Home security is important.
That’s why it can be worrying when your ADT doorbell camera suddenly stops working.
See, I know how stressful this can be because I’ve been there myself.
But it didn’t take long for me to realize that…
Making my doorbell camera responsive again is actually pretty easy.
Continue reading to find out:
- 5 simple solutions to solve this problem.
- Why your ADT doorbell camera isn’t working.
- How you can factory reset your ADT camera to make it functional again.
- And this is just the beginning…
Why is my ADT doorbell camera not working?
Your ADT doorbell camera isn’t working because it doesn’t have enough power. Sometimes, this problem happens because your Internet speed is too slow. And in other cases, the ADT Pulse app is the problem, not your doorbell camera.
ADT doorbell camera not working: 5 fixes
#1: Recharge your camera
Let’s start with the easiest approach to solve this problem.
And that’s to recharge your ADT camera.
See, like all technological devices you have at home…
Your ADT doorbell won’t turn ON if it doesn’t have enough power.
And while this isn’t a piece of good news by itself…
Luckily, these types of problems are very easy to fix.
That’s because all you need to do is…
Recharge your wireless ADT doorbell camera:
Step 1: Remove your camera from its mounting bracket
There should be a small tab at the bottom of your camera’s mount.
So simply locate and press it to release the battery pack of your doorbell.
After doing so…
Step 2: Remove your doorbell from the bracket
Slide your doorbell upward carefully, so you don’t damage it.
And once it’s off from its mount…
Step 3: Charge your battery pack
Find any micro-USB charger.
Then, plug its connector into the charging port of your camera’s battery pack.
After doing so, let your device charge for 6-8 hours or simply…
Step 4: Wait for the LED on your camera to turn green
A green LED light indicates that your device is fully charged.
So once you see it, you can proceed to…
Step 5: Mount your doorbell camera again
Slide your doorbell along with its battery pack down its mounting bracket again.
And ensure that you hear a clicking sound, indicating that you’ve locked it into place.
Now, try turning ON your camera once more and see if it’s working.
“Do you have any tips on how I can prevent this problem again?”
As someone who takes home security seriously, I sure do.
With that said, here are some…
Tips to prevent your ADT camera from unexpectedly losing power:
Tip 1: Monitor its battery level
Just like you can visually see the remaining battery on your phone…
You can also check how much power remains in your ADT camera.
And that’s by using the ADT Pulse mobile app (Android and iOS).
Now, most likely, you already have this application.
After all, it lets you control and monitor your camera footage.
But it’s still worth pointing out that this app informs you of your camera’s low battery level.
So make sure to pay attention to any alerts the ADT pulse app gives you.
Tip 2: Buy additional battery packs
It only takes 6-8 hours to charge doorbell cameras fully.
But that can still mean a whole unsecured night if your device fails later in the day.
That said, if you don’t want to risk having an unmonitored home when it’s dark outside…
You can simply buy additional ADT doorbell battery packs.
And this way, when your device stops working due to insufficient power…
You can simply install your spare battery into it while you charge the other 1.
Note: You can buy battery packs from local ADT suppliers near you.
Tip 3: Hardwire your ADT doorbell
You can also connect your camera to your house’s electricity.
In other words, turn it into a hard wire doorbell.
This way, your camera won’t lose power again as long as your house has electricity.
Now, if you’re interested in trying this setup out…
Contact trusted electricians so they can hardwire your camera for you.
You might also want to know: Why Is My ADT Doorbell Camera Red? Causes & Fixes
#2: Check your Internet connection
ADT doorbell cameras operate through Wifi.
So if you have a slow Internet connection…
Then your camera can stop interacting with your ADT mobile app.
And as a result, it won’t be able to record videos like usual.
So, now, you should ensure that your Wifi is fast enough to support your ADT home security system.
“How do I do that?”
Fret not. I’ll guide you step by step.
That said, first, you should…
Check how fast your Wifi is:
- Connect your mobile device to the Wifi used by your ADT camera.
- Launch any browser.
- Head to speedtest.net.
- Click GO.
- Wait for your Wifi speed results to come out.
- Take note of your Internet speed.
Now, according to ADT authorized dealers…
Your Wifi needs at least 1.5 Mbps speed to accommodate ADT doorbell cameras.
However, based on experience…
You need at least 3 Mbps to ensure your camera can communicate efficiently with its app.
That said, if you got 3 Mbps of speed or higher, skip to the next fix.
However, if your Wifi is any slower than that…
Follow these tips to boost your Internet speed:
Tip 1: Place your router in the middle of your house
See, if your router is placed in a corner or a closed-off room…
All your devices, including your ADT camera, will have a hard time connecting to the Wifi.
That said, the best location for your router is in the middle of your house.
Plus, you should never place it on the floor.
That’s because the wide surface of your flooring can dampen Wifi signals.
Tip 2: Remove other devices from your Wifi network
If there are more than 10 devices connected to your Wifi…
Then you should try disconnecting some of them temporarily.
This way, your ADT camera won’t need to compete for its Internet connection. And it’ll communicate easily with your mobile ADT pulse app.
Tip 3: Restart your router
Last but not least, give your router a little boost by restarting it.
See, this is very easy to do. However, it can work wonders in improving your connection.
That said, simply follow these steps to restart your Wifi router:
- Unplug it from the outlet.
- Wait for 1 minute.
- Reconnect your router to its power source.
After doing these tips, rerun the speed test. And wait for your new Internet speed results.
If you’re finally getting a good Wifi reading, try testing if your camera is working again.
However, if your Internet speed is still 3 Mbps or less…
Contact your Internet service provider. And ask them how you can improve your connection.
