Dash Cam Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Guide

While Wi-Fi makes for a reliable connection, there are times when it can cause issues, considering that it’s not a true Wi-Fi connection.

In this article, we will provide you with the possible answers on why you're having Wi-Fi related issues with your dash cam.

With many iPhones there is a wifi-assist feature found in the cellular data section of the iPhone settings, which can potentially cause this.

For Android Users, we’ve seen the setting called “Smart Network Switch” cause this.

While cases may be different, there’s one solution that we usually recommend to solve common Wi-Fi connectivity problems: Airplane mode.

Airplane mode, sometimes called “flight mode”, is a setting on your smartphone that temporarily suspends Wi-Fi and other signals, even as the rest of the device remains fully functional. On some phones, Wi-Fi specifically will need to be turned back, so you can then connect to the camera Wi-Fi.  

This is an excellent way to isolate the issue with your dash cam, and ensure that the issue is not the camera itself. While this solution will work temporarily, it is frequently not ideal as a permanent solution, needing to do it every time you connect. This setting working indicates that there is another setting in your phone that is causing the interference, not the camera.

We’re including this in the list because there are some cases where users can’t connect to the Wi-Fi… because the Wi-Fi networks are turned off. Before anything, make sure that the camera’s Wi-Fi is turned on, sometimes through a WiFi button, and that the Wi-Fi setting of your smartphone is on as well.

Another possibility is the distance between the devices. For most dash cam manufacturers, the range between the dash cam should not be farther than 10 meters for not to have connectivity issues. We recommend starting the connection right besides your camera, to eliminate any possible interference.

When connecting to a Wi-Fi network, a network name and password will be required – which can be misspelled or might include a typo. Do note that the network connection information is case sensitive (uppercase and lowercase characters must be taken into account) and guarantees that the network encryption type is right depending on network security encryption. Different camera brands have different wifi password methods, such as Thinkware with a default password of 123456789, and BlackVue who often has the unqiue password written on the body of the unit.

To resolve this, double-check your dash cam's Wi-Fi settings over your computer to confirm you've entered the correct network name (SSID) and password.

In some cases, your phone will state an error when connecting to the dash cam wifi, stating it is an unrecognized wifi network.

This is because the dash cam Wi-Fi is not a true Wi-Fi network, and some phones will therefore reject the network altogether. Again, you cannot use the Wi-Fi from a dash cam to browse the internet, so it is important to differentiate between the camera’s Wi-Fi, and the type of Wi-Fi you can use to watch youtube with.

Setting your phone to airplane mode will frequently resolve this.

It's vital that your Dash Cam App is given full permissions to various key features of your phone to function properly.

Local Network, Photos, Cellular Data, Location, and Bluetooth specifically are core functions that must be enabled for basic use(depending on your camera model). To resolve this issue, go to your settings and update the permissions granted.

Sometimes, these permissions are asked upon opening the app for the first time, and denying them can lead to issues like this. This is especially applicable to Android models, as many models actually automatically relinquish permissions after a few months of inactivity, depending on the android model.

In extreme situations, uninstalling and re-installing the app will help resolve this, and have the app ask for permissions all over again.