Can You Talk Through Blink Camera? Here is How!

Blink Cams are exceptional Smart home monitoring devices, no doubt about that! But can you talk to people through a Blink Cam? Let's find out!

I have had several Blink monitoring cams over the years, and with each successive generation, I eagerly awaited the arrival of one of the most interesting features of modern smart monitoring devices - two-way audio!

Fortunately for us enthusiasts, Blink did come out with this feature eventually.

You can talk through select Blink cameras, such as the Blink Video Doorbell, Outdoor, XT2, and a few others. These feature two-way audio that allows users to talk to people through the camera. You can access this feature from the live-view tab of the Cam on the Blink app by pressing the hold-to-talk button.

Do Blink Cameras have Two-Way Audio?

Yes, newer generations of Blink cameras support the two-way audio feature. The inbuilt microphone and speaker let you talk to and hear from the person on the other side of the camera. 

Two-way audio is the feature that enables users to speak and communicate with people in front of the Cam much like an intercom system.

Although, you'll have to use the Blink app on a supported platform like Android or iOS to make use of this feature. Talk-back won't be available on Blink Cams accessed through PC.

If you are purchasing the Blink camera for the two-way audio feature, make sure you choose the right model. Older versions of the camera don’t support the feature.

Refer to the table below to see the Blink cameras that support two-way audio.

Blink Cameras that support Two Way Audio

CAMERA MODEL	TWO-WAY AUDIO FEATURE
BLINK MINI	✅
BLINK VIDEO DOORBELL	✅
BLINK XT2	✅
BLINK OUTDOOR	✅
BLINK INDOOR (GEN 2)	✅
BLINK XT	❌
BLINK INDOOR	❌

How does Two Way Audio Work?

Blink cameras house a microphone that captures audio. They also house a speaker on their shell. 

Once something or someone triggers the motion sensors of the camera, the camera starts recording and the camera sends you a notification as well. 

You can talk to the person on the other side of the camera by accessing the live view of the camera in the Blink app.

The other person will be able to hear from you via the speaker on the camera and you can hear from them via the microphone on the same. 

You can also record the conversation hence initiated through the live-view tab. And yes, Blink Cam does record audio as well as video simultaneously.

How to Use Two-Way Audio on Blink Camera?

First, you will have to ensure that you have installed the Blink app and set up the camera in the app. 

Ensure microphone access has been granted. (Keep reading to see instructions on how to check if microphone access has been enabled)

Failing to enable the required permission can lead to audio problems like the Blink Cam speaker not working issue.

To use the Two-way audio feature, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Blink app

2. On an eligible camera, click on the live view icon on the bottom left of the camera window

3. Here you will see a microphone icon with the label - “Hold to talk”

4. Press and hold the button and start speaking after 2 seconds.

5. Once you are done speaking, release the button.

You will only be able to use the two-way audio feature as long as you are in live-view mode.

A live view session is restricted to 5 minutes. Once the session ends, you will have to restart the live view to use two-way audio again.

The extended live view feature is available with the Blink subscription plan (Blink Basic and Blink Plus) with which you can live stream from your camera for up to 90 minutes in a session.

Two-Way Audio Not Working on the Blink Camera? How to Fix

If you happen to encounter issues with two-way audio on your Blink Cam, here are a few troubleshooting steps that may come in handy:

Check Microphone Permissions

The Blink app requires permission to access the microphone on your device. It is essential so that the person on the other end of the camera can hear you talk. 

To turn on microphone access for

Android Devices:

1. Go to Settings 
2. Click on Apps
3. Select the Blink app from the list 
4. Click on the microphone option if it is under the Denied list 
5. Enable microphone access by turning it on 

iOS Devices:

1. Go to settings 
2. Scroll down and select the Blink app
3. Enable the microphone if it is in the off state

Power Cycle the Blink Camera

Power cycle in simple terms means turning your device off and back on again, a sort of system refresh.

Power cycling your Blink camera will help it reload its firmware, refresh its connection and help it get rid of any bugs or glitches.

Power cycling your Blink camera or the sync module is an easy way through which you can get rid of most of your issues, including the Blink Clip Backup fails issue.

For power cycling, your Blink camera, remove the batteries if any, and then wait for 10 seconds. (Removing the batteries also happens to be an alternative way to disable Blink Cams without the app)

Now put the batteries back in. if your Blink camera is connected to a socket, try disconnecting it for 10 seconds and plug it back in. 

To remove the battery cover:

1. Blink video doorbell: You will need to release the catch to access the batteries. For this insert the opening key into the rear cover slot
2. Outdoor and Indoor (Gen 2): Remove the rear cover using a coin or an opening tool
3. Blink XT and XT2: Find the greyṣṣ switch on the device and slide it in the direction of the marked arrow
4. Indoor (Gen 1): Release the latch on the back of the camera

You could also try power cycling your sync module. 

Here's how to do so:

1. Unplug the Sync Module from the power 
2. Wait for 15 seconds
3. Now plug the sync module back in. The indicator light will turn blue and then turn green. Your module is now ready to be set up again. 

Alternatively, if the Sync Module is flashing a green LED, it means that the device is encountering issues with the network. Power cycle the router to fix issues with the network.

Factory Reset the Blink Camera

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

But most Blink Cams do not come with a Reset button. Instead, you should reset the Sync Module.

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.

Doing so could also fix recording issues such as Blink Cam not recording at night.

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

The Blink mini does not need a sync module to connect to the internet. And it comes with a Reset button so that you can directly reset the Cam.

Follow these steps to do so:

1. Press and hold the reset button on the bottom side of the camera
2. Release the button when the indicator light flashes red and blue rapidly 
3. The indicator light will then blink a blue light slowly and your camera is ready to be set up again

NOTE: Performing a factory reset on the Blink mini will not reset the camera settings to default. It won't remove the thumbnail image or remove it from a system or a device.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, an informative guide on everything two-way audio on Blink Cams.

Provided, too, is a brief troubleshooting guide to fix issues with two-way audio on Blink Cams.

Most of the fixes are applicable for most other Blink issues as well such as Blink Photo capture not working.

You could also try contacting Blink customer care and they will be able to help resolve any issue you face with the Blink camera.

Have a great day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does Blink Two Way audio work with Alexa?

Yes, two-way audio does work with Alexa. You will need to set up the Blink Smart Home skill in the Alexa app to use the feature with Alexa. 

Does Blink Two Way audio require Blink Basic plan?

No, you do not require a Blink Basic plan to use two-way audio on eligible models. You can however extend the live-view session, through which you use two-way audio, with a Blink subscription.

Is Blink a sub-brand under Amazon?

Yes, Blink is owned by Amazon.

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