There are many reasons why Eufy camera night vision may not work properly, but the most common reason is that the night vision is not turned on. Other reasons include improper installation, improper angling of the camera, or sensitivity-related issues that can be adjusted in the settings.
If you have a Eufy camera that is not working on night vision, or the nighttime image is pitch black or very dark that the footage is useless, then you can take a look at this guide to find out why the camera doesn’t work and how you can get it fixed quickly.
All security cameras use infrared lights to see at night. Without these lights, the picture will be pitch black or extremely dark and the recordings will be unusable.
The infrared lights (which can’t be seen by the naked eye), illuminate the surroundings and the camera’s sensor will be able to record the video in black and white (with high contrast and good details).
The infrared lights are emitted from the built-in LED lights on the camera and then the sensors detect the wavelength and enable the camera to record the footage. On the Eufy camera, these LED lights are located around the camera sensor
All security cameras are equipped with an IR cut-off filter to block these lights during the day since they can affect the daytime image. So, the IR Lights are automatically switched on only when it gets dark, during the day they are disabled by the software.
How to fix the Eufy Night Vision issue?
As we said, there are multiple reasons why a Eufy camera’s night vision may not work. Some people actually forget to turn it on.
You can turn your Eufy Cam Night vision by doing the following steps:
- Open your EufySecurity app on the phone and select the camera.
- In the Camera Settings, you should see the “Auto Night Vision” option. Toggle to enable it.
- Normally the nighttime image will be black and white. If there’s an external light on the area under surveillance (such as spotlights, floodlights, illuminators), then the night image may be in color.
Other reasons why Eufy camera night vision is not working
If the night vision is enabled, but still the night vision image quality is lacking, then you may check the following suggestions:
The surrounding lighting in the area under surveillance is way too much for the camera to turn on the IR lights. There’s a threshold when the camera goes on night mode, if this threshold is not passed then the camera will record just using the ambient light.
You may lower this sensitivity threshold on the camera’s settings. Or force the camera to use the IR lights on certain time frames.
The camera may be directly pointed at a reflective surface such as a solid fence, wall, etc, which causes the IR lights to bounce back and hit the image sensor, hence whitewashing the nighttime picture.
Sometimes the dust, water, dirt, or dead insects may cause the IR sensor not to function properly. This is a sensor that is light sensitive and switches the IR lights on when it gets dark. Inspect and ensure it’s clean and undamaged.
Power cycle the camera or restart it through the app. Ensure the camera is up to date.
Check the power adapter and make sure the camera is powering up properly. When the IR lights turn on, they draw more power (and it’s not enough) they will fail to turn on.
In some cases, the camera is defective and you need to send it back to the seller.
Things to do for Eufy camera’s maintenance
- Inspect the lighting conditions in the installation spot. If you want a color image, you can install additional external lights.
- Avoid pointing the camera toward reflective surfaces (walls, fences). Aim the camera a bit toward the ground.
- Reset the camera or power cycle it if the night vision doesn’t work.
- Clean any dust, water droplets, or dirt found on your camera.
- Check the power adapter and test your cables.
If you think the IR cut filter is bad, you can’t fix it by yourself but you need to call the Eufy support team and ask them to send a replacement camera. The IR cut filter is mechanical and it’s defective, you can’t really fix it.
Final word
Generally speaking, Eufy cameras work fine and have an acceptable nighttime image. However, as with any other electronic device, the camera’s night vision may experience problems.
You need to make sure the night vision is enabled on the settings and then inspect the installation spot to see if the camera is angled wrong or if the sensor is dirty. Lastly, you may contact the Eufy support team for further assistance.
