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Fix common problems

Updated 2026-10-22

Frozen live video, a server that won't answer, no remote access, missing notifications, offline cameras.

Live video shows one frame that doesn't move

Usually only away from home, through Sentinel Cloud, while playback works. Update the server, Sentinel Operator and the iPhone app to 3.1.1 or later, which fixed it.

The dashboard doesn't open

On a Mac, check the menu bar shield. Red means the server is stopped: choose Start Server.
On Linux, run systemctl status sentinel and read journalctl -u sentinel -n 50.
A Mac that slept stops answering until it wakes. See Keep the Mac awake.

The phone can't connect away from home

Open the Sentinel Cloud card: the remote address should say connected, and Allow remote access should be ticked.
After you turn Sentinel Cloud off and on again the address changes. Open the app once at home to pick up the new one.

No notifications

Admin → Rules and Events → Notifications → Send test push. If it doesn't arrive, check that notifications are allowed for Sentinel VMS in the iPhone's Settings.
If the test arrives, make sure an alarm rule is set to Dashboard + iPhone push.
Check Quiet hours: only Critical alarms get through during them.

A camera shows offline

Check its RTSP address, user name and password in Admin → Devices → Cameras.
Budget cameras allow only two connections. Close the camera's own app, or set the live view stream to Same as recording.

Still stuck?

Email [email protected] with what you see, your version (under the Sentinel VMS logo in the dashboard) and the last lines of the server log.

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More guides, including Sentinel Cloud setup and users and roles, are in the knowledge base for signed-in users.