How to install a Blink doorbell depends on which model you own. The Video Doorbell (2nd Gen), Battery Doorbell 2K+, and Wired Doorbell 2K+ differ in app setup, power, and chime wiring. This Blink video doorbell installation guide takes you through the right steps, from mounting and chime setup to a final test.
First, identify your Blink doorbell
| Model | Power and setup | Existing in-home chime |
|---|---|---|
| Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) | Three non-rechargeable lithium AA batteries and a Sync Module; optional doorbell wiring | Can ring a compatible mechanical or digital chime when wired |
| Battery Doorbell 2K+ | Three non-rechargeable lithium AA batteries and a Sync Module; optional doorbell wiring | Can ring a compatible mechanical or digital chime when wired |
| Wired Doorbell 2K+ | Continuous wired power or Blink’s compatible plug-in adapter; app pairs directly with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Does not ring the existing mechanical chime; Blink requires a bypass at the chime |
Do not assume “wired” means the same thing on all three. The two battery models still need their AA batteries after you connect doorbell wires. The Wired Doorbell 2K+ has no battery backup and disables the old mechanical chime when you install its required bypass cable. If the label says Video Doorbell (1st Gen), use Blink’s first-generation instructions instead.
If you are still deciding which model fits your setup, our Blink Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) review covers video quality, battery life, motion detection, storage options, and Alexa integration in more detail.
Before you install a Blink doorbell: tools, signal, and location
Gather the included paper template, mounting plate, screws, anchors, release key, drill, suitable drill bits, Phillips screwdriver, and your phone with the Blink app. Keep the release key where you can find it later for Blink Doorbell battery replacement. Check the package for the exact hardware supplied with your model.
Choose a position around 40 to 48 inches above the ground, then hold the doorbell at that spot and check the view. Make sure the camera sees visitors’ faces and the doorstep without pointing mostly at the road or a wall. A corner adapter changes the horizontal angle; a wedge changes the vertical angle. Check that your chosen location has a reliable signal before drilling. For the battery models, position the Sync Module where it can communicate reliably with the doorbell.
If the trim is narrow, the surface is uneven, or you need a wedge or a no-drill option, choose the bracket for your specific doorbell model. A Blink outdoor camera mount is not automatically a doorbell mount. Choose the correct mount before drilling so its hole pattern and camera angle fit the job.
Step 1: Set up a battery model in the Blink app
For the Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) and Battery Doorbell 2K+, do the app setup before attaching the mounting plate. Download the Blink app, create or sign in to your account, and add your Sync Module first. In the app, tap the + icon, select Sync Module, scan its QR code, and follow the prompts to join its temporary Blink network and your home Wi-Fi. If the module already appears in your account, use that system.
- Tap + on the Blink home screen and select Video Doorbell.
- Scan the QR code on the back of the doorbell or enter its serial number manually. Select the system with your Sync Module; disarm the system if the app asks.
- Open the battery compartment and insert the three included non-rechargeable lithium AA batteries in the marked orientation.
- When the ring flashes red, tap Discover Device. Name the doorbell and follow the in-app Mount Doorbell prompts.
That shared app sequence applies to both current battery models. You still choose wired or non-wired installation in the mounting flow. If you are not sure which model you own, check the device and packaging before selecting a mounting accessory.
Step 2A: Mount the Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) or Battery Doorbell 2K+ without wiring
- In the app, open the doorbell’s More (…) > Device Settings > Doorbell and Chime Settings > Mounting and Chime Setup > Mount Doorbell. Choose the option for an installation without existing chime wiring.
- If replacing an existing button, turn off its circuit at the breaker, remove the button, cap the two old wires separately, and tuck them safely into the wall. Follow the app’s prompts before restoring power to the old circuit.
- Tape the included paper template at the chosen height. Mark the holes, drill for your wall material, and insert the included anchors where needed.
- Fasten the back plate with the supplied screws without overtightening. On a flat surface, use the top and bottom positions; Blink provides a top and middle option for a small or uneven surface. Follow the orientation marks on your model’s plate.
- Click the doorbell onto its plate. Finish the app’s Wi-Fi check and open Live View to confirm the framing.
When you choose battery-only mounting, the old wired chime cannot ring from that doorbell. Set up a compatible indoor alert after installation.
Step 2B: Wire a battery model to your existing chime
Both the Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) and Battery Doorbell 2K+ can connect to compatible 8–24 VAC, 50–60 Hz, 40 VA maximum mechanical or digital chime wiring. Check the transformer label and Blink’s model-specific instructions. The transformer’s voltage should match the chime. If you cannot verify the wiring, have an electrician check it. Keep the three lithium AA batteries installed; the doorbell wiring does not replace them.
