# Wyze Socket Without Camera? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cameras\ **Tags:** lamp-socket-v1\ **Created:** [December 23, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285 "2021-12-23T00:22:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RSJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/rsj/32/2955_2.png) [@RSJ](https://forums.wyze.com/u/RSJ)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/1 "2021-12-23T00:22:53Z")
Hello! I’ve been excited to receive my Wyze Lamp Sockets which arrived today. However, I only wish to use the “smart” function of the switch and not add a camera, but this doesn’t seem possible? Can I install these sockets without a camera attached to them? I was trying to use these sockets to control my outdoor lights so they turn on and off at specific times. I’m bummed now. ---
**Author:** ![geotec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@geotec](https://forums.wyze.com/u/geotec)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/2 "2021-12-23T00:28:40Z")
It is also my understanding that they will not work without a camera, bad advertising on the part of wyze, as I was hoping for the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![RSJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/rsj/32/2955_2.png) [@RSJ](https://forums.wyze.com/u/RSJ)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/3 "2021-12-23T00:29:36Z")
OK, I did more investigating and it looks like I’ll need to set up at least one Wyze cam and then I’m able to link all the others. Kind of a bummer cause I’m already loaded with cameras and they aren’t close to where I would use these sockets. Hmmmmm…guess I’ll install a camera and see how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![RSJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/rsj/32/2955_2.png) [@RSJ](https://forums.wyze.com/u/RSJ)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 12:30am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/4 "2021-12-23T00:30:56Z")
Awesome!! Thank you! Yes, when you read through the advertising it makes it sound like it’s a smart socket, and adding the camera is a bonus, but not a requirement. I don’t really understand why there isn’t a way to install and use these without having to link a camera. ---
**Author:** ![RSJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/rsj/32/2955_2.png) [@RSJ](https://forums.wyze.com/u/RSJ)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 1:35am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/5 "2021-12-23T01:35:33Z")
So I’ve been messing around with this and I have a few complaints. First of all, it’s a socket which I’m using outdoors, but I have to use an indoor camera and not outdoor? Additionally, the included cable is very short and limits the positioning of the camera. I’ve purchased nearly every Wyze product, but this one is a miss. ---
**Author:** ![spamoni](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/spamoni/32/34695_2.png) [@spamoni](https://forums.wyze.com/u/spamoni)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/6 "2021-12-23T01:39:46Z")
Yea, I ordered a few to play and test with. However, the v3 Camera is an outdoor camera as well. This is the same camera on the spot light as well. I would agree that the cable is a bit short, others were looking at how to extend it to make it more usable for their application of this. ---
**Author:** ![RSJ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/rsj/32/2955_2.png) [@RSJ](https://forums.wyze.com/u/RSJ)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 4:02pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/7 "2021-12-23T16:02:43Z")
Thank you for the reply! I guess I didn’t really realize the V3 was an outdoor camera since I have a half dozen of the rechargeable outdoor cams. I would think that you could still use a regular cable and it seems the included cable is encouraged for use since it creates a tight seal on the socket side. I may try to use a regular cable and see if that will work and then i could always use some sealant around the exposed area on the socket. ---
**Author:** ![spamoni](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/spamoni/32/34695_2.png) [@spamoni](https://forums.wyze.com/u/spamoni)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/8 "2021-12-23T16:32:27Z")
Would be interested in how it works out for you. ---
**Author:** ![Javashawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Javashawn](https://forums.wyze.com/u/Javashawn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/9 "2022-01-27T13:28:20Z")
So based on some of the messages in this thread it seems that at least 1 camera must be attached to the Wyze Lamp Socket when linking multiple sockets together? In my case, I have a pair of lights on each side of my garage door but I only want 1 camera connected. I would like both lights to turn on at the same time (be it motion-triggered, scheduled, etc). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ektm00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@ektm00](https://forums.wyze.com/u/ektm00)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/10 "2022-08-09T13:40:13Z")
Really disappointing the lamp socket only works with a camera attached. The description of the lamp socket really does make it seem like the camera is an optional add-on. ---
**Author:** ![WildBill](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/wildbill/32/41408_2.png) [@WildBill](https://forums.wyze.com/u/WildBill)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/11 "2022-08-09T18:18:32Z")
> [@RSJ](#): > > I don’t really understand why there isn’t a way to install and use these without having to link a camera. The camera provides the Wi-Fi connection to your network so the Wyze app can control the socket. ---
**Author:** ![aajones22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@aajones22](https://forums.wyze.com/u/aajones22)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/12 "2022-11-18T21:29:41Z")
The socket itself should be capable of Wifi without the need of hooking up camera. Very disappointing & misleading. I just wanted a way to control these lights using the Wyze app. Fail! ---
