Blink Camera Command Failed To Complete: How to Fix

Have you been running into a prompt that reads 'Command Failed To Complete' on the Blink app? Well, you're not alone. This error has been rampant among Blink users for some time now.

I, too, had come across this error code a fair few times in the past month or so. Fortunately, I did find a fix for this very issue. Here's how it did it:

If your Blink Camera is showing the prompt 'Command Failed to Complete', first, check the status of the batteries on the Camera. Power cycle the device to reboot it, and check for network issues. Removing and re-adding the Sync Module from the app could also help. If all else fails, factory reset the Camera.

Keep reading this article to figure out why and how to fix the 'Command failed to complete' issue on your Blink cam.

Why Is My Blink Camera Showing 'Command Failed To Complete'?

For starters, this error is primarily associated with Blink doorbell cameras.

Reports of this issue coming up for Blink devices other than the doorbell camera is pretty scarce.

In some cases, this prompt shows up during the initial setup of the doorbell camera during the discovery step when the camera is flashing the red light.

Eventually, the camera setup process is halted and the Blink app says that the command failed to complete.

In other cases, the error shows up when the user tries to modify or adjust the settings on the Blink system.

Once this error shows up, most likely the commands do not go through, and end up incomplete. This issue, in many ways, is comparable to the Blink network request failed issue.

Another situation where this occurs is when the user tries to add more cameras to the setup and the prompt comes up.

Common culprits for this issue include:

1. The batteries have not been installed correctly in the Blink camera. If the batteries are correctly placed, the device should show a bright red flash for about 5 seconds as the camera is powered on.
2. Network issues, including slow network speeds and high latency. Restarting your router and trying to add the camera once again could resolve it.
3. The camera and the Sync module are farther away from each other than recommended.

The troubleshooting methods mentioned below aim to resolve this issue at a deeper level. Make sure you attempt them as well.

Check the Batteries on Blink Cam

The first check you need to complete is to make sure that you have installed the batteries in the Camera properly and that there are no obstacles blocking the connection to the terminals.

Run-down batteries and improper installations can also lead to several other issues such as clicking sound on Blink Cam.

Re-install the batteries to the Blink camera and you should be able to see a bright red flash as mentioned before for about 5 seconds when the device is powered on.

You could also remove the batteries from the device and wait for a few minutes before reinserting it.

Allow the camera to connect to the Sync Module. And if you get the error prompt again, restart the Sync Module and try again.

Ensure that you try at least 2 batches of fresh batteries on your device as the ones you have installed could be damaged, expired, or could just be the wrong kind.

A word of caution: Rechargeable batteries do not work well on Blink Cams. Avoid them at all costs.

To check the battery level of your Blink Camera on your Blink app, you can follow the steps given below:

1. Open the Blink app on your smartphone or tablet.

2. Tap on the Settings gear icon next to the camera name and select General Settings.

3. Scroll down to the Battery Level option and tap on it.

4. The app will display the current battery level of the chosen Blink Camera. If it displays OK, then you're good to go.

Ideally, when the battery is running low, you will get a notification on your smartphone so that you can attend to the low battery by replacing the batteries before they run out completely.

Power Cycle Blink Cam

Power cycling is a very effective and useful step in troubleshooting any issues with your Blink camera.

Doing so is known to be a lifesaver for various issues like Blink camera sound not working and Blink Cam clip backup failed.

Therefore it is paramount that you try a simple power cycle of your Blink device before you proceed with more complicated fixes.

To power cycle your Blink doorbell Camera, follow the steps given below:

1. Locate the power supply of your Blink Camera. Most likely, it could be a set of AA batteries or an external power supply.

2. Disconnect the power supply from the Blink Camera by either removing the batteries or unplugging them from the power source.

3. Wait for at least 30 seconds to ensure that all residual charge has left the device.

4. Reconnect the power supply to the Blink camera by replacing the batteries or plugging the power source back into the power supply.

5. Wait for the Blink device to power up. Then connect to the Blink app and the Sync module.

6. Check the Blink app to ensure that the camera is connected and functioning properly.

Recreate the conditions where the error prompt used to show up. Check if your issue has been resolved.

Check for Network Issues

Network issues are also a known culprit for this issue and many others of its ilk, like Blink Cam speakers not working or Blink Cam not recording at night.

The obvious check for you to do is to soft reset your router to reconfigure your modem and network. The steps for the same are given below under the section Reboot the Router/Modem.

If you have installed any custom firmware on your router/modem, it could be why you are running into the error prompt.

