Lorex Camera Has Power But No Picture? (Solve It Now!)

When your Lorex camera has power but no picture, it can be quite endangering for your monitoring system, although the camera might seem operational. 

Potential issues like faulty connections or insufficient voltage can still cause a blank display despite the appearance of an active power supply.

Keep reading to explore the causes and solutions behind this Lorex surveillance problem!

Lorex Camera Has Power But No Picture – 8 Easy Solutions

Note: You can check if the camera receives power by accessing the “Port” or “Switch” tab on your system.

The page contains information about each port on the NVR/DVR, the connected device, and the power supply reaching that particular port. 

1. Inspect the Lorex A/C Power Supply (Wired & Wireless)

Even if the camera exhibits signs of an active power supply, such as illuminated LEDs, it might still be experiencing a failure due to underlying electrical issues. 

Hence, inspecting the power supply differs depending on whether you use a wired or a wireless Lorex camera, so proceed with the corresponding instructions.

1.1 Inspect Wired Lorex Camera Power Supply:

Wired Lorex cameras rely on PoE through an NVR/DVR, so the power supply issue might stem from the NVR/DVR setup.

Ensure the NVR/DVR is plugged into a working outlet, check the PoE ports for loose connections, and use a multimeter to confirm the NVR/DVR outputs 48V for PoE. 

Note: We recommend disconnecting the AC cable from the back of the recorder for 30 seconds.

1.2 Inspect Wireless Lorex Camera Power Supply:

Almost all of the Wireless Lorex camera models connect directly with an electrical outlet over a 24V power adapter.

This means that a problem with the power supply can be either with the outlet or the power adapter of the camera.

Thus, we recommend plugging the cam elsewhere. 

Tip: You can also use a multimeter to ensure the adapter outputs the correct voltage (typically 12V), then restart the camera and check the feed in the Lorex app.

2. Check for Any Physical Obstructions (Wired & Wireless)

Physical obstructions can block the lens and prevent the camera from capturing a clear video feed, impacting both wired and wireless models.

Inspecting your camera view can help identify and remove obstacles, ensuring an unobstructed feed in the Lorex application or the recorder.

Here’s what could potentially block the Lorex camera POV:

• Inspect the Lorex unit camera lens for dust accumulation, smudges, or debris. 
• Verify that nearby glass or mirrors are not reflecting light into the camera lens.
• Check for snow or ice buildup on the Lorex camera lens during cold weather.
• Ensure no stickers, tape, or coverings are accidentally covering the unit lens.

Note: Regularly inspect the camera’s surroundings and adjust its position whenever needed!

3. Change the Lorex Resolution (Wired & Wireless)

Whether you are viewing the broadcast through a monitor or the Lorex mobile application, the black screen could mean an incompatible resolution.

Adjusting the resolution for a wired Lorex camera is possible through the Reolink client on your NVR/DVR, and adjusting the resolution for a wireless camera is possible from your application.

3.1 Wired Lorex Camera Resolution Change:

• First, access the Main Menu on your NVR/DVR system.
• Go to “Settings” → “Display” and then “Display” again.
• Now, under “Resolution”, select one of the other options.
• Click “Apply” to save the new resolution settings of Lorex.
• Reboot the NVR/DVR, then check the live feed of the unit.

3.2 Wireless Lorex Camera Resolution Change:

• Open the Lorex Secure or FLIR Secure app on your smartphone.
• From the Home screen, tap on your camera to view the live feed.
• Tap the Gear icon to access the camera settings of the Lorex unit.
• After that, head to the Video tab, then tap the resolution setting.
• Choose a new resolution, save, and re-check the feed in the app.

We recommend testing with several alternative resolution values to determine if the live feed will appear.

Based on the model of your Lorex camera, the resolution options will be between 480p, 720p, full HD (1080p), 2K (2080p), and 4K (4160p).

4. Check the Lorex Camera Wi-Fi Status (Wireless)

The Lorex camera’s no picture problem for wireless cameras can occur due to an unstable or lost connection to the Wi-Fi network.

