Camera offline — troubleshooting

A Camera offline alert means a camera has stopped checking in with Sentinel OS, so it isn't sending new images. It is the most common alert, and it almost always comes down to power or connectivity. This guide helps you work out which.

First, confirm it's really offline

A camera that captures infrequently can briefly read as offline between check-ins. Before treating it as a fault:

• Open the camera's Diagnostics and check its status and the time of its last check-in.
• Refresh, and give it until after its next scheduled check-in.

If it stays offline past when it should have checked in, work through the checks below.

Check 1 — Power

A flat battery or lost power is the most common cause.

1. In Diagnostics, look at the voltage trend. A falling or very low voltage points to a power problem.
2. On site, check the battery and its power source (mains or solar panel) and any connections.
3. A camera that lost power comes back online once power is restored, and the alert moves to Recovered.

Check 2 — Connectivity

If power looks fine, the camera may have lost its connection.

1. On site, check the camera's signal and antenna.
2. A brief drop often shows first as a Connection problem alert before a full offline.

Check 3 — Storage

Rarely, a camera can stop behaving normally if its storage is full.

1. In Diagnostics, check free space.
2. If storage is full, clear or replace it on site.

Good to know

• Offline alerts usually need a site visit, because power and connectivity are physical. Sentinel OS can tell you a camera is down, but not restore its power.
• The voltage trend in Diagnostics is the single most useful clue, and often warns you before the camera actually goes offline.
• When the camera comes back, the alert moves to Recovered on its own, so you don't need to clear it manually.

Still stuck?

If the camera is powered, connected, and has free space but is still offline, contact PhotoSentinel support at support@photosentinel.com. Have ready:

• The camera or feed name.
• Its last check-in time and the voltage and free-space readings from Diagnostics.
• What you have already checked on site.