You switch internet providers, the tech swaps the router, and suddenly every camera, doorbell and smart device in the house says offline. Nothing is broken. Each device remembers the old network name and password and has no way to find the new one on its own.
Easiest fix: reuse the old network name and password
If you know your old Wi-Fi name and password, set the new router to use the exact same ones, including capital letters. Many devices will reconnect by themselves within a few minutes. This is the fastest way to bring a whole house back online.
If you need to reconnect each device
Every brand is a little different, but the steps are usually:
- Open the camera or doorbell app and find the device.
- Look for a Wi-Fi or network setting, sometimes called “change Wi-Fi” or “reconnect”.
- Put the device in setup mode. This often means pressing a small button on the device until a light blinks.
- Pick your new network and enter the new password.
- Make sure your phone is on the 2.4 GHz network during setup if the app asks. Many cameras only connect on 2.4 GHz.
If a device will not show up, removing it from the app and adding it again as new often works.
Brand by brand
- Ring: in the Ring app, open the device, then Device Health, then the option to change or reconnect Wi-Fi.
- Blink: reconnect the Sync Module to the new network first, then check each camera.
- Arlo: if your cameras connect through an Arlo base station or SmartHub, reconnecting that hub is often enough.
- Wyze: most Wyze cameras need the setup steps run again on the new network.
- Nest: some Nest cameras and doorbells have to be removed and set up again in the app after a network change.
- SimpliSafe and Ring Alarm: the base station has its own Wi-Fi setting in the app. Reconnect it so alerts and app control keep working.
Things that trip people up
- Combined 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. Some new routers use one name for both bands, and some cameras cannot handle it. Turn on the router’s compatibility or “IoT” mode, or temporarily split the bands.
- Password typos. A single wrong character means it will never connect.
- Router placement. The new router may be somewhere different, and devices at the far end of the house may now be out of range.
- Alarm systems. If your alarm reports over the internet, it needs to be reconnected too. That includes SimpliSafe and Ring Alarm base stations. For a monitored system, check with your alarm company.
Want it done in one visit?
Reconnecting a whole house of cameras, doorbells and smart devices is exactly what our Wi-Fi and network help is for.
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General information only, not legal or professional advice. Rules, fees and products change, so check with your city or the manufacturer. See our terms.