Reolink Camera Keeps Disconnecting? – (Easy Fix Guide)

What to do when the Reolink camera keeps disconnecting? Check all the tips below!

The Reolink brand offers a great combo of cameras and other surveillance devices with the app and PC client.

But one issue looks like a haunting: the camera keeps disconnecting from the network.

If your Reolink camera keeps disconnecting, you should immediately look at the network settings, the router’s details, and the streaming quality.

We have listed the 9 best ways to fix the issue and get your camera online full-time!

Reolink Camera Keeps Disconnecting – 9 Solutions

Solution #1: Verify The Connection Settings

Sometimes, your Reolink camera keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi. Solving that starts by checking the basic settings of your Wi-Fi connection.

Before anything else, you must remember that Reolink cameras require a 2.4GHz network. So switch to it on your phone when setting the camera.

Moreover:

• Stand near your camera with the phone in your hand and check how the signal looks. Is it weak? 
• If the signal is weak, you should position the Reolink camera closer to the router or vice-versa. 
• Are you using a POE Reolink model? The brand advises using shorter cables as the longer ones can compromise connectivity.
• POE cameras require CAT5e Ethernet cables or superior.

Solution #2: Get The Router’s DNS Right

Another common cause behind a device’s constant disconnection from the router is a subpar DNS configuration.

Some of your devices don’t care about it, but others do. But when you change the DNS to an optimal address, all of them will benefit from it.

So do the following:

1. Locate your router’s IP address.
2. Enter it into a browser and log in.
3. Now, look for the DNS configurations.
4. If necessary, set it to “manual” so you can change the addresses.
5. The primary address must be 8.8.8.8.
6. The secondary address must be 8.8.4.4.

Save the changes and restart the router. After that, check how your camera behaves.

Solution #3: Change The Bitrate

It is very likely that the place where your camera is located is not the best spot to transmit high-resolution content over to your phone.

Thus, the connection keeps failing all the time. A smart way of working around that in a few seconds is changing the bitrate on the app.

Here it is:

1. Go to the Device Settings.
2. Tap on Display.
3. Then click on Quality.
4. Select Clear or Fluent.
5. Now select the resolution, frame rate, and bitrate that you wish to apply.

Changing to a lower bitrate makes the processing less demanding on both ends, and the connection should become more stable.

Note: If you want a full HD image, you will need to install another router closer to the camera or find some way of strengthening the connection.

Solution #4: Check The Router’s Port And Firewall

If you’re experiencing difficulties with the Reolink live view, it’s possible that your router is blocking the connection through ports or the firewall.

Reolink suggests enabling UDP port 65535 if it’s currently disabled.

You can do this easily with the following steps:

1. Locate your router’s IP address (usually found on its label).
2. Enter the router’s IP address into a web browser.
3. Access the router’s settings.
4. Look for the “Port Forwarding” option.
5. Find the option that allows you to open ports and enter “65535.”
6. Open that port.

After saving the settings, restart the router if necessary, and then check if there are any improvements in the Reolink live view.

Verify The Firewall

Additionally, while in the router’s settings, check its firewall configurations.

Look for an option called “remote access.” If it’s blocked, unblock it, and observe the results.

These actions should help resolve any blocking issues that may be affecting your Reolink camera’s live view.

Solution #5: Use Static IP Address

Are you already using the Reolink PC client to adjust the camera’s settings? If you are not, then that is highly recommended.

One reason is that it is the only way to configure DHCP or static IP addresses.

While many cameras benefit from DHCP, some users figured out that Reolink cameras require a static IP address when the disconnecting issue shows up.

1. Open the PC client.
2. Locate the network settings of the camera.
3. Deactivate DHCP.
4. Locate the static IP address setting.
5. Choose to get the IP address automatically.
6. Activate the static IP address option.

Once you do that, ensure that the settings are saved. Then restart the system and see how the camera behaves afterward.

Solution #6: Check The Antennas

Some of the Reolink cameras have physical antennas that must be well-adjusted to transmit correctly.

Have you checked those in a while? Depending on where you have positioned the camera(s), its antennas are loose, damaged, or positioned badly.

The weather can have an impact on all of those possibilities.

So do the following:

1. Locate your problematic camera.
2. Inspect its antennas physically.
3. Detach to clean the antennas thoroughly.
4. Check if the connection is fine.
5. Use a brush and isopropyl alcohol to clean the connections if they are rusty or dusty.

After that, attach the antennas back and ensure that they are positioned in a way they transmit the data to your router properly.

Solution #7: Eliminate Wireless Interference

The camera keeps falling off the Wi-Fi because of localized interference. If your neighbors are close by, their routers are transmitting very close too.

In that case, it is possible to consider that your router and your neighbor’s routers are using the same channel.

Here is how to find out:

1. Run NetSpot or a similar software on your PC.
2. Scan the area to find out which channel the 2.4GHz networks in the area are using.
3. Note down the channels being used, especially if other routers are using the same as yours.

How To Change The Channel?

Once you have figured out that the issue is indeed the Wi-Fi channel, you will need to access your router’s settings.

Here are the steps:

1. Type your router’s IP address into a browser.
2. Look for the channel settings.
3. Change the 2.4GHz channel to a less used/unused option.
4. Save the settings and wait for the router to restart.

Afterward, your camera should no longer pick up as much interference. Thus, its connection will become stable.

Solution #8: Update The Firmware

The absence of firmware compatibility can indeed result in constant disconnections, as outdated firmware may hinder proper communication with Reolink servers.

This can prevent the live stream from being transmitted effectively.

To address this issue, follow these steps:

1. Open the Reolink app or PC client.
2. Locate the connected devices.
3. Access the settings of the problematic camera.
4. Find the firmware version.
5. Click on “Check for updates.”

If an update is available, promptly download and install it. After successful installation, check if the live view issue has been resolved.

Keeping your firmware up-to-date is crucial for optimal camera performance.

Tip: If you can’t check for updates on the app immediately, try restarting the router and the camera. 

That could trigger the camera’s system and app to discover updates available on the server.

Solution #9: Reset The Camera

If you encounter persistent issues with your Reolink camera, whether they are hardware- or software-related, you may need to perform a hard reset.

Be aware that this process will erase all camera data, requiring you to reconfigure the camera in the app or PC client.

Follow these steps to reset your Reolink camera:

1. Locate the reset button on your camera.
2. If the reset button is within a pinhole, use a pin or similar tool to access it.
3. Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.
4. Release the reset button.

Note that some cameras may provide a prompt when the reset is successful, while others may not. To confirm, check if the camera still appears in the app. It should not.

Quick Recap

Thus you know the solution when the Reolink camera keeps disconnecting. You don’t need to be as long as you follow the solutions written above.

Most of the time, the issue is settings-related or small hardware trouble such as badly adjusted antennas.

However, if the issue persists, get in touch with Reolink!

More tips and tricks on Reolink’s cameras are available throughout the blog!