Lorex cameras don’t work when they are offline, have a dead battery, are not connected properly, are out-of-date, or don’t have enough power. To troubleshoot, reset the camera and make sure all cords are connected properly. If a new camera was recently added to the system, purchase a new PoE.
Security cameras are extremely important nowadays. However, they can malfunction at times. When your Lorex security camera stops working, how do you find and troubleshoot the issue?
Keep reading to learn about why your Lorex camera may not be working and how to troubleshoot common issues.
Why Your Lorex Camera Isn’t Working?
There are many reasons why your Lorex camera might not be working properly. Some of the most common reasons are:
- The camera is offline.
- The camera’s battery is dead.
- The cables connected to the camera are loose.
- The camera isn’t receiving enough power to work properly.
- The port connections aren’t connected properly.
- The cables are damaged.
- The camera is out of range.
- The camera is broken or damaged.
- The camera lens is broken or damaged.
- The internet connection to the camera isn’t strong.
How To Troubleshoot Lorex Camera Issues? 12 Ways To Fix This!
Now that you know about some of the issues that can make your Lorex camera malfunction, let’s talk about the things you can do to troubleshoot the issue.
The Camera’s Battery is Dead
If your Lorex camera’s battery is dead, it can’t record anything, which defeats the purpose of having a security camera. Lorex cameras often run on batteries. These batteries often last for between 3 and 12 months. The more activity the camera detects, the less time the batteries will last.
To fix the issue, simply change the batteries and turn the camera back on. If your Lorex camera still isn’t recording any visuals, the issue is being caused by something else.
You should also go through our post How Long Do Lorex Cameras Last for a complete understanding of the Lorex Camera life.
The Camera is Offline
If your NVR shows a “Camera Offline” error message, check the internal settings and make sure they are all correct. If they are not correct, change them.
If they are correct, make sure all of the cables connected to the camera are connected properly and aren’t damaged.
Loose Cable Connection
If the cables connected to your Lorex camera are loose or aren’t connected properly, your camera won’t work correctly.
Make sure the cables connected to your Lorex camera are connected to the camera and NVR properly.
Restore DVR or NVR to Default Settings
Your Lorex camera may be malfunctioning because the settings on your DVR or NVR aren’t correct.
To fix this issue, you will need to set the DVR or NVR to the default settings. Exactly what you will need to do to set your system back to default settings will vary depending on the type of Lorex camera and system you have.
PoE Connection
If your Lorex camera isn’t connected to the PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch properly, it will go offline. Make sure all of the cables are connected properly and are not damaged.
You may have to reconnect the camera to your system.
Lack of Signal
If your Lorex camera is near brick or metal, it may not be sending a strong signal to the rest of the system. Make sure your Lorex camera can send and receive a proper signal when you install it. Make sure it is also in range of the receiver.
If the camera is in range of the receiver but isn’t sending a strong signal, the transmitter may need to be replaced.
Your Lorex camera also may not be sending a strong signal because the batteries are almost dead or corroded.
Broken Camera
If your Lorex camera isn’t working properly, it might be damaged or broken. If the image is blurry or dark even though the camera is in a well-lit area, the lens might be scratched, chipped, cracked, or otherwise broken. To fix the issue, you will need to replace the lens.
If the video recorded by your Lorex camera is brighter or darker than normal, the LED light inside of the camera might be malfunctioning or broken.
To fix this issue, clean the small foam ring that is around the camera lens. If this doesn’t work, replace the LED light inside of your Lorex camera.
Reset the Camera
Your Lorex may need to be reset. Some Lorex cameras have reset buttons. However, when you reset the camera, it will go back to the default settings.
To reset your Lorex camera, determine whether or not it has a manual reset button. It will be located on the back of the camera. If it does, press and hold the reset button.
While holding the button down, if it is connected to an ethernet cable, disconnect the ethernet cable. Reconnect the ethernet cable after a few seconds.
After reconnecting the ethernet cable, continue holding the reset button down for 15 seconds. The camera should restart at this point.
After the camera is reset, change the settings so they meet your preferences once again.
Lack of Power
Your Lorex camera may not be functioning properly because the PoE switch is overloaded, which means the camera isn’t receiving enough power to function.
If you recently added a Lorex camera to your security system, remove the new camera and see if the issue is resolved. If the issue resolves itself, you will need to purchase a more powerful PoE switch to support the system.
If your home recently lost power, a power surge may have occurred. A power surge can damage a Lorex camera’s circuit board, damaging the camera overall.
To fix the issue, have the camera’s circuit board replaced by a professional or replace the camera entirely. To prevent this from happening, plug the PoE into a surge protector.
