Are your Blink Notifications not working?
There could be several reasons why your Blink notifications aren’t functioning properly, ranging from settings within the Blink app to phone-specific issues. Fortunately, troubleshooting these issues is relatively easy.
We’ll cover some of the most common causes of Blink notification issues and offer guidance on how to fix them.
Table of Contents
Troubleshooting Blink Notifications on iPhone
iPhone Notification Settings
On iOS devices, users can manage Blink notifications through the Settings app.
Follow these instructions:
- Go to iPhone Settings
- Select Notifications
- Select the Blink app.
- Enable or disable notifications and choose your preferred alert style.
Check iPhone App Settings
To ensure you receive Blink notifications on your iOS device, start by checking your app settings. Open the Blink app and navigate to its settings. Be sure the notifications are enabled.
Restart Your iPhone
In some cases, a simple restart can resolve notification issues. Hold the power button until the “slide to power off” screen appears. Swipe the power icon to turn off your iPhone. After waiting for a few moments, press the power button again to turn it back on. Once your device restarts, check whether the Blink notifications are working.
Update to the Latest Blink App Version
Ensure that both your iOS system and Blink app are running the latest respective versions. Outdated versions may lead to incompatibilities and notification issues. Follow these steps to update:
- iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, follow the prompts to complete it.
- Blink app: Open the App Store, tap on your profile icon, and check for updates under the “Pending Updates” section. If an update for Blink is available, tap “Update.”
Remember to keep your iOS system and the Blink app regularly updated to avoid potential notification issues.
Troubleshooting Blink Notifications on Android
Android Notification Settings
On Android devices, users need to ensure that the Blink app is allowed to send notifications and use background data.
To do this:
- Open your phone’s Settings
- Navigate to Apps
- Select the Blink app.
- Enable “Allow Notifications” and “Allow Background Data Usage.”
Check Android App Settings
First, ensure that your Blink app is properly set up to receive notifications.
To do this, open the Blink app and verify that the alert settings are enabled:
- Open the Blink app on your Android device
- Go to the settings tab
- Ensure that the “Push Notifications” toggle is turned on
Allow Background Data Usage
Android devices may prevent apps from sending notifications when running in the background.
Make sure to allow background data usage for the Blink app:
- Open your Android device’s Settings
- Tap on “Apps” or “Apps & notifications”
- Find and tap on the Blink app
- Select “Mobile data & Wi-Fi” or “Data usage”
- Turn on the “Allow background data usage” toggle
Update to the Latest Version of Blink App
Outdated versions of the Blink app may experience issues with notifications.
Ensure you have the latest version of the app installed:
- Open the Google Play Store on your Android device
- Tap on the menu icon (three horizontal lines)
- Select “My Apps & Games”
- Find the Blink app in the list of installed applications
- If an update is available, tap the “Update” button
By following these steps and keeping your app updated, you should be able to resolve most notification issues on Android devices.
Common Reasons for Blink Notifications Not Working
Notification Settings
One common reason for Blink notifications not working is incorrect notification settings in the Blink app. To ensure you receive alerts when motion is detected or when your camera goes offline.
Follow these steps:
- Open the Blink app and go to your camera’s settings.
- Select “Notifications”.
- Enable notifications for movement and/or offline cameras.
Is Your Blink Cam Armed?
Is your Blink Camera armed? If it is not armed, you will not receive notifications.
- Open the Blink App and Select Armed in the home section.
Motion Detection Settings
Confirm that motion detection is turned on in the Blink app so that you can receive motion notifications.
Conflict with Other Apps
Sometimes, conflicts with other apps can interfere with Blink notifications. For instance, if you have another security camera app installed on your phone, it might cause problems with your Blink notifications.
To resolve this issue, try uninstalling any other security camera apps or check app settings to ensure no conflicts occur.
Phone Settings
There might be issues with your iPhone or Android device’s settings that result in delayed or missing notifications.
To troubleshoot this, follow these steps:
- Open the phone’s Settings > Apps > Blink.
