Setting up your Battery Powered Camera

To Get Started with the Blink app, follow the instructions below:

1. Launch the Blink App and tap Create Account at the bottom of the screen.

2. Select your country from the drop-down menu and tap Next.

3. Confirm your region and tap OK.
A region is pre-selected based on your IP address.

4. Enter a valid email address, and tap Next.

5. Create a password and tap Create Account.
The password requirements are listed at the bottom of the screen.

6. Complete the multi factor account verification process.

Enter the PIN from the email we sent you and tap “Verify”.

New Account PIN	New Account with Expired PIN

PIN codes are valid for 40 minutes. After one minute, the “Resend PIN Code” option appears.

Next, you are presented with a Phone number entry screen.

Tap the Phone number entry line to bring up a keypad.

Select your country code from the menu that is displayed when you tap the flag icon next to the Phone number entry line.

Enter the phone number you wish to use for device verification and tap “Next“.

 

If you prefer to not use SMS, the PIN code can be read to you by an automated Voice call instead.
To choose this option, select “Voice call” and tap “Next“.

Note: The SMS text option should only be used with mobile phone lines and will not work with landlines. Blink ONLY uses this number to positively associate your device to the Blink app – to make sure the person making changes is you. Your information is private and will not be used for additional purposes or shared with third parties.

Click to learn why we need your phone number. Contact Customer Service if you don’t have a phone number.

At this point, an SMS Text message containing the PIN code is sent to the phone number, and the PIN entry screen is opened for you.

Example SMS Text Message:

Your Blink verification code
is: <123456>

Enter the PIN from the SMS Text message we sent you and tap “Verify”.

PIN codes are valid for 40 minutes. After one minute, the “Resend PIN Code” option is presented.

Verify SMS PIN	Verify with PIN

Once your account is verified you will be prompted to link your new Blink account to your Amazon account, by tapping on the Link Accounts button. This is necessary in order to take full advantage of subscriptions, after the initial trial period expires. You also have the option to select “Skip” which will take you to the home screen, without linking your accounts. Click here to learn how to link your Blink and Amazon accounts another time.

Then sign into your existing Amazon account or create a new one if needed. The link is then established between accounts and click Done.

Add a Sync Module and create a system

1. From the home screen, tap the Add Device + icon.

2. The Add Device screen displays your device options.

• Blink wireless camera system – A system contains a Sync Module and Blink Outdoor, Indoor (2nd Generation), XT2, XT, or 1st Generation Indoor camera. Start here if you have these cameras.
• Blink wireless camera – This option adds a Blink Outdoor, Indoor (2nd Generation), XT2, XT, or 1st Generation Indoor camera after you have added a Sync Module.
• Mini camera – The Mini camera does not require a Sync Module as it manages its own system, but a Mini camera will act like other Blink cameras when it is added to a system managed by Sync Module. Your selection opens the QR code scanning screen.

3. The serial number is also printed as a QR code. To scan a QR code, the Blink app requires permission to access the camera on your mobile device.

Tap OK to permit the Blink app to scan the QR code, automatically entering the serial number. If you prefer, you can deny access to the camera by tapping Don’t Allow and enter the serial number manually.

To learn where the QR code and serial number are, tap your product image at the bottom of the Scan QR Code screen.

4. Create a new system by tapping the text entry box and providing a name.
Tap Done to continue.

5. The Add Sync Module screen will instruct you to plug in your Sync Module and then wait for the light pattern of blinking blue and steady green.

When you see this pattern on your Sync Module, tap Discover Device.

Note: If you don’t see the above blinking blue light pattern, then you may need to reset the sync module. Click here for more information.

6. The Blink app needs to connect to the Sync Module’s Wi-Fi network. It is named “BLINK-” followed by four digits from the Sync Module Serial Number.

Tap Join, then you are asked to join your local Wi-Fi network.

7. The Add Sync Module screen displays 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks within range.  The Sync Module stores network information for devices that are added to its system. If you do not see your local Wi-Fi network, tap Refresh List at the bottom of the screen. You can troubleshoot Wi-Fi connections here.

8. When you tap your Wi-Fi network name, you are presented with a password entry field. Ensure that your password is correct before you enter it. Incorrect password is a common cause of difficulty getting started. Tap Join to continue.

9. When network setup is complete, you are notified on the screen. Tap Done to complete the install process and view the Blink app Welcome screen where you can now add a camera.

The system name should appear at the top of the Home screen. You are notified that the Sync Module has been added, the ‘cloud’ icon shows a green connection line indicating that the Sync Module is communicating with the Bink servers, and you can now tap the plus symbol  +  to add a device.

INSTRUCTIONS

Sync Module with a green ‘cloud-connected’ icon indicates communication with the Blink servers. When you see this, a device can be added.

1. From the home screen, tap the Add Device + icon.

2. The Add Device screen displays your device options.

Tap Blink wireless camera or Mini camera. The Mini camera does not require a Sync Module to manage a system, but a Mini camera will act like other Blink cameras if it is added to a system managed by a Sync Module. You must add your Mini to a system with a Sync Module 2, in order to use it with Local Storage. Click here to learn more about Local Storage.

