IP Camera Not Working – Full 10 Steps Troubleshooting Guide

Since the inception of IP cameras, they have been highly rated and extensively used in our homes, businesses, and institutions. They are our current chief security and surveillance CCTV devices.  

There are many positive and powerful features of IP cameras, though they have a few shortcomings. Among them, the most common is that the “IP Camera Not Working”.  

It doesn’t matter which camera brand we are using, if we are using Dahua, Hikvision, CP Plus, Avigilon, Hanwha Vison, or any other ONVIF-based camera, the problem is common to all. The IP camera goes offline or faces network issues. IP Cameras stop working.

We come to know about these issues when cameras go offline, and screens become blank. They either show offline, no video, a black screen, or cannot connect.  

Here, we are giving users the complete details and description of follwoing issues.

• How do IP cameras work?
• Why do IP cameras go offline?
• We will share the step-by-step diagnosis.
• We will fix network issues.
• We will share the Power supply issues.
• NVR/IP conflict problems
• Mobile app not connecting.
• Browser & software issues.
• Preventive measures

1 – IP Camera Not Working – How an IP Camera Works?

The IP CCTV Camera has the latest and advanced technologies. It has a unique IP address. Through it, these cameras can be accessed from anywhere. It uses the local network to send videos to  

1. NVRs
2. Computer Software, CMS
3. Mobile Apps.
4. Browsers

For continuous functioning, four factors must work properly. These are

• A Network through LAN or Wifi
• Power Source – Adapter or a PoE Switch
• IP Address of the Device
• Correct Username and Password

If any one of these four factors is not proper, the cameras will not function and go offline.

Now, we analyse some common reasons that make IP cameras disfunctional.

2 – Common Reasons That Make Cameras Go Offline

We will discuss here the important and common reasons that make devices go offline.

• The power in the camera is not stable.
• Loose cable connection or damaged LAN Cable.
• Incorrect IP address.
• If there is any IP conflict, devices using the same IPs.
• If the WiFi signal is coming and going, unstable.
• If there is no parity between the NVR and the IP camera. There are on different networks.
• The Router reboot changed the camera IP
• The PoE switch has more than its capacity load.
• If the firmware is corrupt or outdated.
• If the IP camera is damaged.

In the next section, we will resolve these issues.

3 – Step-By-Step Troubleshooting Guide

In the next section, we will resolve these issues.

Step 1 – Check Power Supply

To give power to an IP camera, we can either install an Adapter or a PoE switch. Whether you are using anything, go through this process to troubleshoot.

If Using an Adapter –

Check if the camera’s LED is glowing.

• Try a different power adapter.
• Use high-quality adapters. Just avoid cheap, low-standard 12V adapters. They fluctuate under load.

If Using a PoE Switch –

• Check if the PoE port light is “ON”
• Change the LAN port.
• Try another cable.
• Restart the PoE switch.

If there is no light or power, then the camera will always show offline.

Step 2 – Check Network Cable or WiFi

To troubleshoot, also check the LAN cable, RJ45 connectors and Wifi connectivity, if added with the Wifi.

For LAN Cameras –

• Replace the LAN cable and check the camera.
• Check RJ45 connectors
• Avoid any cable joints. If there is any joint, replace the cable.
• Try another port on the switch/router.

For WiFi Cameras –

• Check if camera positioning. If it is too far from the router, it may have a weak wifi signal to maintain seamless network connectivity.
• Restart the router to fix camera offline issues.
• Forget & re-add the WiFi network to connect again.
• Check if the router has enabled “AP Isolation” to block the camera. It happens only in rare cases.

Here, if the camera has power, LEDs blink, but the camera doesn’t show added, then move to the nest step.

If the camera LED blinks but doesn’t appear in the network, move to the next step.

Step 3 – Find the Camera’s IP Address

We have to know the camera’s IP address. To find the IP, you have to know the camera brand and its official tool.

Some most common and widely accepted brands and their tools are mentioned below.

When you open the tool for the required camera, you get the following tabs on the screen.

• IP Address
• Device Status (Online / Offline)
• Subnet
• MAC Address
• Password status

After entering these camera details, if the camera is still not added, then check

• If the camera cable is faulty.
• If the camera has no power.
• If the camera is not connected to your Network

You have to fix the hardware first before moving on to the next step.

