When I first got my ADT doorbell camera last year…
I spent a lot of time wondering:
“How can I connect a device without a screen to my WiFi?”
But through trial and error…
I eventually found a way to connect ADT doorbell cameras to the Internet in just minutes.
Continue reading to find out:
- 11 quick steps to connect your ADT doorbell camera to WiFi.
- How you can factory reset your device to stop its connection problems.
- 3 reasons your camera isn’t connecting to the Internet and how to fix them.
- And this is just the beginning…
How to connect ADT doorbell camera to WiFi – 11 easy steps
#1: Download the ADT Pulse application
Based on experience, the easiest way to connect your ADT camera to the WiFi is to use the ADT Pulse application.
That’s because linking your doorbell to your ADT app also connects it to your phone’s network.
That said, the first thing you should do is…
Download the ADT Pulse app:
For iOS devices
- Turn ON your iPhone.
- Launch the App Store.
- Tap the search icon at the bottom right of your screen.
- Click the search bar.
- Search “ADT Pulse.”
- Select the official app from the results.
- Click the GET button.
- Input your passcode or password if needed.
Note: You may also click here to access the app directly.
For Android devices
- Turn ON your phone or tablet.
- Head to the Google PlayStore.
- Search “ADT Pulse” in the app.
- From the results, tap the official application.
- Input your credentials if needed.
- Wait for the app to be downloaded.
Note: Exact steps vary depending on the model of your Android device. But you can just click here to access the app’s download page directly.
And once you have the app on your phone…
#2: Sign in to your ADT account
If you already have an ADT account…
Then simply input your email and password into the spaces on your phone’s screen. After that, follow further instructions.
However, if you don’t have it yet, follow these…
Steps to create an ADT account:
- Open up a browser on your PC or phone.
- Head to myadt.com.
- Click “No account? Register.”
- Type your phone number and your verbal password.
- Tap Find Account.
- Select your address from the list.
- Input your personal information.
- After filling up everything, tap Complete Registration.
After this, click the verification link that’ll be sent to your email address.
And once you have a verified ADT account, log in to your mobile app. Then, proceed to…
#3: Tap Dashboard
Upon launching the application, you should already be on the Dashboard screen.
However, if you navigated to another page on the app…
Just tap the Dashboard icon on the bottom-left corner of your screen. And then…
#4: Click Manage Devices
Scroll down the app until you see the equally sized square tiles.
From there, tap the 1 that states Manage Devices. Or the tile with the icon that has a wrench and a hammer.
Then, wait for the new page to load so you can…
#5: Select Cameras
You’ll see all kinds of devices you can add to your ADT Pulse app on this page.
That said, from the list, select Cameras.
#6: Tap Add Using WPS
You’ll find this option at the bottom-left corner of the new page.
And it’ll be beside the text that states Add.
#7: Connect your camera to its power source
Prepare a micro-USB charger.
Then, plug its connector into the charging port of your ADT camera.
After that, connect the charger’s adapter head to a functioning outlet.
And wait for your device’s LED light to flash a red color.
“But I have a battery-powered doorbell camera.”
Your device model also has a charging port at the back of its battery pack.
So you should simply follow the same procedure.
#8: Input your camera’s WPS PIN into the app
Flip your camera over so you can read the label on its back.
Then, locate the heading that states PIN.
And once you find this, input the code beside it into your ADT app.
However, before you proceed to the next step…
You should also find the Reset button on your camera.
That’s because you’ll need to press and hold it later within a limited timeframe.
Now, this button’s exact location depends on your doorbell camera’s model.
But most of the time, you’ll find this at the corners on the back of your device.
That said, once you see the Reset button…
Ensure that the WPS PIN you typed on your app is correct. And proceed to…
#9: Tap Continue
Click the Continue button at the upper-right corner of your screen.
Then before the 2-minute timer ends…
#10: Press your doorbell camera’s Reset button for 5 seconds
After doing so, wait for your app to finish recognizing your camera.
And ensure that your camera’s LED light turns green.
Important: If you don’t finish this step before the timer on your app ends, you’d need to start the setup process again.
That said, once the loading icon on your phone screen disappears, it’s time to…
#11: Name your camera
Now, you’ll see the details of your doorbell device on your app. And that includes its:
- Name.
- Model.
- MAC ID.
- Firmware.
- Manufacturer.
- Video Bandwidth.
