How to set up a Reolink camera
Updated: 23 October 2026
The first afternoon usually fails on a missing card, a camera aimed through the kitchen glass, or doorbell wires nobody has measured. This is the day-one sequence for a Wi-Fi camera or doorbell from the eight amazon.co.uk listings in this capture, not a ranking and not a storage essay. The model rows and prices stay on the [Reolink security camera comparison](/hub/electronic-surveillance/reolink-security-camera). Peter F., editor for DIY & tools, followed Reolink's own setup notes and the box lists captured on 21 October 2026. We did not install these cameras in a lab.
The first afternoon usually fails on a missing card, a camera aimed through the kitchen glass, or doorbell wires nobody has measured.
The first afternoon usually fails on a missing card, a camera aimed through the kitchen glass, or doorbell wires nobody has measured. This is the day-one sequence for a Wi-Fi camera or doorbell from the eight amazon.co.uk listings in this capture, not a ranking and not a storage essay. The model rows and prices stay on the Reolink security camera comparison. Peter F., editor for DIY & tools, followed Reolink's own setup notes and the box lists captured on 21 October 2026. We did not install these cameras in a lab.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Network | Power | Storage | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Reolink Reolink wired 5 MP doorbell | Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz | Mains | Slot, no card | 8.4 | about £109.99 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Reolink Reolink Home Hub with two Argus 3E | Wi-Fi | Battery + hub mains | 64 GB card | 8.2 | about £169.99 | View offer |
| Best value |  Reolink Reolink Argus MagiCam | Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz | AA cells | Slot, no card | 7.4 | about £49.99 | View offer |
On this page
Add the camera in the app
Charge or insert the cells first. The MagiCam uses the AA cells in the box. The Eco and the Argus 3E use the rechargeable pack on their listings. The battery doorbell uses the doorbell battery. Add a device in the Reolink app and let the lens read the QR code, about 30 cm for the Eco and about 20 cm for the other battery cameras. That path does not cover the Altas Go PT. If the mount has no router, use the Wi-Fi or 4G page. Both hub kits list a 1 m network cable from the hub to the router. The hub is not a Wi-Fi backhaul.
Fit a card only if the box did not include one
Only the Home Hub kit with two Argus 3E cameras lists a card, 64 GB, printed as microsD. Buy Class 10 or higher and format FAT32. The wired doorbell prints up to 256 GB. The battery doorbell and the Eco print up to 512 GB. The Hub Mini states a 1 TB slot with no card. Formatting erases the card. One UK review could not format 128 GB on the wired doorbell, while 64 GB worked. The plan limits are on the local storage page.
Aim it so the sensor can work
PIR is heat, not a box drawn on the picture. Reolink says not to face glass, that PIR is weaker head-on, and that about 2 to 3 metres is the usual height. Move a MagiCam off the inside of the pane. The Eco antenna can block a hard-left aim, so check the live view before you drill. If the frame takes in the pavement or a neighbour's window, re-aim or accept a sign. The buying guide puts that boundary next to the choice of camera.
Doorbell wires are a separate job
The battery doorbell names 8–24 V AC as a top-up. The box is the battery, not a chime. Reolink Chime is not compatible, Chime Plus is separate, and a mechanical chime is not recommended. One UK review describes a reboot loop on bell power and a chime. The wired doorbell includes the adapter, a chime, a wedge, and a jumper, and prints 24 V. Reolink allows 12–24 V AC or 24 V DC and says not to connect it to mains. Use the adapter on a BS 1363 socket if the old wires are unknown. Do not promise Alexa on the battery doorbell.
Common questions
What is the first tap in the Reolink app?
Add a device, then let the camera read the QR code on the phone. Reolink's battery-camera article puts the Argus Eco scan at about 30 cm and other battery cameras at about 20 cm. You set a device password and a scene after the camera joins. The Altas Go PT is not this QR path, because that listing is 4G with a SIM rather than Wi-Fi.
Do I need a microSD card before setup?
You need one unless you bought the Home Hub kit that lists a 64 GB card with two Argus 3E cameras. The other seven listings in this capture do not include a card. Reolink asks for Class 10 or higher and FAT32. Formatting in the app wipes the card, so do that before you rely on the first night's clips.
Why does a camera indoors not record the garden?
PIR looks for heat and does not work reliably through insulated glass. Reolink's install notes say not to face glass. MagiCam reviews describe the same miss: motion is visible, and the camera does not record. Move the camera outside, about 2 to 3 metres up, so people cross the view rather than walk straight at the lens.
Can I use the old doorbell wires?
Only if the voltage matches the listing and you can measure it. The battery doorbell names 8–24 V AC as a top-up, and it does not recommend a mechanical chime. The wired doorbell includes an adapter and prints 24 V, with Reolink allowing 12–24 V AC or 24 V DC. If you cannot measure the pair, use the adapter on the wired model or call an electrician. Do not connect either doorbell to 230 V mains.
The battery doorbell reboot-looped on the chime. What does the listing show?
The listing says Reolink Chime is not compatible, Reolink Chime Plus is sold separately, and a third-party mechanical chime is not recommended. One UK review reports an endless reboot and constant ringing when the unit was tied to bell power and a chime. That is a single report. Power it on the battery alone first. Add wires only after you know the supply is 8–24 V AC.
Where do I stop and call an electrician?
Stop when doorbell voltage is unknown, when the cable is mains rather than bell wire, or when the job means opening the consumer unit. Screwing a bracket, scanning a QR code, and plugging in the included adapter are the household steps. A BS 1363 plug on that adapter is what you should see. Bare 230 V is not a DIY extra.
Does setup include a Home Hub?
Only if you bought a kit that contains one. Both hub kits in this capture list a 1 m network cable, and that cable goes to the router. The cameras can be Wi-Fi. The hub is not described as a Wi-Fi backhaul you can skip. A single MagiCam, the Eco, either doorbell, or the Altas does not need a hub to finish day one, though a hub is one of the storage options on their bullets.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources from the digest first, then the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Prices and stars were taken on 19 October 2026. Affiliate links use tag pcuk26-21.
- ICO, Home CCTV systems (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, Guidance on the use of domestic CCTV (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, Recommended standards for the surveillance camera industry (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Reolink support, cloud subscription for recording (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Reolink support, Home Hub compatibility (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Reolink GB, Home Hub (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Ofcom, Map Your Mobile (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- OPSS recall 2112-0033, CCTV adapter (retrieved 19 October 2026)