**Author:** ![ew\_stl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b77776/32.png) [@ew\_stl](https://forums.wyze.com/u/ew_stl)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/13 "2024-06-06T19:26:44Z")
Agreed. Another mind-blowing miss by Wyze engineers… once again. I’m tired of an ecosystem built around Wyze technologies only to have short coming way too often and for items that one would think would be easy wins. And yes, piss poor advertising around the socket. ---
**Author:** ![ssummerlin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/ssummerlin/32/106815_2.png) [@ssummerlin](https://forums.wyze.com/u/ssummerlin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/14 "2024-06-06T19:36:12Z")
> [@WildBill](#): > > The camera provides the Wi-Fi connection to your network so the Wyze app can control the socket. Wow. I did not realize a cam was required. This old thread is a good find. ---
**Author:** ![palazzohudson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@palazzohudson](https://forums.wyze.com/u/palazzohudson)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/15 "2025-10-16T19:00:28Z")
wow! My dad has been building a Wyze ecosystem, and we’ve both been so excited about it. I just went through the effort of installing the socket, using a ladder at a very high place and now realizing that we can’t use it for anything unless we add another camera. ---
**Author:** ![Crease](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/crease/32/123254_2.png) [@Crease](https://forums.wyze.com/u/Crease)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/16 "2025-10-16T21:36:32Z")
Welcome to the Forum, @palazzohudson! 👋 Do you know for sure that you installed a Lamp Socket v1? Is it possible that it’s a Lamp Socket v2? The latter will have a yellow flap over the USB-A port. If you can confirm the devices that you’re using and what your goal is, then the community might be able to offer some input. ---
**Author:** ![palazzohudson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@palazzohudson](https://forums.wyze.com/u/palazzohudson)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 12:01pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/17 "2025-10-17T12:01:10Z")
thanks for the welcome! As far as I can tell regardless, you have to have a camera with it. We moved to one of our cameras that we didn’t really need where it was to wear the new socket is. My dad, like other people on this thread, though, definitely tricked. Wyze advertising it as a magical socket and not mentioning a camera anywhere is silly ---
**Author:** ![Crease](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/crease/32/123254_2.png) [@Crease](https://forums.wyze.com/u/Crease)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/18 "2025-10-17T17:16:03Z")
> [@palazzohudson](#): > > As far as I can tell regardless, you have to have a camera with it. That’s _sort of_ true. I don’t have any Lamp Socket v1s, but my understanding with those is that they require a camera to be physically tethered via its USB data cable in order to control at least one socket (like if you have several sockets in a group linked with Bluetooth). With Lamp Socket v2, no physical cable connection is required, but a compatible Cam has to be linked to it for setup and control. Once Lamp Socket v2 has been added, each socket has its own Wi-Fi connection to your home network. In my current use, I have two Lamp Socket v2s controlling lighting when triggered by a Cam v4 in the same room, and a third Lamp Socket v2 in another room also activates when those lights turn on. I believe that this also means Lamp Socket v2 _should_ be available to control with Automations, meaning that a user should be able to activate lights with that version independent of what its paired Cam is doing, and [that’s something I’ve mentioned to Wyze](https://forums.wyze.com/t/lamp-socket-v2-is-falsely-claimed-to-be-compatible-with-cam-pan-v4-and-can-not-reliably-be-motion-activated/337106/9), because it appears that they’ve built an incomplete Automations implementation for Lamp Socket v2. > [@palazzohudson](#): > > Wyze advertising it as a magical socket and not mentioning a camera anywhere is silly What was your (and your dad’s) expectation for either of the Lamp Socket models? I’m not seeing any mentions of use for Lamp Socket v1 _without_ an attached Wyze Cam on [its product page](https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-lamp-socket), and [Lamp Socket v2’s product page](https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-lamp-socket-v2) says in the FAQ section that a compatible Cam is required: > [@](#): > > ### Can I use Wyze Lamp Socket v2 without a Wyze Cam? > > No, Wyze Lamp Socket v2 requires a compatible Wyze Cam for initial setup in the Wyze app and most other functions. Features like motion light, person-triggered lighting, and manually turning on/off the lamp socket in the app require a Wyze Cam. Without a compatible Wyze Cam, you can only use the lamp socket as a USB power source. Wyze can always do a better job with the clarity of their messaging, though. I don’t know how many times I’ve said that in this Forum. ---
**Author:** ![p2788deal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/p2788deal/32/117361_2.png) [@p2788deal](https://forums.wyze.com/u/p2788deal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/19 "2025-10-17T19:41:15Z")
> [@Crease](#): > > Wyze can always do a better job with the clarity of their messaging Isn’t _“Wyze error code 10003”_ good enough? 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![jaimin007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@jaimin007](https://forums.wyze.com/u/jaimin007)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285/20 "2026-01-11T17:23:31Z")
This sure is a dumb design and definitely a false advertising. I will add a camera to the socket at some point, but for now, I wanted to make the outdoor light bulb smart enough to turn on and off at a schedule. I was going to get a smart bulb, and then saw this which would allow future addition of camera once I figure out where to mount one. Now I have a socket connected but even less useful than a paper weight. ☹ [Next page](https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-socket-without-camera/208285.md?page=2)