn on your device remotely.
Open the Wyze app on your smartphone or mobile device to see if the camera is connected and streaming video.

How to power cycle the Wyze Base Station

Disconnect the power adapter from the power outlet.
Wait for at least 10-15 seconds before proceeding to the next step. This will give the Base Station time to clear its memory and settings.
Reconnect the power cord to your Wyze Base Station. Plug the cord back into the power source.
Wait for the connected Base Station to reboot.
Check to see if your Wyze devices are connected and functioning properly.

How to factory reset the Wyze Camera

This process will erase all of the camera's settings and configurations, so be sure to save any important settings or data before proceeding.

To reset your Wyze camera to its factory settings, follow these steps:

Using a paperclip or other thin object that will fit the reset access point, press and hold the power button for at least 10 seconds. You should see the LED status light on the camera turn solid yellow, indicating that the camera is resetting.
Release the power button. Once the LED light flashes blue, it means the camera is rebooting.
Wait for the camera to reboot.
When the reboot is complete, your Wyze camera will run a factory reset, restoring it to its original settings. You will need to set up the camera again, following the instructions in the Wyze app.

Most common Wyze Camera issues and solutions

Disconnecting the camera

If your Wyze camera keeps disconnecting or going offline, it could be due to a weak WiFi signal or interference from other nearby devices. Here are some troubleshooting steps to fix this issue:

Move the camera closer to your router. If the camera is too far from the router, it may not be able to properly connect to your WiFi network.
Check the local WiFi signals using a WiFi analyzer app. If the signal is weak, try moving the router closer to the camera or using a WiFi extender.
Restart the camera by unplugging it from the power source for a few seconds and then plugging it back in.
Make sure that the camera has the latest firmware update installed. You can check for updates in the Wyze app under the "Device Info" section.

Network connection issues

Check your WiFi channels: Make sure that you are entering the correct WiFi network name and password when setting up the camera.
Check the WiFi signal strength: If the WiFi signal is weak, the camera may not be able to connect to the network. Try moving the camera closer to the router or using a WiFi extender to boost the signal.
Check the router settings: Make sure that the router settings are not blocking the camera from connecting to the network. Check the router's firewall settings and make sure that the camera is not being blocked.
Restart the camera: Try restarting the camera by unplugging it from the power source for 10-15 seconds and then plugging it back in.

Blocked WiFi signal

If your Wyze camera is not receiving a WiFi signal, it could be due to interference from other nearby devices or physical obstructions. Here are some troubleshooting steps to fix this issue:

Move the camera to a different location to see if that improves the WiFi signal strength.
Remove physical obstructions between the camera and the router that could block the WiFi signal.
WiFi networks that are using the same channel could cause interference. Change the WiFi channel in the router settings to see if that improves the signal strength.
Consider using a WiFi extender to boost the signal strength.

How to update your Wyze Camera

To update your Wyze camera to the latest updates, follow these steps:

Open the Wyze app and go to the "Device Info" section.
Tap on the camera you want to update to go to the "Device Info" section.
Check for firmware updates in the "Device Info" section. If there is a new firmware update available, you will see a notification that says, "New firmware version available." Tap on "Update" to start the firmware update process.
Wait for the update to complete. Depending on the camera model and your internet connection, this may take a few minutes. During the update process, your camera may reboot or turn off temporarily. Do not unplug the camera or turn it off while the update is in progress.
Open the "Device Info" section to verify that the update was successful. The firmware version number should match the latest version available.

How to connect Wyze Camera to a new WiFi network

Open the Wyze app, and tap Home.
Tap the plus sign + on the top left, then Add Device > Cameras.
Tap on your camera version.
Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your camera again.

Note: This is only applicable to Wyze Cam v1, v2, v3, and Wyze Cam Pan v1/v2.

For other Wyze camera models, such as the Wyze Cam Outdoor:

Delete the Wyze outdoor camera from the app. (Edit pencil > Edit Devices).
Follow the steps above to set up your camera again.

FAQ

How do I get my Wyze camera back online?

Here are some ways you can try:

Check your internet connection.
Restart your camera.
Restart your router.
Check the Wyze app if your camera is displayed as offline. If it is offline, try tapping on the camera and selecting "Restart Device" or "Turn Off Device" and then "Turn On Device."
Reset your camera if none of the above solutions work.

How do I power cycle my Wyze camera from my phone?

Open the Wyze app on your phone and log in to your account.
Tap on the camera that you want to power cycle.
Tap on the settings icon in the top right corner of the screen (it looks like a gear).
Scroll down and tap "Restart Device" or "Turn Off Device," depending on your preference.
If you selected "Restart Device," tap "Restart" to confirm. If you selected "Turn Off Device," tap "Turn Off" and wait for the camera's LED light to turn off completely.
Wait a few seconds and then tap "Turn On Device" to turn your camera back on. If you restart your camera, it should automatically turn back on.
Wait for the camera's LED light to turn solid blue, which means it has reconnected to your WiFi network.

Why is my Wyze Camera not connecting?

There are several reasons why your camera may not be connecting, such as poor WiFi signal or connections, or outdated firmware.

How do I reset my Wyze camera?

Please refer to the "How to Factory Reset the Wyze Camera" section, above.

Why does my Wyze camera show ‘Offline’?

There are several reasons why your Wyze camera might be showing the status as offline, including issues from its WiFi connection, power supply, firmware, app, or within the camera itself.

Why is my Wyze base offline?

This could be due to several reasons, such as poor WiFi connection, outdated firmware, app issues, and power issues.

Can I run a Wyze camera from a battery pack?

This depends on your camera model. The Wyze Camera Outdoor is battery-powered, but the V3 indoor/outdoor cam has no battery and requires power.

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