However, these custom firmware could result in your Blink doorbell camera failing to establish a connection with your Wi-Fi network.

So if you have such custom firmware installed on your router/modem, make sure that you have disabled it before attempting to connect your Blink doorbell camera.

You could also be running into this error prompt if your primary DNS is not working. Usually, if the primary DNS is not working, the device uses a second or third alternative DNS to establish a connection.

But it seems that the Blink doorbell camera is unable to do this. As a result, removing the faulty DNS is the only way to complete the setup process without the error message.

The Blink doorbell camera could also get confused between the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands on your router. As a result, it will have a hard time trying to establish a connection with the network.

To resolve this issue, you can look into your router settings and disable the management frame protection on the 2.4 GHz interface or simply rename the SSID of the two bands more distinctly.

To check if this is in fact the issue, you could disable the dual option on the router, that is, disable the 5 GHz bandwidth and allow only the 2.4 GHz band to function.

Once that is done, you can reboot the router and see if you can connect the Blink device to the network.

Reboot the Router/Modem

Rebooting your router/modem is a simpler process than power cycling as it involves restarting the device from the router or modem setting page rather than unplugging it physically from the power supply.

A reboot can clear any temporary issues and restore the connection to the internet. To reboot your router/modem, you can follow the steps given below:

• Access the router or modem settings from a web browser. Usually, you can find the IP address listed on the back or bottom of the modem.
• You will have to type in the login credentials to access the Settings page.
• The location of the reboot option may vary depending on the router or modem model and brand. Typically, you can find the reboot option under the System or Administration section.
• Once you locate the reboot option, click on it to reboot your device.
• Give your device some time to finish the reboot process. The process will take place automatically.
• Once the device has successfully rebooted, check the internet strength and speed by running a speed test.
• Connect your Blink camera and check if the error prompt has been resolved.

Furthermore, you can power cycle your modem or router as well as it can help resolve temporary issues and restore proper connectivity to the internet.

To power cycle your modem/router, follow the steps given below:

• Unplug your router or modem from the power source.
• Let the device be idle for 30 seconds.
• Plug the router or modem back into the power source and let the device initialize.
• Once the device is powered up and running, check if the network is working and stable.
• Connect the Blink device and check to see if the error prompt has been resolved.

Move the Sync Module Closer to the Cam

The Sync Module is a device that connects Blink wireless security cameras to the internet and to each other.

Sync module makes use of Bluetooth Low Energy technology for communication with other Blink devices.

In open space, the maximum distance that you can keep apart the Sync Module and the Blink cameras is up to 100 feet or 30 meters.

However, most household premises have obstacles like walls and other structures or devices which can reduce the effective range of the Sync Module.

So it is generally good practice to keep the Sync Module and the Blink cameras within a reasonable distance of each other to maintain reliable communication, especially if you plan to record two or more Blink Cams at the same time.

Additionally, Blink cameras use a proprietary wireless protocol to communicate with the Sync Module. These cameras must be paired with the Sync Module before they can be operated.

However, keep in mind, the maximum distance allowed between the Blink devices and the Sync Module. Potential obstacles blocking communication between them can lead to the error prompt in question.

Check the MAC Address Filter of your Router

MAC filtering or hardware filtering is a security measure used to control access to a network.

MAC, which stands for, Media Access Control is a unique identifier used to identify and mark every device that is accessing the network.

Devices that try to access a network use a Network Interface Card (NIC) to get a MAC address.

As a result, at the router or access point level, you can configure to block or allow access for specific devices or groups of devices.

If the device trying to access the internet is not in the list of MAC addresses, it is denied an active channel to the internet.

Therefore, you can check the allowed MAC addresses on your router. To do this, follow the steps given below.

The first step is to figure out the default IP of your router. If you already know the default IP, skip this step and go directly to the steps to check the MAC addresses given below.

To find the default IP address of your router, you can follow these steps:

• Open a web browser on your PC or smartphone that is connected to the router's network.
• In the address bar of the web browser, type in ipconfig and press Enter. The following page should show you the network configuration information of your device.
• Look for the Default Gateway entry in the network configuration information. The value given in this entry is usually the default IP address of your router.

The next step is to check the MAC addresses allowed on your router. Follow the steps given below to do this:

Depending on the router that you use, the steps can differ. However, the general steps are as follows.

