Support Home Sync Module Getting Started
Use this guide for setting up your Sync Module 2.
Getting started
New to Blink? If so, welcome! To set up your new camera, you must first download the Blink app and set up a Blink Account.
Install the Blink app and create an account
This article will help you get started with the Blink app and setting up your new Blink account.
The latest version of the Blink app is always available in your app store. Blink supports most smartphones, tablets, and many Alexa-enabled products.
Tap yourpreferredapp store option below to download the latest version of the Blink app.
Version: 31.0
for iOS 14 and later
Version: 31.0
for Android v6.0 and later
Version: 31.0
for Fire OS v7.0 and later
How to Update your iOS and Android devices
In order to run the latest version of the Blink app, it's important your mobile device meets theminimum system requirements.
How to auto update your mobile devices
The easiest way to keep the app version of your mobile device current is to turn on the Automatic Update option in your device settings:
- Learn more about how toturn on or turn off automatic updates on the Apple's Support page.
- Learn more about how to update all Android apps automatically on Google Play Help.
How to manually update your mobile devices
- iOS devices can also be updated manually, which may be necessary if the auto update hasn't occurred yet. Learn more about manually updating your iOS device.
- Learn more checking and updating your Android app version.
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Note
We recommend that you always backup your data prior to updating your mobile device.
- Learn more aboutbacking up iOS devices
- Learn more aboutbacking up Android devices.
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Create a Blink account
To get started with the Blink app, follow the instructions below:
With Blink, you have one user account with one email and one phone number. On log in and certain other actions, a verification number is sent to the mobile number or email address of the account.
Note:If you want to share your account with other users, learn more about setting up a second phone or device.
- Launch the Blink App and tap Create Account at the bottom of the screen.
- Select your country from the drop-down menu and tap Next.
- Your region is pre-selected based on your IP address. Confirm your region and tap OK.
- Enter a valid email address, and tap Next.
- Create a password and tap Create Account. The password requirements are listed at the bottom of the screen. Tap the eyeball icon if you want to view what you are typing.
- Complete the multi-factor authentication (MFA) process. Learn more about multi-factor authentication.
Multi-factor authentication steps
Verify your email address
Enter the PIN from the email we sent you and tap Verify.
- PIN codes are valid for 40 minutes.
- If you haven't received the code after 90 seconds, tap Resend PIN Code.
Verify your phone number
Tap the phone number entry line to bring up a keypad.
Enter the phone number you wish to use for device verification and tap Next.
Optional: Select your country code by tapping the flag icon next to the phone number entry line.
If you prefer to not use SMS, the PIN code can be read to you by an automated voice call.
To choose this option, under Receive code by: select Voice call and tap Next.
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Note
The SMS text option is for use with mobile phones and will not work with landline phone numbers. Blink uses this number to associate your device with the Blink app to ensure the person making changes is you. Your information is private and will not be used for any additional purposes or shared with third parties.
Learn more why we need your phone number. Contact Customer Service if you don't have a phone number.
A SMS text message containing the PIN code is sent to the phone number, and you are shown another PIN entry screen.
- Example SMS text Message:
Enter the PIN from the SMS text message we sent you and tap Verify.
- PIN codes are valid for 40 minutes.
- If you haven't received the code after 90 seconds, tap Resend PIN Code.
Link your Blink and Amazon accounts
When the phone verification step is complete, you are prompted to link your new Blink account to your Amazon account by tapping Link Accounts. If you don't want to link your account, select Skipto be sent to the Home screen without linking your accounts.
Note:This is an optional step, but we highly recommend linking your accounts at this time. Learn more about the benefits of linking your accounts.
Sign into your existing Amazon account. You will need to know your Amazon login email address and password. Once the link is established between accounts, tap Done.
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Adding the Sync Module 2 to your account
After installing the Blink app and creating an account, you must create a system for your cameras. Sync Modules manage one system each and can have up to ten devices attached to them.
If you're interested in having more than one system, learn more about adding multiple systems to your Blink account.
Add your Sync Module 2 to create a new system
How to add your Sync Module 2 to the Blink app
The following video walks you through the in-app setup of your Sync Module 2. For detailed instructions, see the step-by-step process below.
Add a Sync Module and create a system
- From the Home screen, tap the+ icon to add a device.
- On the Add Devicescreen, tapSync Module.
- Scan theQR code on the back of the Sync Module or enter your Sync Module's serial number manually.
Note: The Blink app may ask permission to access the camera on your mobile device in order to scan the QR code. If it asks, select Allow.
- Once the serial number is recognized, you are asked to create a new system. Tap the text entry box and provide a unique name for your system. If you have other existing systems, this name must be different from other system names you may have in your Blink account. TapContinueafter your new system name is entered.
- TheAdd Sync Module screen will instruct you to plug in your Sync Module and then wait for the light pattern of blinking blueandsteady green.