So, the next step is to check if the Lorex camera is connected, and if it already is, you should test and improve the performance of your wireless connection.

4.1 How to Reconnect the Camera to the Lorex App

• Power on your wireless Lorex camera and restart your router.
• Open the Lorex app, go to Settings, then Wireless Network.
• Next, follow the on-screen guide to reconnect your camera.
• Check the app to confirm the video feed broadcast is restored.

4.2 How to Improve the Wi-Fi Connection:

• Position the Lorex camera closer to the router to boost signal strength.
• Reduce interference by turning off nearby devices like cordless phones.
• Configure the Wi-Fi channel in your router settings to avoid congestion.
• Use a Wi-Fi extender if the signal remains weak near the Lorex camera.

You can use your smartphone to measure the Wi-Fi connection strength from the position of the Lorex camera.

Simply access the speedtest.net page, tap “GO!” and check if the connection for your camera is weaker from there.

Note: You can test the performance of your network at speedtest.net.

5. Directly Connect the Lorex Camera (“Octopus” Wired)

For wired Lorex cameras, an underpowered or faulty power supply might cause the camera to have power but no picture.

You can test the power supply and cabling by directly connecting the Lorex cameras in your system, after bypassing the “Octopus” splitter cable.

5.1 Test Each Split Cable (Octopus Cable):

• Disconnect the octopus cable from the NVR/DVR power supply.
• After that, use a multimeter to test each cable output individually.
• Then, note the voltage; outputs at 5.2–5.4V are too low for PoE.
• Now, compare results against the required 48V for PoE cameras.

5.2 Directly Power One Camera:

• Unplug one camera from the octopus cable splitter.
• Connect the camera directly to the power supply unit.
• Check the NVR/DVR monitor for the camera live feed.
• Replace the power supply with a compatible 48V unit.

To connect a multi-camera system with the NVR/DVR, users often tend to use the so-called “Octopus” splitter cables.

The cable allows them to separate the signal from one NVR/DVR input into about 8–12 individual cables, each connecting with a standalone Lorex camera.

6. Use an Alternative PoE Ethernet Cable (Wired)

A defective PoE Ethernet cable may cause the wired Lorex camera to have power, but interrupt the input live feed signal, entering the NVR or DVR.

First, attempt to reconnect the existing cable on both ends at the camera and NVR/DVR to rule out a loose connection, then replace it with a new, high-quality PoE Ethernet cable. 

After replacing the cable, your Lorex camera should display the feed on the NVR/DVR monitor. 

Note: Use a cable that meets the PoE standards of the system and camera to avoid potential interruptions of the input signal. 

7. Bypass the NVR/DVR Unit in the System (Wired)

The monitoring problem suspending the live feed of the Lorex camera could be with the NVR or DVR, instead of with the camera.

Bypassing the NVR/DVR by connecting the camera directly to an alternative display can help isolate the problem.

Follow these steps to bypass the NVR/DVR in your system:

• First, disconnect the camera from the NVR/DVR system.
• Connect the camera to a monitor with BNC or RCA input.
• Alternatively, use a USB video capture card on your PC.
• Now, check the monitor or PC for the camera’s video feed.

If the camera feed appears on a different recording device, then consider using an alternative input on the NVR/DVR or replacing it with a brand-new one. 

8. Reset the Lorex Camera to Default Settings

A software glitch might be the reason why the Lorex camera has power but no picture, and a factory reset can resolve this by restoring default settings.

This process differs slightly for wired and wireless Lorex cameras and either requires access to the “Reset” button or the application.

How to Factory Reset a Wired Lorex Camera:

• Locate the Reset button on the back or base of the camera.
• Next, remove the housing if needed to access the button.
• After that, press and hold the Reset button for 10 seconds.
• Wait for a chime sound and a flashing green under the lens.

How to Factory Reset a Wireless Lorex Camera:

• Open the Lorex app and go to the camera settings.
• Find the Factory Reset option in the device section.
• Confirm the reset and wait for the camera to restart.
• Check for a confirmation message in the Lorex app.

Note: Do not interact with the Lorex camera before the factory reset is finalized!