my camera's night vision is terrible, everything is just dark shadows or the image is all washed out bright.

Diagnosis

The issue you are experiencing is known as "IR Washout" or "IR Bounce-back." The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Pro utilizes a ring of Infrared (IR) LEDs that emit light invisible to the human eye but visible to the camera's sensor. When these LEDs are positioned too close to a reflective surface—such as a white stucco wall, a vinyl soffit, or a glass window—the IR light bounces directly back into the lens. This creates a "hot spot" of overexposure in the foreground, causing the camera's auto-exposure algorithm to darken the rest of the image to compensate, leaving your actual target area in deep shadow. You can confirm this by observing the live feed at night. If you see a bright, glowing white blur in the corners or edges of the frame while the center remains dark, you have a reflection problem. Additionally, if the image periodically "pulses" between bright and dark, the camera is struggling to find a balance between the reflected glare and the distant shadows, resulting in a washed-out, unusable image.

How to Fix It

To resolve this, you must eliminate the reflective surfaces within the camera's immediate IR throw distance (typically the first 3-5 feet).

1. Open the SimpliSafe app and enter the Live View for the Outdoor Camera Pro during nighttime hours to use as a real-time guide.
2. Check for "IR Blockers." If the camera is mounted under a white eave or soffit, the IR light is likely hitting the ceiling of the porch. Loosen the mounting bracket screws and tilt the camera lens downward by 5 to 10 degrees. This shifts the IR cone away from the ceiling and toward the ground.
3. Verify the "Wall Clearance." If the camera is mounted on a white or light-colored wall, ensure the lens is not angled back toward the wall. Use the adjustment swivel to point the camera more directly outward.
4. Clean the lens cover. Use a microfiber cloth and a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to wipe the outer glass. Fingerprint oils or dust buildup on the lens can catch the IR light and create a "halo" effect that washes out the entire image.
5. Adjust the mounting height. For optimal night vision, the camera should be mounted between 7 and 9 feet high. If it is mounted too high (12+ feet), the angle of reflection off the ground or nearby walls is often more severe.

If That Didn't Work

• Install an IR Shield: If you cannot move the camera, create a physical barrier. A small piece of matte black plastic or a rubber gasket placed around the top of the camera housing can block the IR light from hitting the soffit or wall directly above the unit, forcing the light to project forward.
• Add External Lighting: The Outdoor Camera Pro handles "mixed lighting" poorly. If you have a motion-activated floodlight nearby, the camera may be switching between Night Mode (IR) and Day Mode (Color) rapidly. Installing a dedicated LED motion light will allow the camera to stay in color mode, bypassing the IR LEDs entirely and eliminating the washout.
• Check for Glass Interference: If the camera is mounted behind a glass storm door or window, the IR light will reflect 100% off the glass. You must move the camera outside the glass perimeter. If this is impossible, you must disable the IR lights (if the model allows) and rely entirely on external ambient lighting.
• Perform a Hard Reset: In rare cases, the light sensor may be calibrated incorrectly. Power cycle the camera by removing it from the mount and disconnecting the battery/power source for 60 seconds before rebooting to reset the auto-exposure logic.

Heads Up

• Avoid painting the mounting surface white or using high-gloss paint within 2 feet of the camera, as these materials act as mirrors for infrared light.
• Be careful not to over-tighten the mounting bracket; the plastic housing on the Pro model can crack if forced, which may lead to moisture ingress and lens fogging.
• Regularly check for spider webs across the lens. Spiders are attracted to the warmth of the IR LEDs; a single web strand directly in front of the lens will appear as a massive, glowing white streak at night.
• Ensure the camera is not pointed directly at a swimming pool or a large body of water, as the surface reflection will trigger the same washout effect as a white wall.