If the weather in your area has been stormy recently, your Lorex camera may have been damaged by a strike of lighting. If this happens, the camera will likely need to be replaced.
If your Lorex camera is losing power periodically, the cables connecting it to a power source may be loose or damaged.
Examine the cables connected to your Lorex camera and make sure they are connected properly. You may need to unplug and replug the cables from your Lorex camera.
Damaged Cables
Your Lorex camera may not be functioning properly because the cables are damaged. Over time, cables can become damaged because of pests and weather.
To determine if this is the issue, examine the cables connected to your Lorex camera.
If they look undamaged, they are not the issue. However, if they look damaged or are twisted in strange ways, the cable will need to be replaced.
When replacing a cable for your Lorex camera, make sure you purchase the correct cable. If you purchase the wrong cable, especially if the cable isn’t compatible with your Lorex camera, the camera won’t work properly.
Camera is Outdated
Lorex camera software is constantly being updated and new versions are released regularly. If your Lorex camera is old or the software hasn’t been updated in a while, it may not consistently record visuals.
If you haven’t updated your Lorex camera’s software in a few months, update the software until the most recent upgrade is installed. This will ensure that your camera is compatible with your Lorex system and can function properly.
Slow Internet
If your internet is extremely slow, your Lorex camera won’t function properly. Lorex cameras need to be connected to the internet in order to transmit video recordings to the rest of the security system, which is one of the reasons why some Lorex cameras aren’t wireless.
When Lorex cameras are connected to the PoE by an ethernet cable, their connection to the internet is strong and reliable.
If your Lorex camera is recording spotty videos, check your internet’s bandwidth. Make sure it is high enough to support the internet usage of everyone in your home and the Lorex camera at the same time.
When To Contact Lorex Customer Service?
If you have done all of the troubleshooting you can do and your Lorex camera is up-to-date on software updates, you may need to contact Lorex customer service.
A Lorex customer service representative will be able to help you find the issue that is causing your Lorex camera to malfunction. They will also be able to suggest things you can do to fix the issue on your own.
However, if the issue can’t be determined over the phone or over an online chat, the Lorex customer service representative that you talk to may send a camera repairman to your home.
The repairman will be able to find the issue and fix it, although they may need to come to your home multiple times depending on the severity of the issue. They will also be able to determine whether or not your Lorex camera needs to be replaced.
However, keep in mind that you may need to pay to have a Lorex camera repairman come to your home and fix your security system. You can discuss the costs with the Lorex customer representative that you speak to.
When you speak to a Lorex customer service representative, tell them about the issues your Lorex camera is having and what you have done to resolve or find the cause of the issue.
Tell them about what happened when you did certain things and the settings you have in place on the system.
If they tell you to do certain things, tell them about what happened when you did what they told you to do. Let them know if the issue is resolved.
Signs Your Lorex Camera Needs to Be Replaced
Eventually, all security cameras break or become too worn out to function properly, even Lorex cameras. When this happens, you will need to replace your Lorex camera.
However, it is sometimes difficult to determine if your Lorex camera needs to be replaced. Here are some signs that your Lorex camera needs to be replaced.
- Slow Software Updates: If your Lorex camera takes a long time to update its software, it may be too old to be extremely compatible with the new software. This is a sign that your Lorex camera needs to be replaced. If your Lorex camera takes more than a few hours to update its software, consider replacing it with a newer model.
- Circuit Board Damaged: IF your Lorex camera’s circuit board has been damaged, it may be easier to replace the camera entirely than to replace the circuit board. If your Lorex camera’s circuit board is damaged or malfunctioning, talk to a Lorex representative and determine the best course of action.
- You Have Tried Everything: If you have tried everything you possibly can to fix your Lorex camera, it may need to be replaced. However, before you determine whether or not the camera needs to be replaced, contact a Lorex customer service representative.
- Damage to the Exterior or Interior of the Camera: If the interior or exterior of your Lorex camera is damaged, the entire camera may need to be replaced. If the exterior of the camera is damaged, when it rains or snows, moisture will get into the exterior and damage it. This will cause further damage to the camera.
Overall, there are many things you can do to troubleshoot your Lorex camera. If your Lorex camera isn’t functioning properly, check the cables first. It is very easy for the cables connected to your Lorex camera to become loose or damaged, and this issue can be fixed easily.
If your Lorex camera isn’t recording anything, check the batteries before doing anything else.
Luckily, it is relatively easy to find and troubleshoot the issues your Lorex security camera may be having. Because it is so easy to troubleshoot the issues, you likely won’t have to contact Lorex customer service to solve it.
However, if you do have to contact Lorex customer service to fix your security camera, be as descriptive of the issue as possible. After all, it is extremely hard to fix security camera issues over the internet or over the phone.