Your selection opens the QR code scanning screen.

3. Enter the serial number.

Your device serial number is represented on a sticker in the form of a QR code that is recognized by your Blink app.

For XT, XT2, and Indoor cameras, the serial number sticker is in the battery compartment. For instructions to remove camera back covers, click here.

At the bottom of the screen, representations of each product ‘pop up’ showing the serial number location.

If you prefer, tap Enter Serial Manually for a number entry widget.

4. Camera addition completion.

When the serial number is accepted as valid, the setup process begins and you are shown the “Camera Added” screen with tips on camera placement.

When setup is complete, a notification appears and you can tap Done.

Click here if you receive an error “Unable to Connect to Sync Module” when adding cameras to a system.

For accounts that were created on or before April 15, 2020 you will then see the following screen.

If your Blink and Amazon accounts are not already linked, you will be prompted to link your device to your Amazon account, by tapping on the Link Accounts button. This is necessary in order to take full advantage of subscriptions, after the initial trial period expires. You also have the option to select “Skip” which will take you to the home screen, without linking your accounts. Click here to learn how to link your Blink and Amazon accounts another time.

Then sign into your existing Amazon account or create a new one if needed. The link is then established between accounts and click Done to go to the Home screen.

5. The Home screen now displays a blank thumbnail and the camera name is its serial number.

When a camera is first installed, the serial number is entered for the camera name, and its thumbnail image is blank.

Tap the camera name to change it, enter the new name, then tap OK to save.

Tap the thumbnail icon to take a new thumbnail image. The thumbnail remains until you refresh it with this button.

Click here to learn more about using the Blink app.

Blink cameras have an effective motion detection system, but it is possible that the camera will be triggered by more than just a human presence.

The InfraRed detectors in a Blink camera notice when heat is present in the camera view and the camera’s sensitivity setting relates to the size of the heat source that will trigger an alert. The camera does not see depth, so a nearby small object will appear similar to a large object in the distance, but their heat sources will normally be quite different.

The goal of tuning your camera sensitivity is helped by good camera placement. The camera’s Infrared motion detector is sensitive to heat differences in the view as an object moves, so any heat source could potentially trigger a motion alert. If your camera has a road in view, and passing cars reflect sunlight at certain times of the day, your camera will observe the flashes as heat and motion. If your camera is viewing trees that move in the wind, and the sun is behind them, that motion could be a trigger.

We have created camera sensitivity zones that you can select and disable to avoid false triggers. The camera sensitivity setting helps, but you will have the best experience if you place the camera looking at an area where you do not expect a lot of random motion. For instance, having the camera point toward an entrance is more effective than pointing the camera down the walkway from an entrance. The difference is, when pointing to the entrance, only motion at the door will trigger the motion alert. When pointing down the walkway, many possible triggers could send an alert that you are not interested in.

For motion alerts to be most reliable, place your camera so that the heat source must move across the view rather than toward the camera. Movement toward the camera produces far less difference over time than movement across the view.

Every motion alert will use some battery power, so it is a benefit to receive only the alerts you want.

To integrate Blink cameras with an Alexa device for really useful experiences, visit our Alexa Motion Announcement and Routine Trigger pages.

Blink lightweight wireless cameras are easy to mount securely.

Your Blink camera comes with a right-angle adapter/opening tool and cone-shaped camera mount, matching the color of your camera body. Two screws are included in the box.

Extra mounts and other accessories are easily found at amazon.com.

You can verify the camera view and check placement simply by holding your camera in the desired location, and using the Blink app to refresh the camera thumbnail, or enter Live View. Ensure that your preferred location has three bars of connectivity with both the Sync Module and your Wi-Fi network. Verify connectivity from the camera settings   screen of the Blink app.

Keep in mind that the best motion detection occurs when movement goes across the field of view. Motion directly toward or away from the camera can be harder to detect. Camera placement helps your camera settings be most effective. Learn more about tuning your camera here, and about camera placement here.

When you have determined the best location for your camera, secure the mount to a surface. If it is appropriate, use the included screws. The mount and screws are non-corrosive, but some moisture buildup may occur underneath the mount base.

Horizontal Mounting

In horizontal locations such as a ceiling, or windowsill, you may need to use the Right-angle adapter (pictured). This adapter snaps into the opening on the back of the camera, as shown with dashed lines below.

Your camera may have a silicone disc protecting the fastener. When using the adapter or mount with the camera, remove the disc and keep it for future use.

Now, press-fit the adapter onto the connecting point of the mount. You should detect a ‘snap’ indicating a secure attachment. Your placement may require that you attach the adapter to the camera before attaching both to the mount.

Vertical Mounting

In vertical mounting locations such as a wall or post, the camera can connect directly to the volcano mount.

When your camera is mounted, check the camera image in the Blink app and adjust if needed.

Click to learn about motion detection.

Click to learn about Activity Zones.