In today’s world of smart home security, Blink cameras have become a popular choice for many homeowners. These wireless, battery-powered cameras offer a convenient and affordable way to keep an eye on your property, whether you’re at home or away. But what if you want to share access to your Blink camera with a family member, friend, or neighbor? Fortunately, Blink makes it easy to share your camera with others, and in this article, we’ll walk you through the process step by step.
Why Share Your Blink Camera?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of sharing your Blink camera, let’s explore some reasons why you might want to do so. Here are a few scenarios:
- You have a family member who wants to keep an eye on the house while you’re away.
- You have a friend who’s house-sitting for you and needs to monitor the property.
- You have a neighbor who’s keeping an eye on your house while you’re on vacation.
- You have a property manager who needs to access the camera to monitor a rental property.
In each of these cases, sharing your Blink camera can provide peace of mind and ensure that your property is being monitored, even when you’re not there.
How to Share Your Blink Camera
Sharing your Blink camera is a relatively straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open the Blink App
To share your Blink camera, you’ll need to open the Blink app on your smartphone or tablet. If you haven’t already, download and install the Blink app from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices).
Step 2: Select the Camera You Want to Share
Once you’ve opened the Blink app, select the camera you want to share. You can do this by tapping on the camera’s name or icon in the app’s home screen.
Step 3: Go to the Camera Settings
To access the camera settings, tap on the three horizontal lines (also known as a hamburger menu) in the top left corner of the screen. This will open a menu with several options, including “Camera Settings.” Tap on “Camera Settings” to proceed.
Step 4: Select “Grant Access”
In the camera settings menu, scroll down to the “Grant Access” section. This is where you’ll be able to share your camera with others. Tap on “Grant Access” to proceed.
Step 5: Enter the Recipient’s Email Address
To share your camera, you’ll need to enter the recipient’s email address. This can be a family member, friend, or anyone else you want to grant access to. Enter the email address in the “Email” field and tap “Next.”
Step 6: Choose the Level of Access
When sharing your camera, you can choose the level of access you want to grant the recipient. There are two options:
- Viewer: This level of access allows the recipient to view live footage and recorded clips, but they won’t be able to make any changes to the camera settings.
- Admin: This level of access grants the recipient full control over the camera, including the ability to view live footage, recorded clips, and make changes to the camera settings.
Choose the level of access you want to grant the recipient and tap “Next.”
Step 7: Confirm the Sharing Request
Once you’ve entered the recipient’s email address and chosen the level of access, you’ll need to confirm the sharing request. Tap “Share” to send the request to the recipient.
Receiving a Sharing Request
If someone has shared a Blink camera with you, you’ll receive an email notification with instructions on how to access the camera. Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Open the Email Notification
Open the email notification you received from the person who shared the camera with you.
Step 2: Tap on the “Accept” Button
In the email notification, tap on the “Accept” button to accept the sharing request.
Step 3: Download and Install the Blink App
If you haven’t already, download and install the Blink app from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices).
Step 4: Log In to the Blink App
Once you’ve installed the Blink app, log in to the app using your email address and password.
Step 5: Access the Shared Camera
Once you’ve logged in to the Blink app, you’ll be able to access the shared camera. You can do this by tapping on the camera’s name or icon in the app’s home screen.
Tips and Tricks for Sharing Your Blink Camera
Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when sharing your Blink camera:
- Be cautious when sharing your camera. Make sure you trust the person you’re sharing with, as they’ll have access to your camera’s live footage and recorded clips.
- Choose the right level of access. If you only want to grant the recipient viewing access, choose the “Viewer” level of access. If you want to grant them full control over the camera, choose the “Admin” level of access.
- Use a strong password. Make sure the recipient uses a strong password to log in to the Blink app, as this will help keep your camera’s footage secure.
- Monitor your camera’s activity. Keep an eye on your camera’s activity log to ensure that the recipient is only accessing the camera when necessary.
Conclusion
Sharing your Blink camera is a convenient way to grant access to others, whether it’s a family member, friend, or property manager. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily share your camera and ensure that your property is being monitored, even when you’re not there. Remember to be cautious when sharing your camera, choose the right level of access, and use a strong password to keep your camera’s footage secure.
What is the purpose of sharing a Blink camera?
Sharing a Blink camera allows you to grant access to your camera’s live feed and recorded footage to other users. This feature is particularly useful for households with multiple residents, or for property owners who want to monitor their premises remotely. By sharing your Blink camera, you can ensure that others can keep an eye on your home or business, even when you’re not physically present.
When you share a Blink camera, the recipient will receive an invitation to access the camera’s feed. They will be able to view live footage, watch recorded clips, and receive motion alerts. However, they will not be able to make any changes to the camera’s settings or delete any footage. This ensures that you remain in control of your camera’s configuration and data.
How do I share my Blink camera with others?
To share your Blink camera, you’ll need to access the Blink app on your mobile device. From there, navigate to the camera you want to share and tap on the “Share” icon. You’ll be prompted to enter the recipient’s email address or phone number. You can also choose to share the camera with an existing Blink account or create a new one for the recipient.
Once you’ve entered the recipient’s contact information, you’ll need to specify the level of access you want to grant them. You can choose to share the camera’s live feed, recorded footage, or both. You’ll also need to set a duration for the shared access, which can range from a few hours to several days. After you’ve configured the sharing settings, tap “Share” to send the invitation to the recipient.
Can I share my Blink camera with multiple users?
Yes, you can share your Blink camera with multiple users. To do this, you’ll need to repeat the sharing process for each recipient. Simply navigate to the camera you want to share, tap on the “Share” icon, and enter the recipient’s contact information. You can share the camera with as many users as you like, and each recipient will receive their own unique invitation.
When sharing with multiple users, keep in mind that each recipient will have their own level of access and duration. You can customize the sharing settings for each recipient, so you can grant different levels of access to different users. For example, you might grant full access to a family member, but only limited access to a guest.
How do I revoke access to a shared Blink camera?
To revoke access to a shared Blink camera, you’ll need to access the Blink app on your mobile device. From there, navigate to the camera you want to unshare and tap on the “Shared” icon. You’ll see a list of all the users who currently have access to the camera. Tap on the user you want to revoke access from, and then tap “Remove Access”.
When you revoke access, the recipient will no longer be able to view the camera’s live feed or recorded footage. They will also stop receiving motion alerts. If you want to re-share the camera with the same user in the future, you’ll need to go through the sharing process again.
Can I share my Blink camera with users who don’t have a Blink account?
Yes, you can share your Blink camera with users who don’t have a Blink account. When you share the camera, you’ll be prompted to enter the recipient’s email address or phone number. If the recipient doesn’t have a Blink account, they’ll receive an invitation to create one. They can then use their new account to access the shared camera.
Keep in mind that users without a Blink account will need to create one to access the shared camera. This ensures that they can securely view the camera’s live feed and recorded footage. If you’re sharing with a user who doesn’t have a Blink account, make sure they’re aware that they’ll need to create one to access the camera.
Is sharing a Blink camera secure?
Yes, sharing a Blink camera is secure. When you share a camera, the recipient will receive an encrypted invitation that can only be accessed with their Blink account credentials. The camera’s live feed and recorded footage are also encrypted, so only authorized users can view them.
Blink uses end-to-end encryption to protect your camera’s data, which means that only you and the recipient can access the footage. Blink’s servers are also secure, and the company follows industry-standard security protocols to protect your data. When sharing a Blink camera, you can be confident that your data is secure and protected.