Ever wanted to access your Blink home security cameras on a bigger screen than your phone?
The good news is you can download the Blink app for PC and monitor your home security system right from your computer.
Keep reading to learn how to get the Blink app on a Windows or Mac desktop.
What is the Blink App?
The Blink app allows you to set up, view, and manage your Blink home security cameras and video doorbells.
It’s available as a free download for iOS and Android mobile devices.
With the app, you can:
- View live feeds from Blink cameras
- Receive motion alerts
- Customize motion detection zones
- Arm and disarm your system
- Talk through the camera using two-way audio
- Playback recorded video clips
- Share access with family and friends
- Manage camera settings
So the Blink app gives you remote access to view and control your Blink devices anywhere with an internet connection.
Benefits of Using Blink App on a Computer
There are a few advantages to accessing your Blink system from a desktop computer:
1. Larger Viewing Screen
You’ll get a much bigger view of your camera feeds on a computer monitor vs. a smartphone screen. This makes it easier to see details and activity happening on the live feeds.
2. Enhanced Alert Notifications
Motion alerts and system notifications will be more visible and harder to miss when they pop up on your computer screen.
3. Improved Playback Experience
Recorded video clips will be easier to review and analyze on a large monitor. Slowing down footage and zooming in on details is also simpler on a desktop.
4. More Comfortable Control Center
For managing your Blink settings, configuring your devices, customizing motion zones, and more – a computer and mouse/trackpad offer better precision and comfort than a small touchscreen.
So while the mobile app is great for remote access on-the-go, the desktop experience takes full advantage of the larger screens and input devices computers provide.
How to Get Blink App on Windows PC
Here are the options for downloading the Blink app for your Windows computer:
1. Use Bluestacks Android Emulator
One way is to use Bluestacks to install the Android version of the Blink app on your PC. Here’s how:
- Download and install Bluestacks on your computer from www.bluestacks.com. This will allow you to run Android apps on Windows.
- Open the Bluestacks app and sign in to your Google account.
- Search for “Blink Home Security” in the search bar.
- Install the Blink app from the search results.
- Log in using your Blink credentials once the app finishes installing.
- The Blink app should now open and work normally through Bluestacks. You can access your cameras, view live feeds, and manage your system.
2. Use Andy Android Emulator
Andy is another Android emulator like Bluestacks that lets you run mobile apps on desktop.
Follow the same steps as above, except download and install Andy instead from www.andyroid.net.
3. Access Web Client
Blink’s web client allows you to view your cameras and recordings from a web browser on your PC. Here’s how to use it:
- Go to www.blinkforhome.com and select “Sign In”
- Login using your Blink app credentials
- Click on “Events” at the top to view your camera feeds live in your browser
The web client has limited functionality compared to the full app, but it does provide live streaming of your Blink cameras on your Windows computer.
How to Get Blink App on Mac
Mac users have a couple options for using the Blink app on a desktop:
1. Use Nox Android Emulator
Nox is an Android emulator designed for Mac that you can leverage to run the Blink mobile app. Follow these steps:
- Download and install Nox for Mac from www.bignox.com
- Open Nox and log into your Google account
- Search for and install the Blink Home Security app
- Log into the Blink app using your account info
- You should now have access to your Blink system through Nox on your Mac
2. Use Blink Web Client
Just like on Windows, Mac users can utilize the Blink web client in any browser to view live camera feeds.
Simply visit www.blinkforhome.com, sign in, and click on “Events” to see your cameras in action.
Common Blink App for PC Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about running Blink on a desktop computer:
Is there an official Blink desktop application?
Currently there is no native Windows or Mac app offered by Blink. The options covered above use Android emulators or the web client to approximate the mobile experience on a desktop.
Does the web client allow me to access all Blink app features?
No, the web client is limited compared to the mobile app. You can live stream cameras but functionality like motion settings, device management, and system controls are not available.
Can I get notifications on my computer?
Unfortunately alert notifications will only be sent to your phones since the emulators mimic the mobile app experience. But having an emulator window open makes notifications more visible.
Do I need an internet connection?
Yes, like the mobile app, an active internet connection is required to access your devices through an emulator or the web client. Your Blink devices connect to the cloud.
Is there a desktop app for sync module viewing?
No, managing your Sync Modules is only possible on the mobile Blink app currently. Even on an emulator, Sync Module functions are not accessible.