Step 4 – Fix IP Address or Subnet Issues

Mostly, cameras are offline because of wrong IP settings.

Example working network –

• Router: 192.168.1.1
• NVR: 192.168.1.100
• Camera: 192.168.1.120

If your camera shows anything like –

• 10.0.0.15
• 192.168.0.5

The camera IP address, the router IP address, and the NVR IP address are not compatible with one another.

Go to Fix the issue –

1. Open the IP tool and select the IP camera.
2. Assign a static IP manually.
3. Keep the camera in the router’s range.
4. Keep it in the router’s range and go to the next step.
5. Save & reboot it.

After this, your NVR detects the IP camera.

Step 5 – Check for IP Conflict

IP conflict means, If two devices are using the same IP address, one of them will automatically disconnect.

Signs of IP conflict –

• The camera goes offline randomly.
• Only shows up for a few seconds, then disconnects all of a sudden.
• Only one camera drops while others continue to work.

Fix –

• To fix the IP conflict issue, always assign unique static IPs.
• Disable DHCP on cameras
• Reserve IPs in router settings

Step 6 – Fix NVR Camera Connection Issues

Check the camera on a PC. If it works on PCs but not on NVRs, then do the following.

Check the following –

• Correct username/password
• ONVIF Protocol enabled
• Same subnet
• Correct RTSP port (554 usually)
• HTTP Port (80 / 88 / 8899)

Add the camera manually –

Protocol – ONVIF

IP – 192.168.1.24

Port – 80

RTSP – 554

Username – admin

Password – —-

If the NVR still shows the offline status or the connection failed, check the PoE switch and IP settings.

Step 7 – Mobile App Not Showing Camera

If you find the IP camera is functional through LAN or NVR, but not on the Mobile App, then do these things.

Fix 1 – Check P2P Status

• Go to the IP camera and NVR.
• Then go to the Network option, and then to the Platform access, and then to the P2P.
• The status must be showing Online.
• If you find it offline, then it must be an internet or DNS issue.

Fix 2 – Reset P2P

• Turn off the device.
• Press the save button.
• Turn it ON again.

Fix 3 – Log in with a cloud account.

There are a few CCTV brand that requires Cloud Binding.

Step 8 – Browser or PC Software Issues

Some old IP cameras require a browser plugin to function. Do them the following way.

Fix the Issue –

• Go to the Use Edge, then go to the More Tools option and then to the IE Mode.
• Install the plugin when asked.
• Disable the firewall temporarily.
• Use PC software:
  • Hikvision: iVMS-4200
  • Dahua: SmartPSS
  • Uniview: EZStation

Cameras will become offline. If they still don’t load, check the main stream/sub stream settings.

Step 9 – Factory Reset the Camera

When all the above steps fail, then go to this step.

Go to the IP camera settings and reset it to the factory settings.

Process to reset the camera to factory settings

1. Every camera has a reset button. Find the reset button on the camera.
2. Hold the button for 10–15 seconds.
3. The Camera reboots.
4. It resets the IP to the default IP.
5. Re-add the camera to the NVR.

If the camera still doesn’t function, there is a problem with the hardware.

Step 10 – Signs of a Faulty / Dead Camera

If you think the camera is having these issues, conclude it is a hardware problem.

• If there are no IR lights at night
• If cameras become extremely hot
• If water seeps inside the dome camera and damage it.
• If even a new adapter installation shows no power.
• Rebooting the device repeatedly doesn’t help.
• If the lens is foggy.
• Camera flickers heavily

Try to replace the camera if it is in warranty or contact the brand’s support team.

IP Camera Not Working – Preventive Measures

Here are some key tested and reliable preventive measures for an IP camera not going offline.

• Always use quality Cat6 cables. Cheap wires creat issues in data transfer and have limited longevitiy.
• Assign a Static IP to every camera manually. It will save you if the router is rebooted. Ips will not change then.
• Use a quality PoE switch of 48V for enouh voltage.
• Avoid places where cameras may overheat.
• Use a UPS for a stable power supply in cameras.
• Frequently update firmware.

Conclusion

Here, we have shared the complete analysis and study of the IP camera not working issues. Its main reasons and their fixing have been detailed.

How wrong IPs, IP conflicts, hardware and software issues create IP camera offline issues. Ten steps are suggested. They are to resolve IP camera issues.

Kindly share your suggestions and queries in the comment section.

Thank You.