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Ultimate Browning Trail Camera Troubleshooting Guide

Don’t you hate it when the trail camera has been out for a reasonable amount of time but did not take any pictures at all? Well, we can relate! Just like other electronic devices, trail cameras do require maintenance to function correctly. And as you can tell, we have learned that the hard way.

That said, if you do not know what to do when you face the most common problems, the customer service department would be your best bet. But if you go through this ultimate Browning trail camera troubleshooting guide, you can save yourself from the trip and money you would have to spend.

How so? Well, a good amount of our trail cameras stopped taking pictures after a while. And after troubleshooting them, we gained proper knowledge about the common issues of these trail cameras. In this guide, we will offer a simple solution to all of them.

SD Card Issues

Browning trail camera card error is probably the most prevalent issue that users face while using the camera. However, the good news is that you can fix the problem pretty quickly.

Wrong Type of SD Card on Trail Cameras

Most people do not know how to set up a Browning trail camera. And we noticed that most trail cameras of our team members were rocking an SD card that is higher than 32 GB. Well, the thing is that the SD cards that are higher than 32 GB are SDXC cards. On the other hand, the ones that are 32GB or lower are SDHC.

That said, some of the trail cameras are compatible with both SD cards. But some models will run with either of the SD cards. Check the documentation to be sure of what type of memory card is your trail camera compatible with. Then, check if you have inserted the wrong SD card or not.

Sometimes, the documentation will state the compatible memory card right away. For example, the Browning Trail Cameras Command Ops Pro camera manual will have the compatible SD card list on the first few pages. So, you will not have to search that long.

SD Card Formatting Issue

A brand new SD card needs to be formatted before it is in use. Some of the trail cameras can format the SD card by themselves. But in some cases, you would need to format the SD card manually through the computer. Even when a trail camera is taking pictures properly, it can show some issues when not formatted.

On that note, an SD card might be working fine before you format it. In that case, you should ensure that the formatting options are correct or not. It is a good practice to format the SD cards with more than 32 GB in capacity in the “exFAT.” For the others, choose FAT16 or FAT32 settings.

Locked SD Card

Some of the full-sized SD cards have a little slider that goes back and forth. Its primary purpose is to lock the contact points and prevent the data from getting overwritten. If you leave the card in a locked position, even if the trail camera is working properly, it will not be capable of taking pictures and videos. 

To fix this issue, the first thing you need to do is to check whether the SD card is locked or not. Then, you need to slide the mechanism that goes back and forth if the lock is on. After that, make sure that the SD card is installed in the right way.

Damaged SD Card

Yes, we know that SD cards are pretty tough. But they can still get damaged when you drop them from a great height. Sharp rocks or other sharp objects can also damage them. However, to be sure that whether the SD card is damaged or not, insert it into the computer and check whether it shows up or not.

If you know how do you reset a Browning trail camera, reset it, and check whether the card shows up or not? There is a high chance that the SD card will start working fine after that. However, if it does not show up, claim the warranty if you can. But if the warranty policy does not work out, replace the SD card to solve the issue.

Battery Issues

One of the first things that people try to fix the trail camera issues is to test the power source. And the power source, in this case, are the batteries. So what should you do if your Browning Strike Force trail camera or other trail cameras have issues with batteries? Read through this segment to find out!

Dead Batteries

When the trail camera has dead batteries inserted, it will not turn on at all. For some cases, the trail cam might show some signs of life, but it will show issues while taking photos and in video mode. The trail camera might turn off during taking images and trying to capture videos. This issue can be frustrating.

However, you can quickly solve this by inserting new batteries. Try taking photos and videos after you change batteries. If the LCD screen does not light up properly and the camera shows issues while trying to take pictures at the same time, move along to the next step.

Corrosion on the Contact Points

Even with a good battery, the trail camera might not capture photos and videos adequately. The power of the batteries might not be an issue in this case. You need to check the points where the batteries rest. When a dead battery stays inside the housing for a long time, it can corrode the contact point of the trail camera.

Well, this is an important step. Before you switch the power on of the camera, scrape the corrosion from the battery tray. A thin metal tool will do the trick. Then, insert the new batteries and test whether the LCD display is turning or not. After that, try to capture photos and test out different modes of the trail camera.

