Tuya Smart app allows you to integrate your smart home devices and control them from a centralized point. To maintain and manage any Tuya smart device, it has to be connected to a stable internet connection and in sync with the Tuya servers. When this isn’t the case, the device falls offline. So, is your Tuya smart camera offline?
Tuya smart camera falls offline when it can’t successfully sync with the Tuya intelligent servers. This is usually due to a drop in network connection, a power issue, or the camera being out of your network range.
This post helps and guides you through the troubleshooting steps to identify the offline cause and fix it. Let’s get going.
Why is My Tuya Smart Camera Offline?
Tuya smart camera falls offline when out of Sync with the Tuya servers. Once the camera can’t get feedback from the server through the ping-pong server requests, it displaces the offline error. Primarily, this occurs due to a drop in the network connection or when the power connection is disrupted.
A prolonged disconnection from the server causes your camera to slip offline. If the Tuya smart app is displaying your camera as offline, it could be attributed to factors like;
- Loss of power connection (power outage)
- Poor Wi-Fi network signal or network disconnection
- Changes in your Wi-Fi network settings – you should update the same on your device
- An overcrowded network, thus, lowering your router bandwidth
- Outdated app or device firmware
- When the Tuya servers are down
In the case of a power outage disconnection, a restart should get you going once the camera connects to your Wi-Fi network.
Therefore, before trying a detailed troubleshooting guide, power cycle your camera and check if it connects.
To power cycle, unplug the camera from the power outlet, let the power drain fully for about a minute or two, and reconnect it to power.
Now that you have identified the probable culprits, here is a guide to troubleshooting your Wi-Fi network, the Tuya smart app, and the camera.
If your camera connects through a base station, ensure that the base is online and connected to your network.
How Do I Get My Tuya Smart Camera Back Online?
Restart your camera and ensure it is connected to a working power outlet to get your camera back online. Once the device reboots, give it a moment to initialize and connect to your home network. Refresh the Tuya app and check whether the device is back online.
Sadly, you can’t power cycle your camera remotely. One has to be onsite to disconnect the camera from the mains manually.
Follow these troubleshooting tips to get your camera back online;
Check If the Devices Is Powered
Accidentally turning off the main power switch or a tripped outlet to a smart device can have you fixing non-existing problems.
Ensure the device is connected to a working outlet and the LED indicator light shows it’s connected. Observe the camera power LED light to ascertain it’s powered.
Some or all of your devices can run offline after a power outage. A quick reboot should get your device back online.
However, to avoid bombarding your router with IP address requests (if you have many devices on your setup), restart the router first, followed by a device or a couple at a time.
To reboot, unplug the device from the outlet, wait a minute for it to discharge, and reconnect it to a working outlet.
This is handy when dealing with the “Tuya device offline after a power outage” problem.
After restarting your devices, give them about two minutes to initialize and connect to your home network. Refresh the Tuya app and check whether your camera is back online.
Check Your Wi-Fi Network
A drop or lost network connection is another prevalent cause of the device offline problem. Once the connection is lost, some devices cannot come back online alone and need little assistance.
So, does your router broadcast an active Wi-Fi network, or are you disconnected?
Test your network by connecting a phone or tablet and trying to surf the internet. If you are disconnected or the network signal is poor, contact your ISP to fix it first.
Smart cameras require a strong and stable internet connection to sync to the servers effectively. A robust home internet is the first requirement for running a successful smart home.
Also, you can perform a speed test to check your network speed and quality. If the network is working correctly, but the device is offline, it could be a case of an overcrowded network –reduce the number of connected devices.
Again, if you make changes to your network settings, such as Wi-Fi password, security type, etc., you must update the same on your connected devices.
Once you have applied the changes on your router admin, remove the device from the Tuya Smart app, reset it if necessary, and reconnect to the updated network.
Remember that Tuya devices are only compatible with a 2.4 GHz network.
If your router broadcasts 2.4 and 5 GHz bands on a single SSID, you must separate them into two different networks. This helps you avoid conflicts and only connect the devices to the compatible frequency.
Generally, power cycling the router and the device works magic when dealing with drop-in network offline issues.
To power cycle, unplug the router from the outlets, give it 20 – 30 seconds, and reconnect it. Once it’s up and running, apply the same procedure to restart the smart device.
Move The Device Closer to the Router
The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal weakens the further you move from the router and as the number of obstacles increases. With that in mind, the chances of a poor signal are high if the camera is located at the furthest end.
Ensure that the camera location receives a stable and robust internet signal from your router. Moving the device closer is one way to deal with the issue.
Alternatively, upgrade your network to a mesh network topology setup or replace your old router with a newer model.
Update the Camera Firmware
Before checking the camera’s firmware, ensure that your Tuya Smart app is updated. Check on your respective app store for available updates; if one is available, download and install it.
Once all is good on the app front, tap the camera device and check for available firmware updates on the Tuya app.
Running on outdated firmware, you miss the latest product features and performance improvements.
Reset The Camera and Reconnect
Resetting restores the device’s factory settings and wipes the device clean. It helps clear out bugs or conflicting config files affecting its connectivity. You start the connection on a clean slate.
First, remove the camera from the app. Open the app > select the device > tap the top right button to enter the device editing page > Remove the device and confirm your option.
To reset a Tuya smart camera, press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds on a powered camera. The camera starts the resetting process.
Once it resets, the LED light indicator blinks rapidly, indicating it’s in pairing mode and ready to connect.
To reconnect, open the Tuya Smart app > tap the “+” icon > Add Device > Choose the device category on the left (Camera & Lock)> select the device type > confirm the indicator is blinking > Enter your network credentials > Scan the QR code and tap the “I heard a Prompt” button > Finalize by following the app prompts.
If your smart camera is located significantly away from your network router, set up through the AP mode to connect to the device’s hotspot other than the easy EZ mode.
The Tuya Smart Servers Are Down
When the Tuya smart servers are down in your chosen location, your devices are bound to fall offline. Nothing much can be done on your side other than giving it some time for the Tuya engineers to get their act together.
Once the Tuya servers are restored, you can reboot your devices and reconnect to the servers. Albeit rarely, cloud services experience downtime from time to time.
Alternatively, try changing your chosen location on the Tuya Smart app. It’s likely to get a backup link to a different data center and get your devices online. Once the issue on your original location is fixed, you can revert.
Final Thoughts
The Tuya smart camera falls offline once the server communication is lost. This can be attributed to a network disconnection or power failure. Either way, getting your camera back online is the top priority, as is identifying the cause to avoid repeated occurrences.
Once you have identified the cause, do your due diligence, like ensuring the camera is powered and has sufficient Wi-Fi network coverage.
However, other factors like power cuts and server downtime are beyond your control; all you can do is adapt to the situation and apply the available options.
If nothing gives, contact Tuya customer support with your details for help troubleshooting your Tuya smart camera.