- Look for Usage and select Mobile data.
- Make sure “Allow background data usage” is turned on.
Additionally, check the Focus settings and Do Not Disturb mode. Ensure that Blink notifications are allowed to bypass Do Not Disturb mode.
Battery Saver Mode
Battery saver mode on your iPhone or Android device may also affect Blink notifications. This mode can restrict app processes and background data usage, causing delays in receiving notifications.
To ensure Blink notifications work properly, disable battery saver mode or exclude Blink from battery-saving restrictions.
Background: Blink Notifications
How Notifications Work
Blink is a home security system that uses cameras and a mobile app to provide users with notifications about any motion-related events. These notifications help users to stay informed about the events happening within the camera’s view.
For both Android and iOS devices, the Blink app is required to receive notifications. Once the app is installed, the user must enable notifications within the app settings. Users have the option to choose which events they want to receive notifications for, such as motion detection or camera status updates.
Android and iOS devices handle notifications differently.
Android Notification Settings
On Android devices, users need to ensure that the Blink app is allowed to send notifications and use background data.
To do this:
- Open your phone’s Settings
- Navigate to Apps
- Select the Blink app.
- Enable “Allow Notifications” and “Allow Background Data Usage.”
iPhone Notification Settings
On iOS devices, users can manage Blink notifications through the Settings app.
Follow these instructions:
- Go to Settings
- Select Notifications
- Select the Blink app.
- Enable or disable notifications and choose your preferred alert style.
Users must have a stable internet connection to receive timely notifications on both Android and iOS devices. If you experience significant delays in receiving notifications, check your device’s internet connection and the Blink app’s notification settings.
Camera and Motion Settings
Sensitivity Adjustment
Blink cameras offer adjustable sensitivity settings for motion detection, allowing you to finetune the camera’s responsiveness to movements.
To modify the sensitivity, follow these steps:
- Open the Blink app and navigate to your camera’s settings.
- Locate the Motion section and tap on Sensitivity.
- Adjust the slider according to your preference; higher values result in increased sensitivity to motion.
Play around with different sensitivity levels to find the optimal balance between receiving relevant notifications and avoiding false alarms.
Creating Activity Zones
With activity zones, you can specify which areas in your camera’s field of view should trigger motion alerts. This feature helps reduce notifications caused by irrelevant movement, such as passing cars or foliage swaying in the wind.
To create activity zones within your Blink app, follow these steps:
- Open your camera’s settings in the Blink app.
- Tap on “Activity Zones” to access the zone creation interface.
- Utilize the “+” button to add new zones and position them accordingly within the camera’s view.
- Resize the zones as needed by dragging their corners.
- Save your settings to activate the created zones.
By properly configuring your camera’s sensitivity and activity zones, you can improve the performance of your Blink camera and ensure that you only receive notifications for meaningful events.
Additional Tips and Tricks
Power Cycling the Camera
Power cycling your Blink cam can help to resolve some notification issues.
To perform a power cycle, follow these steps:
- Remove the batteries from the camera.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Reinsert the batteries.
This process will reboot your camera and may fix any potential notification issues.
Wireless Connection Issues
Ensuring that your Blink cam has a strong wireless connection can improve its notification functionality.
Some tips to improve the wireless connection include:
- Move your camera closer to your Wi-Fi router.
- Make sure there are no interference sources (such as other electronic devices) close to your camera or router.
- Verify that your router’s firmware is up-to-date.
Remember to check that the “Allow background data usage” setting is enabled on your Android device by following these steps:
- Open your phone’s Settings > Apps > Blink.
- Look for Usage and select Mobile data.
- Make sure “Allow background data usage” is turned on.
Delete and Reinstall Blink App
Deleting and reinstalling the Blink App may resolve notification issues as well.
To do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Delete the Blink app from your mobile device.
- Redownload the app from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the iOS App Store (for Apple devices).
- Log in using your email and password.
Remember that deleting the app will not affect your onboarded cameras and systems; they will still be in your account. After following these steps, your notification issues should be resolved.