Is the night vision on your Ring Floodlight Cam (2nd Gen) failing to activate or producing dark, unusable footage after dark? Here are the checks you can safely carry out before contacting support.
What This Problem Means
The infrared night vision is not engaging correctly — most commonly caused by a lens obstruction, a strong ambient light source preventing the switch to night mode, or a firmware issue.
Common Symptoms
- Camera footage is very dark or unusable at night despite the floodlights working separately
- Night vision does not switch on as it gets dark
- Infrared image appears much dimmer than expected
- Night vision worked previously but stopped after a firmware or app update
Safe Checks You Can Try
1. Clean the Camera Lens
Inspect the lens for dirt, dust, moisture or any obstruction. Use a dry microfibre cloth to clean the lens surface. Even a light coating of outdoor grime significantly reduces the effectiveness of infrared night vision — particularly on cameras mounted outdoors at height.
2. Check for Ambient Light Sources
Strong external light sources aimed at the camera — such as street lighting, neighbouring security lights or illuminated signs — can prevent the camera from entering night vision mode as the sensor registers sufficient light. Adjust the camera angle to avoid direct light.
3. Check Night Vision Is Enabled in the Ring App
Open the Ring app, go to Device Settings for the Floodlight Cam and confirm that Night Vision is enabled. This can occasionally be toggled off during firmware updates.
4. Note That Floodlights and Night Vision Are Separate
The 2000-lumen floodlights and the infrared night vision operate independently. The floodlights illuminate in colour when triggered; the infrared night vision provides black-and-white footage when it is dark and the lights are off. If the floodlights work but night vision does not, this confirms a night vision-specific issue.
5. Power Cycle the Camera
Switch the circuit off at the fuse box for 10 seconds and switch it back on. Allow the camera to fully restart. A firmware reboot resolves most cases where night vision stops working without an obvious cause.
When To Contact Support
If none of the checks above have resolved the issue, contact Ring support at ring.com/gb/en/support. Your serial number is available in Device Health in the Ring app — have it ready before you call.
🔨 Ring Floodlight Cam (2nd Gen) problems · Ring Cameras hub · Review · All Smart Home Devices