Blink Camera Authentication Failed: How To Fix

When it comes to Smart Home Security Cameras, none of them are perfect. The same goes with Blink Cameras, authentication errors being one of them.

I personally use Blink cameras around my house. They are easy to use, have plenty of features and most importantly provide all of the above at an affordable price. 

This is why when my Blink app started showing the authentication failed message out of the blue, I had to find a solution to it.

If you keep seeing authentication failed messages while trying to log in or access the Blink cameras, check your network connection for any issues and power cycle your router. If you are connected to a VPN, disable it. Ensure that you use the correct login credentials.

Let's now dive right into the many causes and fixes for authentication failed messages on Blink:

Check the Network Connection

The authentication failed issue is most probably caused due to a weak network connection.

The message can pop up when the Blink camera fails to communicate properly with its servers, much like the Blink Command failed to complete issue.

A strong and proper internet connection is required for both your Blink camera to work correctly. Make sure you have an upload speed of at least 2 Mbps to ensure smooth operation. 

Ensure that your cameras are in direct line of sight to your router. Thick walls might cause network hindrance and cause a drop in network speed. 

If your camera is installed in places such as the attic or the basement, it is easier for it to lose connection. Try moving the camera closer to the router or consider buying a signal booster.

Having multiple devices connected to wifi will also cause a drop in internet speed. Disconnect some of the devices as sometimes there is a limit to the device connected to your wifi at a time. 

You could also switch to 2.4 GHz wifi if you are using 5 GHz at the moment.

Even though 5 GHz offers greater speed, 2.4 GHz wifi is more reliable and offers greater signal strength. You can change this in the wifi router settings.

You can check your internet speed within the Blink camera app itself, to check the network speed within the app:

1. Navigate to the Blink app on your mobile device

2. In the app, navigate to Device settings

3. Click on General settings 

4. Here you will be able to see a Camera to wifi option which will show you the network speed of the connection

The speed will be indicated by numerical values or bars. Check and see if the network speed is adequate.

You can also see the signal strength of the Sync Module from the same tab. Ensure the signal is adequate so as to not trigger the Sync module to go offline.

If the network speed is low, try repositioning your cameras or your router so that they are within adequate range of each other. 

Additionally, you can also consider buying a network booster in case you can’t reposition the cameras. Network boosters provide an enhanced range for your wifi connection.

Power Cycle the Router

Restarting your devices occasionally will help clear any bugs or glitches in the device. 

If your router hasn’t been power cycled in a while we suggest you restart it. It will help it refresh its connection and ensure a stronger, more stable, and faster network.

This step is proven to be an effective fix for most issues with the network, including the Blink network request failed issue.

To power cycle your router or modem:

1. Unplug the power cord from the router. 
2. Wait for a couple of minutes.
3. Plug the power cord back in.
4. Wait for the router to restart and re-establish its internet connection.

After restarting your router, connect to it again and see if the issue is resolved.

Disable VPNs and Other Network Filters

If you are someone who uses VPN to connect to your network, the authentication failed message is most probably caused due to this. 

VPNs are an important tool in enhancing online privacy and security but they will sometimes interfere with the proper functioning of network-connected devices like Blink cameras. 

Here are some ways that VPNs can cause network issues and affect the proper functioning of devices:

1. VPNs can cause a decrease in network reception and speed. Additionally, VPNs connect you to encrypted servers in different geographical locations, causing additional network lags and hops leading to the authentication failed issue.
2. VPNs mask the IP addresses of the devices connected to them. This becomes a problem when the Blink servers try to communicate with your device using the previous IP thereby causing the authentication failed issue.
3. VPNs also introduce additional firewalls and network filters that interfere with the proper working of the Blink camera.

Try accessing your cameras after disconnecting from your VPN. 

To disconnect from your VPN in Windows (in case you access the Blink app on PC):

1. Navigate to the VPN app.
2. Click on the Disconnect or Turn off option.

To disconnect from your VPN in MacOS:

1. Go to the Menu bar.
2. Click on the VPN icon.
3. Select the Disconnect or Turn Off option. 

To disconnect from your VPN on Mobile devices:

1. Navigate to the VPN app or Device settings. 
2. Find and click on the  Disconnect or Turn off option under VPN.

Once you are disconnected from the VPN, try accessing your cameras again. The authentication failed message should not pop up anymore.

Check for Server Downtime

It is sometimes possible that the authentication failed issue arises due to a server issue on the part of Blink.

It is possible that the Blink servers are taken down for maintenance or due to technical issues. This can prevent users from accessing their Blink cameras.

The servers might face a software or hardware issue owing to which they will be unable to send a reply to their clients resulting in the authentication failed problem.

If this is the case, then there is very little to be done from your side. All you can do is patiently wait for the Blink servers to be back up again. 

To check if the server is down, you can go to the official Blink status page. Here you will be able to see possible server downtimes or other possible issues with the servers.

These sites provide a comprehensive view of the different servers and the issues faced by other users from which you can determine whether the server is down or not.

If the server is down, we are sure that the Blink team is already on it to bring the server back up again.

Check and Refresh the Login Credentials

If you faced the authentication failed message while trying to log in to the Blink account, then it's possible that you entered the wrong email address or password.

Entering the wrong maid ID or password will cause the Blink app to deny you access to the cameras. 

Possible ways for this to happen are:

1. Incorrect password - make sure that you are entering the right password for your account. The passwords are case-sensitive and make sure that you type in the correct special characters if any. Double-check to make sure that you didn’t make any typos. 
2. Incorrect Email address - Make sure that you are using the right mail id for your account. Ensure that there are no errors in the mail address and also that you accidentally didn’t swap between your mail ids. 