TapDiscover Devicewhen you see this pattern on your Sync Module.
Note: If you don't see the blinking blue light pattern, then you may need to reset the Sync Module. Learn more about how toreset the Sync Module. - In order to connect to your network, the Blink app uses your mobile device to first connect to the Sync Module's temporary Wi-Fi network. It's named “BLINK-_ _ _ _"where the last 4 digits are from your Sync Module's serial number. TapJoin.
- After joining is successful, you are asked to join your local Wi-Fi network. Enter the Wi-Fi password and tap Join.
- The Add Sync Modulescreen displays 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks within range. If you do not see your local Wi-Fi network, tap Refresh List at the bottom of the screen. The Sync Module stores network information for devices that are added to its system. Learn more about how totroubleshoot Wi-Fi connections.
- When your Sync Module has been added to your new system, you will receive a completion screen. TapDoneto finish the process. You're now ready to add your new camera.
The new system name displays at the top of your Home screen and you will also see the Sync Module. A cloud iconwith a green connection line shows the Sync Module is successfully communicating with the Blink servers.
with a green connection line shows the Sync Module is successfully communicating with the Blink servers.Delete
Helpful tips
The following articles can guide you to enhance your Blink experience.
How to view Backup Clips
Clip Backup occurs when you insert a USB drive into your Sync Module 2 and you have one of the following:
- a Blink Subscription
- a Blink Subscription trial
- your Blink account was created on or before April 15th, 2020
The Clip Backup feature is available for the Outdoor 4, Wired Floodlight Camera, Video Doorbell, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen), and the Mini. Learn moreabout Blink Subscription Plans.
Once every 24 hours, a backup of your Cloud Storage clips are saved to the storage device plugged into your Sync Module. To access the backup files, the USB storage device must be removed from the Sync Module 2 and inserted into a computer or similar device.
Note:Backup clips are not viewable from the Blink app.
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Warning - if your drive is full
When your USB flash drive has less than 375MB of storage space, Local Storage clips and backup clips are no longer saved. To free up space, delete clips, format your USB drive, or insert a new USB drive into the Sync Module.
Safely Eject the USB
- First, note the date and time of the Backup completed.to be sure the clip backups you want to view are on the USB storage device. Since the backup occurs once per day, it is possible that the files you want are not yet saved to USB
From the Local Storage screen, tap Safe Eject and wait to receive the "USB Disconnected" message and the USB icon changes to inactive (not green) as shown below.
- You can now remove your USB storage device from the Sync Module 2, and insert it into a computer or similar device to view the files. If you reinsert the USB storage device into the Sync Module 2, backups resume and new, unsaved files are added to theblink_backups directory.
How to view Backup Clips
- Insert your USB drive into a computer and access the flash drive as you normally would.
Backup clips are found on the USB drive in the blink_backup folder. The subfolders within this folder correspond to the date when the clips were saved.
Exampleblink_backup -This folder contains backup clips from eligible cameras.
20-09 -This folder indicates a two digit year 20 for 2020, and two-digit month 09 for September.
01-20-21-38_Outdoor_1234567.mp4 -File name is generated using this convention: [Day of month] - [Hour (in 24-hour format)] - [Minutes] - [Seconds] _ [camera-name] _ [camera UID].mp4
Note:The timestamp used in the file name is in UTC.
Select the clip you want to view and double-click to open the file. Clips are viewed using any media player that supports the common MP4 format, such as VLC, Windows Media Player, or QuickTime Player.
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Accessing Clips on your USB Drive from a PC
Use this article to learn how to access the motion clips saved to your USB flash drive.
Types of clips
The Sync Module 2 uses the USB drive in one of two ways:
Local Storage - If you are not subscribing to a Blink Subscription Plan, motion clips are saved to the drive. These clips are known as Local Storage clips.
- These clips can be viewed and deleted from the Blink app as well as through a PC.
Clip Backup - If you are subscribing to a Blink Subscription Plan, motion clips are backed up to the drive every 24 hours from the moment it is plugged in. These clips are known as backup clips.
- These clips cannotbe viewed or deleted from the Blink app. Plug the USB drive into a PC to view or delete them.
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Warning - If your drive is full
When your USB flash drive has less than 375MB of storage space, Local Storage clips and backup clips are no longer saved.
To free up space, delete clips, reformat your USB drive, or insert a new USB drive into the Sync Module.
Always follow the Safe Eject process in the Blink app before physically removing your USB drive from your Sync Module 2.
Plug the USB flash drive into a PC
Insert your USB drive into a computer and access the flash drive as you normally would. Clips are viewed using any media player that supports the common MP4 format, such as VLC, Windows Media Player, or QuickTime Player.
Folder names on the flash drive
Your clips can be saved in two folders on your USB flash drive named blink and blink_backup.
