Aqara Geofencing Not Working? A Smart Home Automation Fix

How to Fix Aqara Geofencing Not Working

Geofencing is a key feature for any smart home, allowing your Aqara system to automatically run scenes like "Leave Home" or "Arrive Home" based on your physical location. When this fails, you lose a significant layer of convenience and automation. This troubleshooting guide will help you diagnose and solve the common reasons why Aqara geofencing might not be working for you.

The entire feature depends on the Aqara Home app's ability to access your smartphone's location reliably and in the background. Therefore, the solution almost always lies within your phone's settings.

Step 1: Set the Correct Location Permissions

This is the number one reason for geofencing failure. The app needs permanent access to your location, not just when it's open on your screen.

• For iOS (iPhone):

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down to the list of apps and tap Aqara Home.
  3. Tap on Location.
  4. You must change the setting to "Always". This allows the app to detect when you cross the geofence boundary even when the app is closed.
  5. Also, ensure the "Precise Location" switch is enabled for accuracy.

• For Android:

  1. Open your phone's Settings.
  2. Go to Apps > Aqara Home > Permissions.
  3. Tap on Location permission.
  4. Select the option for "Allow all the time".
  5. Make sure the "Use precise location" option is also turned on.

Step 2: Disable Battery Optimisation for the Aqara App

Modern smartphones are very aggressive in closing background apps to save battery. This is poison for geofencing. You need to tell your phone to leave the Aqara Home app alone.

• For iOS (iPhone):

  • Ensure Low Power Mode is disabled. You can check this in Settings > Battery.
  • Enable Background App Refresh. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure it's turned on for the Aqara Home app.

• For Android:

  • The steps can vary slightly by manufacturer (Samsung, Google, etc.).
  • Go to Settings > Apps > Aqara Home > Battery.
  • Select "Unrestricted" or "Don't optimise". This prevents the Android operating system from putting the app to sleep.

Step 3: Check Your Geofence Configuration in the App

It's worth double-checking that the automation itself is configured correctly within the Aqara Home app.

1. Open the Aqara Home app and go to the "Automation" tab.
2. Find your geofencing automation (e.g., "When I leave home").
3. Check the Condition: The "IF" condition should be "When the geofencing status changes".
4. Verify the Location: Tap on the condition to edit it. Check that the pin on the map is accurately placed on your home address and that the radius is reasonable. A very small radius can be unreliable. A radius of 200-300 metres is often a good starting point.
5. Check the Action: Ensure the "THEN" part of the automation is set to perform the correct action, such as enabling the alarm system or turning off lights.

Step 4: Ensure Stable Connectivity

Your phone uses a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile data to determine its location.

• Keep Wi-Fi On: Even when you are not connected to a network, your phone scans for nearby Wi-Fi networks to help determine its location quickly and accurately. Keeping Wi-Fi enabled on your phone can improve geofencing reliability.
• Stable Mobile Data: A stable internet connection is required for your phone to communicate its location back to the Aqara servers to trigger the automation.

By meticulously checking and correcting these settings on your smartphone, you can resolve the vast majority of Aqara geofencing issues and restore the seamless automation you expect from your smart home system.