How to Configure Spotlight Settings for Your Camera

A spotlight could serve as a deterrence to intruders captured by your camera, and a source of illumination for your camera to generate colored images at night. This article will show you how to configure the camera's spotlight settings.

Applies to: RLC-540A, RLC-840A, RLC-811A, RLC-812A, RLC-823A, RLC-823S1, RLC-823S2, RLC-824A, RLC-830A, RLC-833A, RLC-843A, RLC-1212A, RLC-1224A, RLC-1240A, B800W, B1200, D1200, RLC-81MA, RLC-81PA, RLC-511WA, RLC-523WA, RLC-811WA, RLC-810WA, RLC-823S1W, RLC-840WA, RLC-843WA, Lumus, E1 Outdoor, E1 Outdoor PoE, E1 Outdoor Pro, E1 Outdoor S, Reolink Duo series, Reolink TrackMix series, Argus 3, Argus 3 Pro, Argus 3 Ultra, Argus PT(5MP), Argus PT Ultra, Go PT Ultra, Argus Eco Pro, Argus Eco Ultra, Argus Track, Argus 4.

Note: For the Reolink ColorX series camera like the CX410, CX410W, Reolink Altas PT Ultra, etc. refer to Introduction to the Spotlight of Reolink ColorX Series to set up the spotlight.

This article will be divided into the following two sections:

1. Reolink Spotlight Settings Introduction

2. Reolink Spotlight Settings Step-by-Step Instruction

1. Reolink Spotlight Settings Introduction

The spotlight modes of cameras vary slightly depending on the model and hardware. The table below summarizes the spotlight modes for Reolink PoE & WiFi (plug-in) cameras and Reolink Battery-powered cameras.

Reolink PoE & WiFi (plug-in) Cameras

Camera Model	Spotlight Mode	Trigger Spotlight on Specific Alarms	Spotlight Brightness Adjustment
Reolink Lumus (IPC_325C7)	Off Night Smart Mode	Not supported. Spotlight turns on for any motion.	X Not Supported
E1 Outdoor E1 Outdoor Pro E1 Outdoor S E1 outdoor PoE E1 Outdoor SE PoE Reolink Lumus (IPC_NT1NO24MP) Reolink Lumus Pro Duo 3V PoE	Off Night Smart Mode	Supported. Can be set to trigger based on smart alarm types, such as person/vehicle detection. The specific alarm types supported depend on the camera.	X E1 Outdoor (Hardware Version IPC_523SD8) Not Supported √ Other Cameras Supported
RLC-812A RLC-824A Duo Floodlight WiFi Duo Floodlight PoE	Off Night Smart Mode Always on at Night Timer Mode		Supported
Other Cameras	Off Night Smart Mode Timer Mode		Supported

Here is an introduction to the usage of each spotlight mode, so you can understand how they work and choose the most suitable mode for your use case.

Off: The spotlight is turned off, and it will not turn on under any circumstances (except when manually click on the spotlight icon in the live view screen).
Night Smart Mode: The spotlight automatically turns on when the camera detects an event at night.
Always On at Night: The spotlight automatically turns on when the environment goes into darkness (night) and stays on continuously. It will turn off during the day.
Timer Mode: The spotlight stays on for a set period, regardless of whether it is day or night.

Note: For RLC-823S2 cameras, the Night smart mode lighting logic is slightly different, the spotlight and IR light are on at the same time, and the live view is still in black and white mode.

Reolink Battery-powered Cameras

Camera Model

Spotlight Mode

Trigger Spotlight on Specific Alarms

Spotlight Brightness Adjustment

Auto-on for Live View

All battery-powered cameras with spotlight support

Off

Night Smart Mode

Supported. Can be set to trigger based on smart alarm types, such as person/vehicle detection. The specific alarm types supported depend on the camera.

Supported

Here is an introduction to the usage of each spotlight mode and "auto-on for live view", so you can understand how they work and choose the most suitable mode for your use case.

Off: The spotlight is turned off, and it will not turn on under any circumstances (except when manually click on the spotlight icon in the live view screen).
Night Smart Mode: The spotlight automatically turns on when the camera detects an event at night.
Auto-on for Live View: The spotlight turns on automatically when the camera is in live view. For battery-powered cameras, since battery capacity is limited and constant spotlight usage consumes power quickly, the spotlight automatically turns on during live view to meet preview needs while minimizing power consumption.

2. Reolink Spotlight Settings Step-by-Step Instruction

Below are instructions for configuring the spotlight settings on different software. Depending on the software you are using, click to expand the corresponding section. Each section will cover how to manually turn on the spotlight in the live view, as well as how to configure the spotlight settings.