You might also be interested: 11 Steps To Use Mobile As CCTV Camera Without Internet
#3: Reinstall the ADT Pulse app on your phone
Your camera may actually be recording…
However, your ADT mobile app is glitching, so it doesn’t detect your camera’s actions.
With that, you should delete and then reinstall that ADT Pulse application on your phone.
Now, the exact steps to do this depend on whether you have an iOS or Android device.
But worry not, as I’ve listed separate instructions for both.
With that in mind, here are the steps to…
Delete the ADT Pulse app from your phone
Android devices:
- Head to the Google PlayStore app.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Select Manage apps & devices.
- Click Manage.
- Tap the ADT Pulse app from the choices.
- Select Uninstall.
iOS devices:
- Locate the ADT app on your home screen.
- Press and hold its tile until it wiggles.
- When a window appears, tap Remove App.
- Select Delete App.
- Tap Delete once more.
After this, restart your mobile device to clear out its temporary caches.
Then, proceed to…
Reinstall the ADT Pulse app on your phone
Android devices
- Head to the Google PlayStore app again.
- Tap the search bar and type “ADT Pulse.”
- Select the official app.
- Tap its Install icon.
- Follow further instructions.
- Wait for it to be downloaded to your device.
iOS devices
- Head to the App Store.
- Click the magnifying glass icon.
- Tap the search bar at the top.
- Type in “ADT Pulse” and search it.
- Select the official app from the results.
- Tap GET or the Download cloud icon.
- Input your password if needed.
Once you have the app on your phone again, open it up.
Then follow the instructions you see so you can log in to your ADT account.
After that, try using your doorbell camera again.
And if it’s still not working…
#4: Reset your camera
Bugs and glitches can also exist on your ADT camera.
And when these create serious errors that your device can’t handle by itself…
Your camera can become unresponsive or stop working.
That said, what you should do now is conduct a factory reset. So that you bring your device to its default state.
Bear in mind, however, that this process will:
- Disconnect your doorbell from the Wifi.
- Remove your camera from your ADT Pulse app.
So ensure that you know the necessary credentials to set these up again. And that’s before you proceed to…
Reset your ADT doorbell camera:
Step 1: Locate the reset button of your camera
The exact placement of this will depend on the model of your device.
But for most ADT cameras, you can find this at the back.
That said, you should remove your camera from its mount.
Then flip it over so you can see its rear panel.
Note: The reset button is usually located at the bottom-left corner. And it’s circular in shape.
Pro tip: If you’re having trouble locating this, check your camera’s user manual. And head to the Physical Details portion of the document. So you can check where your device’s reset button is.
Step 2: Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds
I recommend setting a timer to precisely count the seconds for this step. Because letting go too early won’t reset your camera.
That said, once the 10 seconds are over, let go, and then…
Step 3: Wait for your device to turn ON again
Wait for your camera’s indication LED light to turn ON. Because that means your camera has successfully reset.
Once you see it, you can simply proceed to set up your ADT doorbell once more.
“How do I do that again?”
I got you. Here are the easy steps to…
Set up your ADT camera inside your mobile app again (10 steps):
Step 1: Launch the ADT Pulse app
Head to your mobile device’s home screen.
And tap the tile of ADT Pulse to open it up.
Once it launches…
Step 2: Head to Manage Devices
On your app’s home screen…
Scroll down, then tap the Manage Devices tile.
After doing so…
Step 3: Select Cameras
You’ll see the list of all device types you can add to your system on your screen.
So now, simply select the Cameras option.
Then wait for the new page to load.
Step 4: Tap Add Using WPS
You can find this at the bottom-left corner of your screen.
That said, after tapping this option…
Step 5: Connect your camera to its power source
After doing so, wait for its LED light to flash green.
Then proceed to…
Step 6: Find the WPS PIN at the back of your camera
Note: This is labeled as “PIN.” And it has 8 numeral characters in total.
Once you find it on the rear panel of your device…
Step 7: Input the WPS pin to your ADT app
Tap the box you see on your mobile screen now.
And type in the pin you found at the back of your ADT camera.
After doing so…
Step 8: Tap Continue
You can find this in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Once the new page loads…
Step 9: Hold the reset button of your camera for 5 seconds
Now, you’ll see a 2-minute countdown on your app.
That said, you need to finish this step before that timer hits zero.
So press and hold the reset button of your camera now for 5 seconds.
And once your device’s LED turns green…
Step 10: You can now control your ADT camera through your app again
Simply follow further instructions to rename your camera.
Then, tap Save at the top of your screen.
Want a visual guide for this reset and setup process? Watch this video:
#5: Contact ADT
If your ADT camera still doesn’t work…
Then it’s time to contact ADT representatives.
That’s because your camera may have hardware problems that only experts can fix.
Or there might be a problem with your ADT cloud storage.
That said, you can contact ADT professionals by calling (800)-521-1734.
Or you may also head to their official customer support page.
Now, I know it can be worrisome to sleep at night without a security camera protecting your home. That’s because I’ve also been in that situation before.
However, sometimes I’m a bit thankful for the time when my ADT doorbell stopped working.
That’s because I discovered a little lifehack, which is to…
Bonus: Turn your old phone into a security camera
While you’re waiting for ADT representatives to fix your doorbell camera…
For now, you should use any old mobile device as a temporary CCTV.
See, just like your ADT doorbell, many free security camera apps also let you:
- Capture videos at night.
- Stop recording at certain hours of the day.
- Save video recordings on your cloud storage.
- Record unusual movements around your home.
On top of that, some apps like Haven (iOS and Android)…
Also alerts you when there are unusual lights or vibrations around your premises.
And the best part is, you don’t need to spend anything to get these features!
That said, I highly recommend turning your old phone into a security camera for now.
Because honestly, nothing’s more important than your and your family’s safety, right?