Aqara Camera Not Detecting Vehicles? Here’s How to Fix It
Aqara cameras are equipped with advanced AI to intelligently detect people, pets, and vehicles, reducing the number of false notifications you receive. However, if you find your camera is consistently failing to pick up cars, lorries, or other vehicles, it can compromise your home security. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough to troubleshoot and resolve issues with Aqara's vehicle detection feature.
### Step 1: Check Your In-App Configuration
The most common reason for vehicle detection failure is a simple misconfiguration in the Aqara Home app. Let's ensure everything is set up correctly.
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Enable Vehicle Detection:
- Open the Aqara Home app and select the camera you're having issues with.
- Navigate to Settings > Detection Settings (this may be labelled slightly differently depending on your camera model, e.g., 'AI Settings').
- Ensure that the toggle for Vehicle Detection or Vehicle Shape Detection is switched ON.
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Adjust Detection Sensitivity:
- Within the same settings menu, you will find a Detection Sensitivity slider.
- If it's set to 'Low', the camera may ignore vehicles that are far away or only partially in frame. Try increasing the sensitivity to 'Medium' or 'High' and test again.
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Review Your Detection Zone:
- If you have configured a specific activity zone, make sure it accurately covers the area where you expect to see vehicles, such as your driveway or the road.
- If a car is parked or passes outside of this defined zone, the camera will correctly ignore it. Temporarily disable the detection zone to see if the camera then detects vehicles everywhere in its view.
### Step 2: Optimise Camera Placement and Environment
The physical position of your camera and its surrounding environment play a crucial role in the AI's ability to work effectively.
- Ensure a Clear Line of Sight: The camera needs an unobstructed view. Trim any bushes or tree branches that might be blocking the view of your driveway or the street.
- Clean the Lens: A smudged, dirty, or dusty lens can significantly degrade image quality, making it difficult for the AI to analyse shapes. Gently wipe the lens with a soft, microfibre cloth.
- Avoid Pointing Through Glass: Placing an indoor camera to look out of a window can cause significant glare and reflections, especially at night when the IR lights are on. This will confuse the detection algorithm. For outdoor monitoring, always use a dedicated outdoor camera.
- Check Lighting Conditions: While Aqara cameras have excellent night vision, very low light or deep shadows can still pose a challenge. Ensure the area is reasonably well-lit. If necessary, consider installing an external motion-activated light.
### Step 3: Perform Essential System Maintenance
If your settings and placement are correct, the issue might be software-related.
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Update Firmware: Manufacturers regularly release firmware updates to improve performance and fix bugs.
- In the Aqara Home app, go to your camera's settings page.
- The app will usually notify you if a firmware update is available. Proceed with the installation.
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Reboot the Camera: A simple power cycle can resolve many temporary glitches.
- Unplug your Aqara camera from the power source.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in and allow it to fully restart.
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Reboot Your Wi-Fi Router: While it may seem unrelated, a poor network connection can sometimes interfere with the camera's advanced processing features. Restarting your router can help stabilise the connection.
By systematically working through these configuration, placement, and maintenance steps, you can resolve most issues with Aqara vehicle detection and ensure your smart home security is working as intended. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Aqara support for further assistance.