My dash cam says "Rear camera disconnected"

This article explains how to troubleshoot a "Rear camera disconnected" voice prompt on your THINKWARE dash cam.

Rear camera connection and recording issues can involve a loose rear camera connection, the wrong port, reversed directional cable ends, pinched or damaged wiring, or an incompatible camera. Upside-down installation can invert the image.

If your dash cam announces, "Rear camera disconnected", or says, "Rear view camera disconnected", or loses rear video connection intermittently while driving over bumps or opening the rear trunk/hatchback, follow the steps below.

Already tried some steps? Jump to:

1.   Re-seat Rear Camera Cable Connections at Both Ends

2.   Inspect Rear Camera Cable for Physical Damage and Pinch Points

3.   Perform a Factory Reset

4.   Update Dash Cam Firmware         

5.   Check Recurring Rear Camera Disconnections 

Re-seat Rear Camera Cable Connections at Both Ends

1. Turn off the vehicle ignition and unplug the main power cable from the DC-IN port on the front dash cam unit.

2. Locate the rear camera cable plug inserted into the front main unit's rear camera input port (such as V-IN or R-CAM).

3. Unplug the cable fully.

4. Move to the rear windshield camera unit and unplug the cable from the rear camera's connection port.

5. Inspect both cable connectors for dirt, dust, or bent metal contacts.

6. Re-insert the cable firmly into the front unit's rear camera input port until it seats completely.

7. Re-insert the other end into the rear camera port until it is fully seated.

8. Reconnect the main power cable and start the vehicle. The dash cam will boot up and announce "Rear camera connected, the system will now restart". If the disconnection prompt clears, the issue was a loose terminal contact.

Inspect Rear Camera Cable for Physical Damage and Pinch Points

Visually inspect the full length of the rear camera cable from the front windshield along the headliner, side pillars, and rear tailgate.

1. Check Tailgate and Trunk Hinges: Pay special attention to the section of cable passing through the rear hatchback rubber grommet or trunk hinge. Opening and closing the boot door can pinch, crush, or cut internal copper strands.

2. Check Detached Mount Impact: If the rear camera mount recently fell off the rear windshield, check if the cable connector was forcefully pulled or bent when the camera dropped.

3. If cuts, deep kinks, flat crushed spots, or exposed wires are found, the rear camera cable requires replacement.

Perform a Factory Reset

Follow the reset method for your model:

• U3000 PRO, U3000: Press and hold the REC and MIC buttons together until the dash cam beeps.
• Q200: Press and hold the Wi-Fi and REC buttons together until the dash cam beeps.
• LCD models: Use the reset option in the on-screen settings menu.

For reset buttons and menus by model, or if the reset does not work, see How to Reset your Dash Cam.

Update Dash Cam Firmware

If your model supports updates through THINKWARE DASH CAM LINK, follow these steps.

1. Turn on the dash cam, open THINKWARE DASH CAM LINK, and tap [Connect to the Dash Cam].

2. Tap [Download] when prompted and wait for the download to finish. When “Latest firmware files are available. Do you wish to update?” appears, tap [OK].

3. Tap [Continue] to switch to the dash cam’s Wi-Fi, then tap [Join] when your phone asks to connect to the THINKWARE network.

4. Wait while the firmware is installed. The dash cam will restart and temporarily disconnect from the app. The update is complete when you hear “Update Complete, Continuous Recording will now start”.

If no update prompt appears, go to [More] > [Support] > [Update Firmware] > [Firmware Download], then follow the confirmation and connection steps above.

For detailed instructions, troubleshooting, or the PC/Mac method if app updates are unavailable, see How to update your dash cam’s firmware.

Check Recurring Rear Camera Disconnections

1. If "Rear camera disconnected" clears after reseating but returns after driving or closing the trunk, check the cable and port connections for intermittent contact.

2. If the cable appears undamaged but the rear camera disconnects across multiple drives, contact THINKWARE support for a warranty assessment.

None of the above worked

If you have reseated both cable ends, checked the rear camera input port, F/R orientation, pinch points, compatibility, and image rotation, but disconnection prompts or a black screen continues across restarts, please contact THINKWARE support.

For warranty or technical evaluation information, see About THINKWARE's warranty policy.

Need more help?

Contact the support team for your region by email or phone. We’ll respond to your email as quickly as we can.

North America (US/CA)
Email: support@thinkware.com
Phone: 1-844-865-9273

United Kingdom (UK)
Email: support.eu@thinkware.com
Phone: +44 (0) 333-121-0008

Europe (EU)
Email: support@thinkwarestore.com
Phone: +49 69 943 22200