- In Mounting and Chime Setup, choose to connect to your existing chime and confirm compatibility in the app.
- Switch off the doorbell circuit at the breaker and confirm the old button no longer works. Remove the old button while keeping the two low-voltage wires accessible.
- Mark and drill the plate holes using the included template. If you use a wedge or corner mount, feed the wires through its opening before securing the plate.
- Attach one old doorbell wire to each terminal on the battery model’s back plate. Blink says either wire can go to either terminal. Use the included wire extensions if needed, and keep exposed conductors from touching.
- Secure the plate, click the doorbell into place, restore power, and finish the Blink app’s connection and chime test.
If the doorbell works in the app but the old chime stays silent, revisit the transformer rating and the Doorbell and Chime Settings in the app. Do not assume that any set of existing doorbell wires is compatible.
Step 3: Install the Wired Doorbell 2K+
The Wired Doorbell 2K+ follows a different order: install power and mount it, then pair it in the app. For a U.S. existing-doorbell installation, Blink lists a 12–24 VAC transformer at 10–40 VA, with 30 VA or higher recommended. It has no batteries. Blink also offers a compatible plug-in power adapter for a location without old doorbell wiring; follow that adapter’s instructions if you use it.
- Turn off the circuit breaker and verify the doorbell is off. Remove the cover of the old indoor chime. For a standard U.S. chime, Blink instructs you to connect the supplied bypass cable across the Front and Trans terminals while keeping the existing wires in place. Tighten both terminals. This bypass disables that mechanical chime.
- Remove the old exterior button. Use Blink’s paper template to mark a location around 40 to 48 inches above the floor; drill and anchor for the wall surface.
- Route the two existing doorbell wires through the mount. Secure the mounting bracket and attach one wire to each terminal on the back of the Wired Doorbell 2K+. The terminals are not polarity-sensitive.
- Click the doorbell into the bracket, restore power, and check that its front LED lights.
- In the Blink app, tap + > Video Doorbell, scan the code on the device or box, name it, tap Discover Device, join the temporary BLINK-xxxx network, then select your 2.4 GHz home Wi-Fi network and enter its password.
If your old chime has different terminals or the transformer rating is unclear, follow Blink’s Wired Doorbell 2K+ installation guide or ask an electrician. Do not bridge terminals based on a photo of a different chime.
Choose your indoor chime
Wired battery models can ring a compatible existing chime. An unwired battery model and the Wired Doorbell 2K+ need another way to sound inside: a compatible Blink Mini camera on the same system, a plug-in Blink Chime, or a compatible Alexa device with doorbell press announcements enabled. You will also receive supported Blink app alerts. Third-party wireless chimes are not interchangeable with Blink Chime.
Set up the chosen device, press the doorbell once, and check that you hear it from a room where you spend time. Blink’s chime options lists the current choices and settings.
Common installation problems
It will not pair with the app
Check that your battery model has the required Sync Module online and that the three lithium AA batteries are correctly seated. For the Wired Doorbell 2K+, confirm its LED lights after restoring power and join the temporary Blink network when the app prompts you. Recheck the 2.4 GHz network password and try setup close to the router or module before moving the device to its final position.
The doorbell works, but there is no indoor sound
For either battery model, confirm that you selected the wired chime option and that the old chime and transformer meet Blink’s ratings. For the Wired Doorbell 2K+, an old mechanical chime is expected to stop ringing because of the bypass. Configure a Mini, Blink Chime, or compatible Alexa device instead.
The camera points the wrong way or sees little of the doorstep
Use Live View to check the frame before final tightening. Move the plate or use a model-compatible wedge or corner mount to change the angle. Check the view again at night, when porch lights and reflections can alter what the camera captures.
Motion notifications do not arrive
Check the phone’s Blink notification permission, then arm the relevant Blink system and test motion in front of the doorbell. A successful button-press notification does not, by itself, prove motion alerts are armed.
Final check
Press the button, listen for the intended indoor chime, open the notification, test Live View and two-way talk, and walk up to the door to check motion coverage. Save the release key and note which breaker controls the doorbell.
For more help, read our Blink Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) review, see how to change batteries in a Blink Doorbell, or review the current Blink subscription plans. Our Blink reviews hub gathers the rest of our Blink reviews and how-to guides.