Via Reolink App

Here is a video for your reference:

1. Manually Turn On/Off the Spotlight on Live View

Launch the Reolink App and log in to your camera. Then enter the live-view page and tap the Flashlight icon to manually turn it on/off.

2. Configure the Spotlight Settings

Step 1. Log into your camera and go to the Camera Settings > Light page.

Step 2. Tap Spotlight/Floodlight. Then tap Modes to set the spotlight mode.
On the same page, you can also adjust spotlight brightness.

Step 3. Select a spotlight mode according to your needs. The supported spotlight modes may vary slightly between different models. Please refer to the "Reolink Spotlight Settings Introduction" section above or the actual setting interface of your camera for accurate information.

Step 4. For cameras with smart detection, in Night Smart Mode, you can select the alarm types you want to trigger the spotlight. For example, if you select "Person" only, the spotlight will turn on at night only when a person is detected, but not for vehicles or pets. And tap Save to save settings.

Step 5. For battery-powered cameras, you can enable Auto On for Live View, which means the spotlights will automatically turn on when viewing the live feed and turn off afterward.
Via Reolink Client

Before setting it up, please download and install the latest Reolink Client on your PC in advance.
Here is a video reference for you:

1. Manually Turn On/Off the Spotlight on Live View

Launch Reolink Client and log in to your camera. On the live view page, click the Flashlight button, and the spotlight will turn on. Then click it again to turn it off.

2. Configure the Spotlight Settings

Step 1. Launch Reolink Client and choose Camera Settings > Light > Spotlight.

Step 2. Adjust the spotlight brightness and click the drop-down arrow in "Modes" to expand the options and select the desired spotlight mode. The supported spotlight modes may vary slightly between different models. Please refer to the "Reolink Spotlight Settings Introduction" section above or the actual setting interface of your camera for accurate information.

Step 3. For cameras with smart detection, in Night Smart Mode, you can select the alarm types you want to trigger the spotlight. For example, if you select "Person" only, the spotlight will turn on at night only when a person is detected, but not for vehicles or animal.

Step 4. For battery-powered cameras, you can enable Auto On for Live View, which means the spotlights will automatically turn on when viewing the live feed and turn off afterward.
Via Reolink Web browser

Applies to: Which Cameras/NVRs/Home Hub Can be Accessed via Web Browsers

1. Manually Turn On/Off the Spotlight on Live View

Step 1. Input the IP Address of your camera on a web browser and log in to your camera.

Step 2. Click on the bulb icon in the top right corner and the spotlight on the camera will be turned on. Click it again to turn it off.

2. Configure the Spotlight Settings

Step 1. Click the Device Settings gear icon in the top right corner.

Step 2. Go to Camera > Light > Spotlight. Now you may configure the spotlight settings, including the spotlight brightness and the mode for the spotlight. The supported spotlight modes may vary slightly between different models. Please refer to the "Reolink Spotlight Settings Introduction" section above or the actual setting interface of your camera for accurate information.

Step 3. For cameras with smart detection, in Night Smart Mode, you can select the alarm types you want to trigger the spotlight. For example, if you select "Person" only, the spotlight will turn on at night only when a person is detected, but not for vehicles or animal.
Via Reolink NVR (new UI)
Applies to: RLN8-410 (hardware version H3MB18/N2MB02/N3MB01/N7MB01), RLN16-410 (hardware version H3MB18/N6MB01), RLN36 and RLN12W.

Before proceeding with the following steps, ensure that a TV/Monitor is connected to the NVR via HDMI/VGA cable.

1. Manually Turn On/Off the Spotlight on Live View

Go to the preview page of your camera on the NVR monitor. Click the Flashlight button to manually turn on the spotlight of the camera. Click it again to turn it off.

2. Configure the Spotlight Settings

Step 1. Right click to pop up the menu bar, click the Settings icon.

Step 2. Go to Camera > Light > Spotlight. The spotlight settings interface may vary slightly between different models, refer to the actual settings interface.
- Brightness: Slide the slider to adjust the brightness of the spotlight.
- Light Mode: Click the drop-down arrow in "Light Mode" to expand the options and select the desired spotlight mode. The supported spotlight modes may vary slightly between different models. Please refer to the "Reolink Spotlight Settings Introduction" section above or the actual setting interface of your camera for accurate information.
Step 3. For cameras with smart detection, in Night Smart Mode, you can choose the alarm types that trigger the spotlight. For example, if you select "Person", "Vehicle", and "Animal", the spotlight will turn on at night when any of these are detected. If only "Person" is selected, the spotlight will turn on only when a person is detected