Why Your 2.4 GHz Smart Camera Won’t Connect to a New Wi-Fi Network with the Smart Life App

There are several common reasons why a 2.4 GHz smart camera won’t connect to a new Wi-Fi network, especially when using the Smart Life app. Here’s a breakdown of the most likely causes and fixes you can suggest:

🔹 1. New router combines 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz into one network

• Many newer routers (especially from TELUS, Shaw, Rogers, Bell, etc.) use “smart connect” or band steering, which automatically switches between 2.4 G and 5 G under the same network name.

• Smart devices often can’t handle this and fail to connect.
  ✅ Fix:

• Temporarily disable “Smart Connect” or “Band Steering” in the router settings.

• Or create a separate SSID (network name) just for the 2.4 GHz band.

• Then connect the phone and camera to that 2.4 G network during setup.

🔹 2. Phone is connected to 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz

• During pairing, both the phone and camera must be on the same 2.4 G band.
  ✅ Fix:

• In Wi-Fi settings, manually choose the 2.4 GHz network before starting setup in Smart Life.

• If only one SSID shows, move farther from the router—many phones automatically switch to 2.4 GHz when the 5 GHz signal is weak.

🔹 3. Wi-Fi password issue

• Cameras only support standard WPA/WPA2 passwords (no special characters or extra spaces).
  ✅ Fix:

• Double-check the password and ensure it has no unsupported characters (like “$” or “&”).

🔹 4. Router security or firewall settings

• Some routers block unknown IoT devices.
  ✅ Fix:

• In the router’s admin page, make sure AP Isolation, MAC filtering, or Access Control are disabled.

• Ensure 2.4 GHz mode is enabled (sometimes routers default to 5 GHz-only).

🔹 5. Camera needs reset after Wi-Fi change

• If the customer moved homes or changed routers, the camera must be factory reset before reconnecting.
  ✅ Fix:

• Hold the reset button on the camera for 5–10 seconds until it flashes or announces “reset” or “ready to connect,” then retry setup.

🔹 6. Weak signal or interference

• If the camera is far from the router or near metal objects, microwaves, or thick walls, it can fail to connect.
  ✅ Fix:

• Move the camera closer to the router during setup.

• Once connected, you can move it back to its intended spot.

🔹 7. App permissions or phone settings

• The Smart Life app needs location permission to detect Wi-Fi networks during setup.
  ✅ Fix:

• On the phone, go to Settings → Apps → Smart Life → Permissions → Location → Allow.

• Make sure Bluetooth is also turned on during setup.