From these choices, tap the Name section on the top of your screen.
And type the title you want to give to this specific doorbell camera.
“What if I don’t want to rename my device?”
You can also leave its name as it is.
However, if you have multiple cameras connected to your app…
I highly recommend naming your devices depending on where you place them.
For example, if you’re planning to place this camera on your backdoor…
You can rename it “Backdoor Doorbell.”
This way, it’ll be easy to distinguish your cameras from each other inside the app.
And you’ll also know where your security system is detecting movements.
That said, once you’ve decided whether or not to rename your device…
Tap the Save button at the top-right section of your screen.
And just like that, your ADT camera is now connected to your mobile app and WiFi.
ADT camera not connecting to WiFi – causes & fixes
#1: Your camera is OFF
If you see your doorbell camera labeled as OFFLINE on your app…
Then it may have lost its power without you knowing.
Now, you should check if your camera has any LED lights ON.
If it does, then skip to the next fix.
However, if your doorbell device has no lights, you should recharge it.
That’s because like other technological devices…
Without enough power, your ADT doorbell camera will also stop working.
That said, follow these steps to…
Recharge battery-powered ADT doorbell cameras:
Step 1: Release your camera from its bracket
You’ll find a small tab at the bottom of your doorbell’s mount. And it’s responsible for holding on to your doorbell, so it doesn’t fall.
So, before you can remove your camera from its bracket…
You need to push this tab down so your device can be loose and free.
After doing so, slowly pull your camera up.
Then proceed to completely remove it from the bracket.
Step 2: Locate the rechargeable battery pack
Note: You don’t need to disconnect this from your doorbell.
At the back of your camera, access the battery back.
Then, locate its charging port before you proceed to…
Step 3: Charge your ADT camera
Connect any micro-USB charger to your battery pack.
And wait for its LED light to turn green.
Note: A drained battery pack usually takes 6–8 hours to charge fully.
Step 4: Turn ON your ADT doorbell camera once more
After doing so, check if it’s now back online.
Pro tip: Don’t return your camera to its bracket if you still need to try the following solutions.
#2: Your camera or router is glitching
If your doorbell camera still isn’t connecting to the Internet, it might be glitching.
So now, what you should do is power cycle your doorbell along with your router.
“What’s that?”
It’s the process of unplugging and plugging a device again.
See, this might be a simple fix.
However, by disconnecting and reconnecting your gadgets to power, you’ll allow them to:
- Run more efficiently.
- Restart their system.
- Remove temporary caches.
And as you can see, these can possibly fix your Internet problem.
After that, you should go ahead and…
Power cycle your doorbell camera and router:
Step 1: Disconnect your doorbell from its power source
If you have a battery-powered camera, remove its battery pack.
But if a direct connection powers it, unplug its charger or turn OFF the breaker.
Step 2: Unplug your router from the outlet
Once unplugged…
Step 3: Wait for 5 minutes
This duration ensures that you’ll drain all your devices’ residual power.
So it’s important to wait for this long.
That said, after the 5 minutes are over…
Step 4: Turn ON your router again
Connect it to its power source.
And wait until all of its LED lights turn green.
Note: If some LEDs are red or yellow, contact your Internet service provider. That’s because red/yellow lights indicate a problem with your network.
Now, wait for another 3 minutes to ensure your router is ready to connect. Then go ahead and…
Step 5: Turn your doorbell camera ON
Now, observe if your device is finally connecting to the Internet.
You might also want to know: Why Is My ADT Doorbell Camera Red? Causes & Fixes
#3: There’s a problem with your doorbell camera’s data
There may be a problem with the data between your device and the ADT app.
So now, you should factory reset your camera.
Or, in other words, remove all information and data from its system.
With that, follow these simple steps to…
Reset your ADT doorbell camera:
- Connect your device to its power source.
- Press and hold its Reset button for 15 seconds.
- Let it load for 3 minutes.
After this process, you can simply reconnect your device to the ADT Pulse app again.
That said…
If you want a guide to resetting your camera and reconnecting it to the app, watch this video:
Recommended reading: 13 Best Free Apps To Turn Old Phone Into Security Camera
Bonus: Hardware defects
If none of the previous solutions fixed your ADT doorbell’s WiFi problem…
Then it most likely has hardware defects.
In that case, you should contact ADT themselves by calling (800) 246-9320.
Or you can also head to their customer service webpage.