Local Storage
Local Storage clips are found on the USB drive in the blinkfolder. The subfolders within this folder correspond to the date when the clips were saved.
Example
blink -This folder contains clips from eligible cameras.
21-05 -This folder indicates a two digit year 21 for 2021, and two-digit month 05 for May.
21-05-02 -This folder indicates a two digit year 21 for 2021, a two-digit month 05 for May, and a two-digit date 02 for the second day of the month.
12-54-30_BlinkMini_001.mp4 -The filename shows: [Hour (in 24-hour format)] - [Minutes] - [Seconds] _ [Camera Name] _ [Clip Number].mp4
Backup Clips
Backup clips are found on the USB drive in the blink_backup folder. The subfolders within this folder correspond to the date when the clips were saved.
Example
blink_backup -This folder contains backup clips from eligible cameras.
20-09 -This folder indicates a two digit year 20 for 2020, and two-digit month 09 for September.
01-20-21-38_Outdoor_1234567.mp4 -The filename shows: [Day of month] - [Hour (in 24-hour format)] - [Minutes] - [Seconds] _ [camera-name] _ [camera UID].mp4
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How to set up a Sync Module in an existing system
If you are replacing an existing Sync Module system with a new Sync Module, you must delete the original Sync Module before adding the new one. You will not have to delete or re-add any cameras in the existing Sync Module system. Once you add the new Sync Module to your Blink account, the system is ready to use.
The following steps explain how to first delete your Sync Module.
Delete your Sync Module
- From the home screen, tap theSync Module icon to display the Sync Module screen.
- On the Sync Module screen, tap theDelete Sync Module button. A popup will appear suggesting you contact Customer Service.
Dismiss the popup by tapping OK. - To delete a Sync Module, you are required to enter or scan its serial number using the QR code. The number label can be found on the back of the Sync Module. Scan it with your mobile device's camera or enter it manually.
- You will see a final popup asking if you are sure. TapDELETE.
5. As a final step, unplug the Sync Module to clear any old settings.
The Sync Module is then deleted from your account. An email is also sent to your account confirming the action has been completed.
Note:The system your Sync Module was attached to was not removed, along with any associated cameras or other devices.
Once your older Sync Module is removed, you then have the option to add your new one in that same system.
Add a Sync Module to an existing system
1. From the home screen, tap the Add Device + icon.
2. The Add Device screen displays your device options.
- Blink wireless camera system - A system contains a Sync Module and BlinkOutdoor 4, Indoor and Outdoor (3rd Gen), XT2, XT, or 1st Generation Indoor camera. Start here if you have these cameras.
- Blink wireless camera - This option adds a BlinkOutdoor 4, Indoor and Outdoor (3rd Gen), XT2, XT, or 1st Generation Indoor camera after you have added a Sync Module.
- Mini camera - The Mini camera does not require a Sync Module as it manages its own system, but a Mini camera will act like other Blink cameras when it is added to a system managed by Sync Module. Your selection opens the QR code scanning screen.
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3. The serial number is also printed as a QR code. To scan a QR code, the Blink app requires permission to access the camera on your mobile device.
Tap OK to permit the Blink app to scan the QR code, automatically entering the serial number. If you prefer, you can deny access to the camera by tapping Don't Allow and enter the serial number manually.
To learn where the QR code and serial number are, tap your product image at the bottom of the Scan QR Code screen.
4. Tap on an existing system that contained your deleted sync module, to add your new one.
5. TheAdd Sync Module screen will instruct you to plug in your Sync Module and then wait for the light pattern of
blinkingblue and
steadygreen.
When you see this pattern on your Sync Module, tap Discover Device.
Note: If you don't see the above blinking blue light pattern, then you may need to reset the sync module.Click here for more information.
6. The Blink app needs to connect to the Sync Module's Wi-Fi network. It is named “BLINK-" followed by four digits from the Sync Module Serial Number.
Tap Join, then you are asked to join your local Wi-Fi network.
7. The Add Sync Module screen displays 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks within range. The Sync Module stores network information for devices that are added to its system. If you do not see your local Wi-Fi network, tap Refresh List at the bottom of the screen. You can troubleshoot Wi-Fi connections here.
8. When you tap your Wi-Fi network name, you are presented with a password entry field. Ensure that your password is correct before you enter it. Incorrect password is a common cause of difficulty getting started. TapJoin to continue.
9. When network setup is complete, you are notified on the screen. TapDoneto complete the install process and view the Blink app Welcome screen where you can see your existing cameras.
The system name appears at the top of the Home screen. You are notified that the Sync Module has been added, the 'cloud' icon shows a green connection line indicating that the Sync Module is communicating with the Blink servers.
If you are unable to add your new Sync Module, please contact Customer Support.
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If you're having trouble setting up, please contact technical support.
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