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:
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 “Account” and Then “Shared Access”
In the Camera Settings menu, select “Account” and then “Shared Access.” This will take you to a screen where you can manage shared access to your camera.
Step 5: Add a New User
To add a new user, tap on the “Add New User” button. You’ll be prompted to enter the user’s email address and choose their level of access. You can choose from two levels of access:
- Viewer: This level of access allows the user 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 allows the user to view live footage, recorded clips, and make changes to the camera settings.
Step 6: Send the Invitation
Once you’ve added the new user and chosen their level of access, tap on the “Send Invitation” button. The user will receive an email with instructions on how to access the camera.
Managing Shared Access
Once you’ve shared your Blink camera with someone, you can manage their access at any time. Here’s how:
Viewing Shared Users
To view a list of shared users, go to the Camera Settings menu and select “Account” and then “Shared Access.” You’ll see a list of all users who have access to your camera.
Editing User Permissions
To edit a user’s permissions, tap on their name or email address in the Shared Access list. You can then choose to change their level of access or remove them from the list altogether.
Removing Shared Users
To remove a shared user, tap on their name or email address in the Shared Access list and then select “Remove User.” This will revoke their access to the camera.
Tips and Tricks for Sharing Your Blink Camera
Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when sharing your Blink camera:
- Use strong passwords: Make sure the user you’re sharing the camera with has a strong password to prevent unauthorized access.
- Limit access: Only share the camera with people who need to access it, and limit their level of access to what’s necessary.
- Use two-factor authentication: Enable two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to the camera.
- Monitor activity: Keep an eye on the camera’s activity log to ensure that only authorized users are accessing the camera.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues while sharing your Blink camera, here are a few common problems and solutions:
- User not receiving invitation email: Check that the user’s email address is correct and that they’re checking the correct email account.
- User unable to access camera: Check that the user has the correct level of access and that they’re using the correct password.
- Camera not syncing: Check that the camera is connected to the internet and that the Blink app is up to date.
Conclusion
Sharing your Blink camera is a convenient way to give others access to your home security footage. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily share your camera with family members, friends, or neighbors. Remember to use strong passwords, limit access, and monitor activity to ensure that your camera remains secure. With these tips and tricks, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your property is being monitored, even when you’re not there.
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 everyone who needs to access the camera’s feed can do so, without having to share your login credentials.
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, just like the primary account holder. However, they will not be able to make any changes to the camera’s settings or delete any recorded footage. This ensures that the primary account holder remains in control of the camera’s configuration and data.
How do I share my Blink camera with someone else?
To share your Blink camera, you will need to access the Blink app on your smartphone or tablet. From the app’s home screen, tap on the camera you want to share, and then tap on the “Settings” icon (represented by three horizontal lines). Scroll down to the “Account” section and tap on “Shared Access.” From here, you can enter the email address of the person you want to share the camera with, and choose their level of access.
Once you have entered the recipient’s email address and chosen their level of access, tap on the “Share” button to send the invitation. The recipient will receive an email with a link to access the camera’s feed. They will need to click on the link and follow the prompts to accept the invitation and access the camera’s feed. Note that the recipient will need to have a Blink account to access the camera’s feed.
What are the different levels of access I can grant to someone I share my Blink camera with?
When sharing your Blink camera, you can choose from two levels of access: “Viewer” and “Admin.” A Viewer can view live footage, watch recorded clips, and receive motion alerts, but they cannot make any changes to the camera’s settings or delete any recorded footage. An Admin, on the other hand, has full control over the camera’s settings and can make changes to the camera’s configuration, delete recorded footage, and manage shared access.
It’s worth noting that you should only grant Admin access to someone you trust, as they will have full control over the camera’s settings and data. Viewer access is a safer option if you only want to grant someone access to the camera’s feed, without giving them the ability to make any changes.
Can I share my Blink camera with multiple people?
Yes, you can share your Blink camera with multiple people. To do this, simply follow the same steps as sharing the camera with a single person, but enter the email addresses of all the people you want to share the camera with. You can choose a different level of access for each person, depending on their needs and your preferences.
When sharing the camera with multiple people, keep in mind that each person will receive a separate invitation, and they will need to accept the invitation to access the camera’s feed. You can manage shared access for each person separately, and revoke access at any time if needed.
How do I revoke access to my Blink camera?
To revoke access to your Blink camera, you will need to access the Blink app on your smartphone or tablet. From the app’s home screen, tap on the camera you want to revoke access to, and then tap on the “Settings” icon (represented by three horizontal lines). Scroll down to the “Account” section and tap on “Shared Access.” From here, you can see a list of all the people who have access to the camera.
To revoke access, simply tap on the person’s name, and then tap on the “Revoke Access” button. This will immediately revoke their access to the camera’s feed, and they will no longer be able to view live footage or watch recorded clips. Note that revoking access will not delete any recorded footage, but it will prevent the person from accessing the camera’s feed.
Is sharing my Blink camera secure?
Yes, sharing your Blink camera is secure. Blink uses end-to-end encryption to protect your camera’s feed and recorded footage, ensuring that only authorized users can access the data. When you share your camera, the recipient will receive a secure invitation that requires them to log in to their Blink account to access the camera’s feed.
Blink also uses two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to the sharing process. This means that even if someone gains access to the recipient’s email account, they will not be able to access the camera’s feed without the recipient’s login credentials.
Can I share my Blink camera with someone who doesn’t have a Blink account?
No, you cannot share your Blink camera with someone who doesn’t have a Blink account. The recipient will need to create a Blink account to access the camera’s feed. This is a security measure to ensure that only authorized users can access the camera’s feed and recorded footage.
If the recipient doesn’t have a Blink account, they will need to create one before they can access the camera’s feed. They can do this by downloading the Blink app and following the prompts to create an account. Once they have created an account, you can share the camera with them, and they will be able to access the camera’s feed.