Tip: Opt for Good Batteries

The trail camera should work with all the batteries it is compatible with. Yes, alkaline batteries are cheaper than lithium batteries. However, if you consider the battery life, lithium batteries will be better than alkaline batteries. Instead of lasting for a few weeks, the lithium batteries can take pictures for about a month.

Considering that, we would recommend you switch to lithium cells for the trail cam. If you make the switch, you will not have to go through the frustrating process of changing the batteries every few days.

That said, for a lithium battery, you will also need a good charger. The slow chargers can offer a frustrating experience as you would need to wait for an extended amount of time just to get the battery charged up. So, when you are opting for a new lithium battery, get yourself a proper charger too!

Setup Issues

The trail cameras can struggle when taking pictures if you do not set the camera in the best settings for the Browning trail camera. Often, these issues with settings will make you end up with images that you did not even intend to capture. Well, like the other issues, this can be frustrating too.

But the good news is that we know what to do when there are issues with the trail camera settings. So, continue reading if you want to get your camera fixed.

Mode Issues

Most of the trail cameras will not only run in a single mode. There will be loads of other modes too. For example, there is a motion detection mode. That will capture a photo when there is any movement in front of the sensor. But if you do not set the camera at the correct settings, wind movement can trigger the sensor.

Likewise, many of the trail cams have time-lapse and mode for videos. Ensure that you set them up properly through the LCD screen. Without doing that, you will end up with loads of blurry images when you connect the SD card to your computer.

Lastly, the issue of the Browning trail camera not working at night is pretty standard. For this, you need to ensure that the flash is on. If you leave the flash off, the cameras will take blurry images during the night.

To solve this issue, navigate through the LCD screen into the camera settings and check whether the flash is on or not.

On that note, sometimes, the flash might stop working. Now, this can be a hardware issue or a software issue. First, try to restore the camera and check whether the light is working or not. If that does not work, you would need to opt for a second-party or claim the first-party service.

Service costs will vary depending on the camera. It can sometimes cost half the price of the camera. For that reason, we would highly recommend opting for the first-party free service if the period is still valid.

Placement Issues

Some manufacturers of trail camera models are notorious for advertising their cameras by stating the “theoretical” range of the flash and the sensor. In most cases, the theoretical values will not match the practical setup of the trail camera.

So, you might end up with low-grade photos when the trail camera is in the wrong placement.

Instead of keeping the theoretical distance of the camera in mind, place the camera just near the trail. It needs to be at the edge of that advertised camera range but should not meet or cross it.

Another common issue that the users face with the camera is regarding height. Yes, if you put the camera on higher ground, the chances of it getting stolen will be pretty low. But when it comes to capturing photos, it will have a tough time trying to focus on the target.

For that reason, if you have placed the trail camera in a higher place and noticed that the pictures it is taking are not up to the mark, consider placing the camera closer to the trail.

Other Settings

The shutter speed and other related settings of the trail camera play a role in taking good pictures. If you want to take crystal clear photos with the camera, you need to calibrate the sensor accordingly. Check the motion sensor sensitivity of the camera and set it accordingly.

After that, some cameras allow the user to manually adjust the shutter settings. Check the settings tab of the camera and see whether you can find such an option or not. 

You should change it to the fastest speed. That will ensure that the photos have the right amount of clarity and brightness.

Connectivity and Lens Issues

Apart from all of the problems we have mentioned, there is another issue that a trail camera user can face. Yes, we are talking about the connectivity issues of the camera. So, without further ado, let us go through the solutions.

Check the Camera

Sometimes, the camera can stop sending the photos to your phone. And in that case, instead of trying to diagnose the signal issue from your home, you would need to go to the location you have set the camera. Check the connectivity settings of the camera and make sure everything is set up correctly.

However, if the options are correct and the camera still has connectivity issues, you should restore it. If the restoring does not work, claim the warranty. 

The connectivity chip does tend to show some problems over time. And if the camera is still under the period, the manufacturer is bound to offer a replacement.

Dirty Lens

If everything seems right on the camera and you notice blurry and low-quality images, the lens might be dirty.

In this case, take a microfiber cloth and lens cleaning solution to clean out the lens. Ensure that you are relying on a circular motion while cleaning the lens, or else the chances of scuff marks ending up on the surface will be pretty high.

Final Words

The trail camera units sometimes show unexpected issues. However, we can assure you that each of the common problems is addressed in this ultimate Browning trail camera troubleshooting guide. Just follow our recommended solution, and the camera should be working correctly in no time at all!