Why Is My Blink Camera Flashing Red? 5 Common Causes Solved [2023]

Security systems should just work. We need to be able to trust them, or else there’s just no point in even having cameras.

In this article, I’ll show you what to do when you see a Blink camera flashing red light. We’ll go over the five most common causes and solutions, so you can go back to feeling secure that your Blink security system is functioning at peak performance.

1. Blink Can’t Connect to the Internet

Applicable to: Blink Mini, Blink Video Doorbell, Blink Outdoor, Blink Indoor, Blink XT, Blink XT2

Internet connection problems are the most common reason for a flashing red light on your Blink camera.

If you see these red lights, check your router and verify that you have an active internet connection. You may need to restart your router by unplugging it, waiting several seconds, and plugging it back in.

Your Blink camera will flash its red light when it can’t connect to the internet, including when you first plug in the camera (Blink Mini) or insert batteries (other Blink cameras). Once the connection is established, the lights will return to their normal colors.

If your Blink is still showing a red light after your internet connection has been restored, you may need to reset the camera. You’ll find the instructions for doing so below for the Blink Mini, Blink Video Doorbell, and other Blink cameras.

2. Blink Camera Is Being Set Up

Applicable to: Blink Mini, Blink Video Doorbell, Blink Outdoor, Blink Indoor, Blink XT, Blink XT2

It’s normal for your Blink camera to flash a red light during setup. This can also occur when you are changing the Wi-Fi or other network-related settings.

Give your camera a few seconds to reconfigure and regain a steady network connection. At most, this should take two minutes for any change. If it takes longer, you may need to reset the camera following the instructions later in this article.

3. Blink Camera Has Detected Motion

Applicable to: Blink Outdoor, Blink Indoor, Blink XT, Blink XT2

Brief red flashes can occur when your Blink camera detects motion. This is a normal part of the camera’s functioning and can be safely ignored.

The red lights should not, however, continue after the motion has ceased. If that happens, you may be dealing with a network connection issue or low battery.

4. Blink’s Batteries Need to Be Replaced

Applicable to: Blink Outdoor, Blink Indoor, Blink XT, Blink XT2

If your Blink camera flashes red 6 times (or sometimes 5) immediately after the blue recording light ends, that means the batteries are low. You’ll want to replace the two AA batteries with a fresh set before your camera stops working altogether.

5. Blink Camera Needs to Be Reset

Applicable to: Blink Mini, Blink Video Doorbell, Blink Outdoor, Blink Indoor, Blink XT, Blink XT2

Sometimes, problems with your Blink camera just aren’t worth diagnosing. If your camera is blinking red for no apparent reason, it’s always safe to just reset them. This can often save you a lot of time debugging what may have just been a spurious error.

How to Reset Blink Cameras

Resetting a Blink Mini

The Blink Mini reset button is located on the bottom of the device’s camera segment, right by where the camera attaches to the stand.

You’ll need to press it with a narrow object that isn’t too sharp (I suggest the blunt end of a toothpick). Hold the button in for 5 seconds until the red light is replaced with green and blue lights.

The red light should go away quickly during the reset process. If it takes more than 1–2 minutes, you should contact Blink support.

Resetting a Blink Outdoor, Indoor, XT, or XT2

To get to the reset button on each of these Blink cameras, you’ll need to open the back cover. You’ll find the reset button between the batteries near the top-right of the device.

Use a blunt, thin object (like the back end of a toothpick) to press the button for at least 5 seconds. When the camera lights start flashing, the reset process has succeeded and you can let go of the button.

Resetting a Blink Video Doorbell

You can do a soft reset or a full factory reset with the Blink Video Doorbell. Always try the soft reset first.

To perform a soft reset, remove one of the batteries, wait 5 seconds, and re-insert the battery. The LED should start flashing and then return to normal.

To perform a factory reset, look for the reset button directly above the battery compartment. Press that button with a thin, blunt object and hold it for 5 seconds. The red LED on the front of the doorbell will flash to indicate that the reset process has worked.

What’s Next?

Your camera should be working now, but are you getting the most out of it? Since Blink and Alexa are both owned by Amazon now, you really should connect your Blink and Alexa devices. And if you have a Firestick, you can even use your Alexa Fire TV commands to call up your camera on your TV!

Once those connections are in place, you could even use your Blink Mini’s motion sensor to trigger Alexa routines. That means your security cameras can double as a way to automatically turn your Hue or Wiz lights on or activate devices that use smart plugs. Pretty cool, right?