The Blink outdoor security camera is a popular choice for home monitoring and security. One of the most noticeable features of the Blink cameras is the bright red LED status light that is always on. While this light alerts you when the camera is active, it can also be distracting, especially at night. Fortunately, there are a couple of methods to disable the red light on your Blink outdoor cameras.
Why Does My Blink Camera Have a Red Light?
The red LED light on Blink cameras serves a couple of important purposes:
- It lets you know at a glance when the camera is powered on and operational. If the light is off, the camera may have lost power or connectivity.
- It acts as a deterrent to potential intruders. The visible red light makes it obvious the area is under surveillance.
- The light enables night vision mode. When light levels drop, the LED automatically turns on to provide illumination so the camera can continue recording in full darkness.
So in most cases, you’ll want to leave the red light enabled. But if you find it distracting or unnecessary, there are ways to turn it off.
Disabling the Light in the Blink App
The easiest way to disable the red LED on a Blink outdoor camera is through the Blink app:
- Open the Blink app on your smartphone.
- Tap on the camera you want to adjust.
- Tap the “Settings” gear icon in the upper right corner.
- Tap “LED Settings”
- Toggle the switch for “Recording LED” to the OFF position.
The camera status light will now stay off at all times. You can toggle it back on at any time by repeating steps 1-5 and switching the toggle back to ON.
This disables the light during regular recording. But keep in mind the red light may still briefly flash when the camera detects motion or connects to Wi-Fi. The light is fully disabled only when viewing live video.
Disabling the Light with Live View
The other way to disable the Blink outdoor camera light is by putting the camera into live view mode. As long as you have live view enabled, the LED will remain off.
To do this:
- Open the Blink app and select the camera.
- Tap the “Live View” button at the bottom of the screen.
- The camera video feed will open and the red light will turn off.
You can leave live view mode running and the status light will stay disabled. Just be aware that constant live streaming uses more of your Blink subscription time.
The camera light will automatically turn back on when you exit live view mode.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’ve followed the steps but the red light won’t stay off, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure the camera has the latest Blink firmware installed. Outdated firmware could override your settings.
- Check that the camera LED toggle is actually set to OFF in the app settings. It may have reverted to ON.
- Try power cycling the camera after changing the setting by removing the batteries for 30 seconds.
- Make sure the camera has a strong Wi-Fi signal. A weak connection could prevent light settings from syncing.
- As a last resort, perform a factory reset on the camera using the Blink app.
Conclusion
While the red status LED is useful for monitoring Blink camera operation, it can also be distracting when visible at night. The good news is you can disable the light through the app or by using live view mode. Just keep in mind the light may still briefly flash at times to indicate motion detection or connectivity. Disabling the light is simple and only takes a few taps in the app.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disabling Blink Camera Lights
Here are some common questions about turning off the red LED on Blink outdoor security cameras:
Does disabling the light impact camera performance?
No, turning off the LED does not affect the camera’s ability to record or detect motion. The only change is the status light remains off.
Can I set a schedule for when the light is on/off?
Unfortunately, there is no way to schedule the light within the Blink app itself. You have to manually toggle it on or off.
Will the camera still record without the light on?
Yes, disabling the LED does not impact recording functionality. The camera will continue to capture video even with the light disabled.
Can I disable the light on my Blink Indoor cameras?
No, the setting to disable the LED is only available for the Blink outdoor cameras. The indoor models do not have this option.
Why does the light flash when I have it turned off?
Flashing on motion detection is normal. The setting disables the constant red glow, but the LED may still briefly flash to indicate activity.
How do I know if my camera is connected if the light is off?
Check the status icon at the top of the camera view in the Blink app. If it shows bars like a WiFi symbol, you have connectivity.
Will turning off the light impact my camera’s battery life?
No, disabling the LED does not have any significant impact on the camera battery runtime.
Can I disable just some of my cameras’ lights?
Yes, the LED disable setting is configurable per camera. You can choose which Blink cameras have the light on or off.
What color is the LED light?
The Blink outdoor cameras have one red status LED. Earlier Blink models had a blue light.
Does live view mode drain the battery faster?
Yes, constant live streaming uses more battery than standard motion-triggered recording. But occasional use has minimal impact.