Why Can't I See the Cameras on My Phone or Computer
Offline cameras mean you can see the cameras on the recorder's TV or monitor, but not on your phone or computer even after setting it up before and getting it working.
If you're having trouble with setting up your Swann unit for remote viewing, or the remote viewing was working but has since stopped, here are some simple steps for you to try.
If you are trying to set up the DVR to the Internet for the first time, please check What do I need for my DVR/NVR to go online?
1) Reboot the recorder or camera
Rebooting the device both clears the memory and sets up the basic network parameters of the recorder or camera again. This can help if the router has "lost" the device from the routing table or if the device requires a new local IP address.
How:
- Go to the task bar, click on the Settings icon, then choose Shutdown.
- Select Reboot. Then OK.
Alternatively, you can unplug the recorder or camera from power and plug it back in after 5 seconds. This is not recommended to be done often.
2) Reboot the modem and/or network connection devices
There may be an issue with your modem or network connection that is preventing the Swann unit from contacting the internet correctly. Rebooting these devices properly can correct these issues.
How:
- In the DVR/NVR, go to the task bar, click on the Settings icon, then choose Shutdown. Select Shutdown Then OK.
- Go to the router. Use the OFF/ON button, if any, to turn off and restart, Unplug the router from power and replug if there is no power button.
- After the router is ON and re-established connection with your Internet Service Provider (which takes 2-5 minutes), reconnect the DVR to the power outlet to turn it on again.
3) Reconnect the network cable and/or try a different one
For some Swann units such as recorders, the network (Ethernet) cable connects your device to your internet connection devices such as a modem or a router. Sometimes the contacts may become loose requiring you to replug the cable for the recorder to start working again. We suggest testing the cable on a different LAN port, located behind your modem/router. If this also fails, then your cable may be defective and may need to be replaced. If you have a spare network cable lying around, try switching the cable to see if it helps.
4) Reset the recorder or camera
For recorders - While this step is rather drastic, it can also be of use where the recorder's settings have been misconfigured or if you have changed or reconfigured your network or internet hardware. This will clear all the settings from your recorder, including your network settings which could be causing the issue with your local/remote access from phone or computer. For V8 DVRs / NVRs, please see How to factory reset my DVR / NVR (V8).
If this step seems like a lot of work to recover from, do not forget to export the settings of your recorder to a USB stick before you proceed. That way, if the reset does not correct the issue, you can easily recover the settings lost. Also, if the reset did solve the issue, you can reapply the settings to see if that was what caused the issue. Check your recorder's user manual for configuration export instructions.
For Wi-Fi cameras - if your camera has settings related to network, it might also be misconfigured or something has changed internally. Be aware that there is no exporting of settings here therefore, if you will reset your camera, you might re-do the first time setup.