Aqara Motion Sensor Not Working? A Troubleshooting Guide
Aqara motion sensors are a popular and affordable way to build powerful automations in your smart home. Whether you're turning on lights, triggering alerts, or starting a routine, they are incredibly useful—until they stop responding.
If your Aqara motion sensor is no longer detecting movement or has become unresponsive, don't worry. The fix is usually quite simple. This guide will take you through the most common problems and how to solve them.
## Common Symptoms of a Faulty Sensor
- Automations linked to the sensor do not trigger.
- The sensor's status in the Aqara Home or Apple Home app does not change when you move in front of it.
- The device appears as "Offline" or "No Response" in the app.
- The blue indicator light does not flash when you press the reset button.
## Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Let's work through the potential issues, from the most common to the least likely.
### 1. Check the Battery
This is, by far, the most common reason for an Aqara motion sensor to stop working. The included battery may not last as long as a premium replacement.
- What you need: A new CR2450 coin battery.
- How to replace it: Twist the back cover of the sensor anti-clockwise to open it. The battery is located on the back of the cover. Pop the old one out and insert the new one, ensuring the '+' side is facing up.
- Test it: Once the new battery is in, try triggering the sensor. You can also press the reset button once; a blue light should flash, indicating it has power and is connected.
### 2. Check the Zigbee Connection and Range
Aqara sensors use Zigbee to communicate with their Hub, not Wi-Fi. This connection can be affected by distance and obstacles.
- Too Far from the Hub: The sensor might be too far from your Aqara Hub. Thick concrete walls can also significantly weaken the signal. Try moving the sensor closer to the Hub to see if it starts responding.
- Zigbee Network Interference: Other wireless devices can interfere with the Zigbee signal. This includes Wi-Fi routers, cordless phones, and even microwaves. Try to ensure your Aqara Hub is not placed directly next to your Wi-Fi router.
- Add a Repeater: If range is the issue, you don't necessarily need another Hub. Most powered Aqara devices, such as the Aqara Smart Plug, act as Zigbee repeaters. Placing one of these halfway between your Hub and the sensor can strengthen the network and solve the connection problem.
### 3. The 60-Second Timeout Period
It's important to understand that the Aqara motion sensor has a built-in "cooldown" or "timeout" period to conserve battery. By default, after the sensor detects motion, it will not report a new motion event for 60 seconds.
- How it works: If you walk into a room, it triggers. If you stay in the room, it will not re-trigger until it has detected no motion for a full 60 seconds.
- Is it the problem? This is normal behaviour, not a fault. However, if you are testing the sensor by waving your hand in front of it repeatedly, it may seem like it's not working after the first trigger. Wait for two minutes and try again.
### 4. Re-Pair the Sensor with the Hub
If a new battery and a good signal don't solve the problem, the sensor may have lost its connection to the Hub. Re-pairing it can fix this.
- Bring the sensor close to your Aqara Hub.
- Open the Aqara Home app and put your Hub into pairing mode (usually by tapping '+' to add a new device).
- Press and hold the reset button on the side of the motion sensor for about 5 seconds.
- The blue light will flash, indicating it is in pairing mode.
- Follow the instructions in the app to complete the pairing process. You shouldn't have to delete the device from the app first; it should reconnect.
By following these steps, you can resolve the vast majority of issues with an unresponsive Aqara motion sensor and get your smart home automations running smoothly again.