Why Is UniFi Protect Camera Rebooting Repeatedly?

Problem Description

A UniFi Protect camera reboots repeatedly — it comes online, runs for a few minutes, then disconnects and restarts. Unstable PoE power delivery, damaged Ethernet cable, camera overheating in direct sunlight, firmware bugs, or defective hardware can cause continuous reboot loops.

Why This Happens in Real Homes

A UniFi Protect camera rebooting repeatedly is the classic symptom of inadequate PoE power — when the camera draws more than the port or switch can supply (especially under streaming or IR load), it browns out and restarts. Long cable runs that drop voltage, and switches over their power budget, cause the same loop.

Verify the camera is getting enough PoE: check that the switch isn't exceeding its total power budget, and that the port supplies the wattage the model needs (PoE+ for higher-power cameras). Replace a bad or over-length Ethernet cable, try a different port or a known-good PoE injector, and ensure ventilation. Update firmware. If a camera reboots even on confirmed adequate, stable power, it's a hardware fault for UI support.

Symptoms

• Camera reboots repeatedly
• Keeps restarting
• Boot loop
• Cycles power
• Won't stay up
• Reboots on its own
• Restart cycle
• Unstable, keeps rebooting

Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.

Common Causes

• Insufficient PoE power (brownout reboots)
• PoE switch budget exceeded
• Bad/too-long Ethernet cable
• Faulty PoE port
• Firmware issue
• Overheating
• Hardware fault
• Voltage drop over a long run

Tools & Requirements

Step-by-Step Solution

1

Check PoE power delivery for stability

The most common cause of repeated camera reboots: unstable PoE power. If the switch's PoE budget is near capacity: it cycles ports, causing cameras to lose power and reboot. In the UniFi Network app: check the switch's PoE power budget vs current consumption. If at 90%+: move some cameras to a second PoE switch or use dedicated PoE injectors. Also check for PoE wattage per port — some switches limit individual ports to 15W (802.3af). The G5 Pro and AI cameras may need 25-30W (802.3at/bt).

Needed for this step

60W Gigabit PoE++ Injector - 10/100/1000Mbps, R...

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2

Check for cable and connector issues

A damaged or water-infiltrated Ethernet cable causes intermittent connection loss that triggers camera reboots. Outdoor cable runs are especially vulnerable: UV exposure degrades the jacket, and water entering the connector corrodes the pins. Inspect both ends of the cable and any outdoor-rated connectors. If the cable is damaged: replace it with rated outdoor Cat6 cable and use waterproof connectors or cable glands at junction points. A bad crimp on one pin can cause enough packet loss to trigger a camera firmware-level reboot.

3

Check the camera for overheating

UniFi cameras have thermal protection — if the internal temperature exceeds a safe threshold: the camera reboots to cool down. This happens with cameras installed in direct sunlight (especially dark-colored housings), enclosed spaces without ventilation, or hot attics. If reboots happen in the afternoon and stop at night: overheating is the cause. Install a sun shield, relocate to a shaded mounting position, or improve ventilation. The G4 Pro is particularly susceptible to heat in un-shaded outdoor mounts.

4

Update camera firmware

Some firmware versions have stability bugs that cause spontaneous reboots. In Protect: Devices > select camera > check for firmware updates. Apply any available update. Check the Ubiquiti community forums for known reboot issues with your specific camera model and firmware version. If the rebooting started immediately after a firmware update: you may need to wait for a hotfix from Ubiquiti, or roll back firmware if possible (some Protect versions support firmware rollback in device settings).

5

Factory reset and re-adopt the camera

If reboots persist after checking power, cable, heat, and firmware: factory reset. Hold the reset button for 10-15 seconds. Remove the camera from Protect (Devices > Remove), then re-adopt it fresh. During adoption: the camera downloads a clean firmware and configuration. If reboots continue after a clean adoption with a known-good cable and adequate PoE: the camera hardware is likely defective. Contact Ubiquiti support for warranty replacement — document the reboot frequency and steps already taken.

Quick Solutions

Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.

Need More Help? UniFi Protect Support

Note: The contact information below connects you directly to UniFi Protect's official customer support team, not Trunetto. They can help with warranty claims, device replacements, and advanced technical issues.