Experiencing delays or issues with your camera preview can be frustrating, especially when quick response times are crucial. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve “why does my camera keep freezing” problems.

Symptoms for Reolink Camera Freezing

1. The on-screen display (OSD) on the camera preview page is slightly delayed compared to real-time.

2. The live-stream video experiences a delay and stuttering in motion.

3. The camera response is delayed when using the PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) controls.

Troubleshooting Steps for Reolink Camera Keeps Freezing

1. Adjust camera settings and examine the end device.

  • Switch to Fluent stream mode to see if the camera freezing improves.
  • Connect your phone or PC to an alternate network for a try.
  • Change to use another phone App or PC Client and see if the same camera freezing issue exists.
  • Turn on/off the hardware decoding for a try. (Not applicable for iOS devices) 

Note: if the freezing camera issue only exists on a specific end device, you may refer to the below instruction to troubleshoot further. What to Do When Having Issues with Accessing Reolink Devices on a Specific Phone/PC

2. Update firmware and software.

Ensure that both your Reolink camera firmware and the Reolink App/Reolink Client are up-to-date.

  • Camera Firmware: Updating the firmware of your Reolink camera is crucial to ensure optimal performance. This step is essential and can also help fix the camera freezing issue. Reolink Firmware Update Guide
  • Reolink App/Client: Update the App from your phone's App Store, or download the latest version of the Reolink Client from the Reolink website. How to Upgrade My Reolink Client and Reolink App

3. Inspect the camera itself.

4. Check network connection.

  • Please disconnect the network from other devices and only connect your camera to see if it can make any difference.
  • For Wi-Fi cameras with an Ethernet port, consider switching to a wired connection to see if this resolves the freezing camera issue.
    For Wi-Fi cameras that do not have an Ethernet port, you may connect to a phone's hotspot or try to connect to another router for a test. How to Connect Reolink Cameras to Phone's Hotspot
  • For 4G cameras, switch to other recommended SIM card carriers for a test.
    You can visit the website, find the “Recommended Carriers in Available Countries and Regions” section, and input the country or region where you installed the camera.
    Applicable for TrackMix Wired LTE only: If the camera uses a SIM card for connectivity, try connecting it via a network cable for testing.

If the above suggestions don't work, please contact Support Team and provide the details of the troubleshooting steps you've already taken and the results for further guidance.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve “why does my camera keep freezing” issues. If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to contact Support for personalized guidance.