• Open a web browser on your PC or Smartphone that is connected to the same network as the router.
• In the address bar, enter the default IP address of your router.
• Enter the router's credentials (username and password) to log in to the router's settings page. If you have not changed the default login information, most likely the username is admin and the password is either admin or password.
• Look for a section of the router's setting page that is related to the MAC address filtering. It could also be called a Wireless MAC Filter, Access Control, or something of that sort.
• Once you access this page, you can see the list of allowed MAC addresses which tells you the devices that currently have access to the network.
• Check if Blink devices have made the cut. Blink DHCP could be the name listed in the MAC addresses list for Blink devices. Make sure that the Blink device is allowed access.

Ensure that you refresh the Access List page three or four times if you have trouble locating the Blink devices.

Remove and Re-add Sync Module

This error prompt, as mentioned before, could pop up due to the difficulty in communicating with an active network.

Removing and re-adding the Sync Module could potentially resolve this issue by establishing a fresh gateway through the Sync Module.

To remove the Sync Module, follow the steps below:

1. Unplug the power adapter and the USB cable from the Sync Module.

2. Wait for at least 10 seconds before plugging the power adapter back into the Module.

3. After restoring power for a few seconds, press and hold the reset switch for about 10 seconds.

4. The Sync Module will then reboot.

5. To delete the Sync Module from the Blink app, select the system you want to remove the Sync Module from and tap on the Sync Module section on the home screen.

6. Using your phone's camera, scan the QR code or enter the serial number of the Sync Module. You can find this at the bottom of the unit.

Confirm once again that you would like to delete it from your account. Doing so would also come in handy if your Blink Cam is registered to another account.

To re-add the Sync Module, follow the steps below:

1. Once your Sync Module has rebooted, it is ready for further setup.

2. Open the Blink app on your Smartphone or tablet and tap on the 'Sync Module' option or the Plus sign located in the top right corner of the app.

3. Proceed through the setup by following the onscreen instructions.

Once you have done both of these steps, recreate the situation where you got the error prompt. Check if you are still facing the issue.

Factory Reset Blink Cam

If you have executed all suggested troubleshooting methods mentioned above and still have not resolved the issue, try factory resetting the Blink Camera.

Known to be an effective fix for various other Blink issues such as Blink Cam timing out issues on Echo show and Blink Photocapture not working.

Since this error prompt is shown most for the Blink doorbell camera, the steps for the factory reset process will be for the Blink Doorbell camera.

And since the hardware design varies across Blink models, the steps might not be compatible with all Blink devices.

To factory reset your Blink doorbell Camera, follow the steps given below:

• Remove the back panel of the Blink doorbell camera. This compartment is where you install the batteries.
• Once you have removed the back panel, above the battery compartment, you can see a reset button that looks like a lever.
• Hold down this button for approximately 10 seconds or till you see a blinking red light.
• This indicates that the factory reset process is complete and that the device configurations have been reset to factory defaults.
• Now, access the Blink app and remove the doorbell camera from the Blink app.
• To do this, you can select the doorbell camera on the app and tap on delete doorbell.
• To add it back to the Blink app, you can tap on the Plus icon on the home screen and scan the QR code located in the back compartment of the doorbell camera.
• Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup process.

Check if the factory reset has resolved the error.

Final Thoughts

The 'Command failed to complete' error, as mentioned earlier, is most rampant on Blink doorbell cameras. Although, not all users come across these prompts.

However, there are some general practices that might be useful to prevent such occurrences for users with Blink devices.

It is critical that you update both the app and the Blink device to their latest released version for software security and proper functionality.

Also, keep in mind that Blink devices are designed to work on the 2.4 GHz bandwidth.

Additionally, you can contact customer support for further technical assistance. The customer service team should be able to provide detailed troubleshooting tips on how to fix the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a Blink Sync Module?

The Sync Module is a hub for all Blink devices. It can be plugged into an electrical outlet to relay commands and network details to devices in the system it manages. The Sync Module 2 is a more recent hardware upgrade from Blink, capable of handling the activity of up to ten Blink devices.

Does Blink need Wi-Fi?

Blink devices require a non-cellular 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network and a high-speed internet connection that can handle a minimum of 2 Mbps upload speed.

How does Blink USB work?

You can use a USB storage device to locally store motion detection clips. This can be helpful if you have not subscribed to a Blink plan. Using a USB device is really easy. All you need to do is make sure that it is formatted properly and is compatible with the Sync Module.

You May Also Enjoy Reading

• Share Blink Camera Access: How To [2023]
• How to Access Blink Camera From PC: This Method Works [2023]
• Do Blink Cameras Record Without WiFi? Answered
• How to Turn off Blink Camera Without App: Easy Way [2023]
• Blink Camera Recording Too Fast: How To Fix [2023]
• How Do Blink Cameras Work? We Did the Research [2023]