How To Setup Geeni Camera: Everything You Need to Know
When you buy a new security camera, you must complete all the setup procedures before using it to ensure you’re making the most of your new device. With Geeni cameras, the setup procedure may not be as easy as you think, but I’m here to help. Without further ado, how do you set up a Geeni camera?
After purchasing a Geeni camera, you’ll need to connect it to your phone to use most of its unique features. Also, you want to insert an SD card into the camera for continuous video recording and install it in an excellent position to ensure it captures what you want.
One paragraph certainly won’t make you an expert in Geeni cameras. Instead, a detailed guide explaining the setup processes of the average Geeni camera in excruciating detail will make you one. Without further ado, here’s how to set up a Geeni camera like a pro but for beginners.
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How Do I Pair My Geeni Camera to My Phone?
After purchasing a Geeni security camera, the first step is connecting it to the appropriate app on your smartphone to take advantage of its numerous features. However, the company doesn’t make that easy, as it includes a boring quick-start guide nobody wants to read.
Here’s how to pair your Geeni camera to your phone in a concise guide you’ll want to read to tackle that problem:
- Install the Geeni app on your smartphone: The first step to pairing your Geeni camera with your smartphone is installing the camera’s control app from the appropriate app store. For Android users, it’s the Google Play Store, while iOS users will have to download the app from the App Store. However, the app has a few system requirements that determine if you can run it on your phone. For Android users, your phone must run on Android 5.0 or higher to use the app. If you can afford a Geeni camera, your Android phone likely runs on something better than Android 5.0. On the other hand, iPhone users need iOS 9.0 or higher to run. If you’re using anything better than an iPhone 4s, you’re likely running something better than iOS 9.0. Once you’ve confirmed that your phone meets the system requirements, you can search for “Geeni” on your respective app stores. The authentic app is from Merkury Innovations and is available for Android smartphones and iPhones.
- Register for a Geeni account within the app: The Geeni app will prompt you to create an account using your phone number or email address when you open it for the first time. It will allow you access to the app, where you can use most of the syncing functions of your Wi-Fi camera. After registering and confirming your account, enter your phone number or email and the correct password to sign in for the first time.
- Connect the Geeni camera to your Wi-Fi network: After setting up the Geeni app, you’ll need to connect your new camera to your home’s Wi-Fi network to continue setup. Before starting, it’s crucial to note that Geeni cameras can only connect to 2.4GHz networks; you may have to find a workaround if you use a next-gen 5GHz router. Once you confirm your router is 2.4GHz, open the app and select the “Wi-Fi Camera” option to add a new security camera to your Geeni account. Then, plug the camera into a power source and confirm the indicator is blinking red. Select “Next Step” if everything works as expected. On the next page, the app will prompt you for a password; enter the password for your home’s Wi-Fi in that field. The app will attempt to connect the camera and your router to add the device to your account. The connection should be flawless if your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the camera.
- Try the QR code connection method: The QR code connection method is a manual alternative to the automatic connection from earlier. Instead of the app searching for your camera and initiating the connection automatically, you’ll need to scan a QR code, which is an extra step. To use this method, select “QR Code” instead of “Add a Device” from the app’s main interface. The app will require you to enter your router’s login info. Then, it will load up a camera interface you can use to scan a QR code. Scan the code on your camera, and you’ll hear a beep from the device when it recognizes it. Tap on the “I heard the beep button,” and you’ll see the indicator light change from a flashing red to a solid blue, indicating that the connection is successful. If you still can’t connect the camera, you should confirm your home’s network is 2.4GHz and not 5GHz before trying again.
How Do I Put My Geeni in Pairing Mode?
Your Geeni camera must be in pairing to connect to your account and home network. When the camera’s indicator light blinks red continuously, it’s in pairing mode, ready to connect to your Wi-Fi. With that said, how do you put a Geeni camera in pairing mode?
The answer is straightforward: Geeni cameras boot to pairing mode when they don’t have an active connection to a Wi-Fi network. To put your Geeni in pairing mode, you need to turn on the camera and plug it into a power source using a USB cable until you see a red blinking light.
After completing the setup, the camera’s blinking red light will become a solid blue light to notify you of the progress. However, it’s imperative to meet the remaining requirements for a flawless setup procedure, some of which include an Android or iOS smartphone running Android 5 or iOS 9 and a 2.4GHz home Wi-Fi connection.
Why Won’t My Geeni Camera Connect?
With what you’ve read, you should already know that Geeni cameras often encounter connection issues during setup. While that’s normal with every appliance, the frustrating part is that you don’t get a proper error message; in most cases, the camera leaves you wondering what went wrong.
Unlike your Geeni camera, we won’t leave you stranded. Here are some reasons why your Geeni camera isn’t connecting to your home Wi-Fi and, by extension, your phone:
- A high-frequency router: If you’re not tech-savvy, you should probably seek help from others to confirm your router is running at 2.4GHz. Anything higher will cause connection issues, as the camera’s modem cannot connect to the superior 5GHz technology. If you purchased a new router within the last two years, you’re likely running on a 5GHz network.
- An incorrect password: One of the setup procedures for Geeni security cameras is entering your Wi-Fi password into the app. You should confirm you entered the correct password during this step, as anything contrary will cause the connection to fail. The annoying part is that you never get an “incorrect password” warning. The app simply doesn’t complete the setup, as it throws a random error message, leaving you trying to figure out what went wrong. If it looks like you did everything right, reenter your password.
- A weak Wi-Fi connection: Before connecting your Geeni camera to your home’s Wi-Fi, you should move the camera and phone close to the router. You should also disconnect every other device from your Wi-Fi to prevent interference and ensure the setup is as smooth as possible.
- Unready device: The guide from earlier listed a couple of requirements for using the Geeni app on your smartphone; if your device doesn’t meet all of them, you should expect the connection to fail. Also, your Geeni camera must be ready to pair for a successful setup. To make your camera ready to pair, plug it into a power source and wait for the indicator to start blinking red light. If it doesn’t, you may have to hold down the reset button until it starts to do so. Either way, get the red light to blink on the indicator, or your new security camera won’t connect to your home Wi-Fi.
Do You Need Wi-Fi for Geeni Camera?
An essential setup procedure for a Geeni camera is connecting it to a Wi-Fi network; the device won’t work otherwise. In many documents, the company refers to it as a “Wi-Fi camera,” summing up how essential Wi-Fi is to the device.
To answer the question, yes, you need Wi-Fi for a Geeni camera while setting it up and for it to perform most of its tasks. The camera lacks a SIM card slot for LTE connectivity, but it will run fine on your home network. If you’re after a security camera that doesn’t expressly require Wi-Fi, you should consider an alternative from Reolink or Rockspace.
Conclusion
Geeni makes excellent security cameras, but they can be painful to set up. You must figure out how to put it in pairing mode, register for an account, and connect the device to your home Wi-Fi. To make the uphill task bearable, here’s a guide that walks you through every step like a pro.