If you suspect that you entered the wrong password, then it's better you use the forget password option provided in the app or the website. You can use this option to reset your password.

Resetting your password once in a while will help enhance the privacy and security of your account and at the same time help refresh your credentials. 

To reset and refresh your login credentials:

1. Log out of the Blink account from your app or website 
2. On the sign-in page, enter your registered email address and click on the Forgot password option
3. A password reset link will be sent to your registered email address. (make sure to check junk and spam folders)
4. In the mail, find the link to reset your password. 
5. Click on the link and follow the instructions to reset and enter your new password
6. Your account password should be reset now

Once the password is reset, navigate back to the Blink app or website and log in to your account using the new password. You should be able to access your cameras now.

Cannot Access Live View of Blink Cam: How to Fix

Blink cameras have an amazing feature called Live View that enables you to see the live video feed from your camera using the Blink app.

This is extremely helpful when you need to check on things if the camera’s motion sensors are triggered.

And like any feature, the Live View is not without its flaws. Sometimes a software glitch or a bug will render the Live view feature inaccessible. 

Just like the “Authentication failed” issue, an adequate internet speed is also necessary for accessing the live view feature.

Using a VPN will also render the feature not usable, try accessing it after disabling the VPN. 

Check and see whether the Blink servers are up and running. If the servers are down, the cameras will be unable to query the request to the user.

You can also try power cycling your mobile device and Blink camera. Power cycling your device will help it reload its firmware, refresh its connection and help get rid of any bugs or glitches.

Additionally, you can try the steps below.

Check and Update Blink Cam and App

Newer firmware updates bring in new bug fixes, security enhancements, and help clear any potential issues.

It is necessary that you keep both the Blink app and camera firmware up-to-date to ensure optimal performance. Failing to do so can trigger issues like Blink Clip backup failed.

To check for the latest camera firmware:

1. Navigate to the Blink app.
2. Go to Device settings for the camera whose firmware you want to update. 
3. Scroll down to see the device firmware version.

To update your Blink app on Android:

1. Navigate to the Play store.
2. Search for the Blink app.
3. Click on Update.
4. Your Blink app will now get updated.

To update your Blink app on iOS:

1. Go to the App Store.
2. Search for the Blink app.
3. Click on Update to update the Blink app. 

You can check the latest firmware releases for different Blink cameras on the Blink official website. Your cameras should automatically update to this firmware when connected to the network.

Remove and Re-add the Camera

In case your cameras do not update to the latest firmware even after the Blink app is up-to-date, then try removing and re-adding the camera to your Blink app

To remove a camera from the Blink app:

1. Click on the settings icon on the right of the camera name in the Blink app.

2. Scroll down to the bottom and click on Delete.

3. Press Yes to confirm.

4. Now try adding the camera back once again.

After some time, check and see whether the camera firmware is updated. You can also make use of this step if your Blink Camera is linked to another account and you want to switch to a new one.

Clear Blink App Cache on Host Device

Clearing the Blink camera app cache will help resolve some of the storage and performance-related issues and help the app start as new. 

To delete the Blink app cache in Android:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and click on Apps.
3. Find and select the Blink app.
4. Click on the Clear Cache option. 

To delete the Blink app cache in iOS:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap on General.
3. Click on iPhone storage.
4. Scroll down and select the Blink app. 
5. Click on the Offload app option.
6. Once offloaded, click on the app again to install it.

Your app cache has now been cleared. Restart the app again and check if you are able to access the live view.

Factory Reset Blink Cam

If none of the above steps work, you could try resetting your Blink camera.

Factory Reset is a proven fix for most issues on Blink Cam, including the Blink Cam flashing RED issue and the Blink Cam sound not working issue.

For this, use the reset button to reset your camera. You can find the reset button either on the back of the camera (blink Outdooor) or just under the Camera Module (Blink Mini).

For Blink cameras that connect to a sync module, you should reset the sync module instead of the camera.

For Blink cameras such as the Indoor, Outdoor, XT, and XT2 that connect using a sync module, reset the sync module. Make sure to power cycle the sync module and your WiFi router before you reset it.

To reset the sync module:

1. On the sync module, press and hold the reset button until the status light turns red.

2. Release the reset button and wait for the status light to turn blue and then green.

3. The sync module is now in set-up mode and all cameras connected to it will be offline.

4. Now delete the module from the Blink app and set it up again.

Check for the issue now.

Final Thoughts

Checking and updating both the Blink app and camera firmware is necessary to overcome some of the software bugs and glitches. You can also manually update the firmware of the cameras using a USB drive. 

We recommend you contact Blink customer care in case the issues still persist. They will be able to provide more technical insight into why these issues happen and help resolve them.

You can also request a replacement if your device is still within the warranty period.

Blink also has an excellent and active support forum where you can find answers to a number of your queries. We are sure you will be able to find more answers there and also help others resolve them. 

Happy Reading!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What should I do if I forget my Blink camera login password? 

If you forget your Blink camera login password, you can use the "Forgot Password" option on the login page of the Blink app. You will be sent a mail to the registered mail address with the reset link to reset your password.

How do I reset my Blink camera? 

To reset your Blink camera, locate the small reset button on the camera and press it with a paperclip or a similar tool for about 10 seconds. This will delete all saved settings of the camera and reset it to default settings.

How often should I update the firmware of my Blink camera? 

It is generally recommended to keep your Blink camera's firmware up to date by checking for updates periodically or whenever new versions are released. This ensures optimal performance, compatibility, and access to new features and bug fixes.

Can I use a VPN with my Blink camera? 

Yes, you can use a VPN with your Blink camera but it may sometimes interfere with the camera's authentication process. Temporarily disabling the VPN can help resolve authentication issues.

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