Axis Geofencing Not Working? A Server and App Fix Guide

Axis Geofencing Not Working? A Configuration Guide

Geofencing is a powerful feature within the AXIS Camera Station ecosystem that provides intelligent, location-based automation for your security system. It allows you to create rules that trigger automatically when users with the mobile app enter or leave a predefined geographical area. A common use case is to automatically arm the recording system when the last person leaves the office and disarm it when the first person arrives.

If this feature is not working reliably for you, the cause is almost always related to the configuration on the server or, more commonly, the settings on the user's mobile phone. This guide will walk you through the steps to get it working perfectly.

## Essential Mobile Phone Settings

The geofencing system relies entirely on the mobile app's ability to report its location to the AXIS Camera Station server. If the app can't get or send this information, the system will fail. These settings must be correct on every user's phone that is part of the geofencing system.

### 1. Location Services must be Enabled

This is the master switch for all location-based services on the phone.

• For iOS (iPhone): Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Ensure the main toggle is ON.
• For Android: Go to Settings > Location and ensure 'Use location' is ON.

### 2. App-Specific Location Permissions (Crucial)

This is the most common point of failure. The Axis app needs persistent access to your location.

• For iOS (iPhone): In Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, find the AXIS Camera Station app. The permission must be set to Always. If it's set to 'While Using the App', geofencing will not work when the app is in the background. You must also enable the Precise Location toggle.
• For Android: Go to Settings > Apps > AXIS Camera Station > Permissions > Location. The permission must be set to Allow all the time. You must also enable Use precise location.

### 3. Disable Aggressive Battery Optimisation

Smartphones try to save battery by closing apps running in the background. This can prevent the Axis app from sending location updates.

• For iOS (iPhone): Avoid using Low Power Mode, as this restricts background activities.
• For Android: This varies by manufacturer, but you should go to Settings > Apps > AXIS Camera Station > App battery usage and set it to Unrestricted. This tells the phone's operating system not to put the app to sleep.

## AXIS Camera Station Server Configuration

Once the mobile devices are correctly configured, you need to ensure the settings on your server are correct. You will need administrator privileges to access these settings.

### 1. Defining the Geofence Site

1. Open the AXIS Camera Station client.
2. Navigate to Configuration > System Options > Mobile App.
3. In the Geofencing section, enter the correct street address for your site.
4. Use the Radius slider to define the size of the virtual boundary. Start with a radius of around 150-200 metres. A radius that is too small can be unreliable.
5. Save the settings.

### 2. Creating a Geofence Action Rule

Simply defining the fence does nothing on its own. You need to create an Action Rule to tell the system what to do with that information.

1. Go to Configuration > Action Rules.
2. Click the New button to create a new rule.
3. Give the rule a descriptive name, like "Arm system when last person leaves".
4. Under the Triggers section, click Add.
5. Select Geofence event from the list of triggers.
6. Now you can configure the specifics. In the dropdown, you can choose from:
   • A user enters the site
   • A user leaves the site
   • The first user enters the site
   • The last user leaves the site
7. Select The last user leaves the site for an arming rule.
8. Under the Actions section, click Add.
9. Choose the action you want to perform, such as Arm security system.
10. Click OK and then Save the rule.

By ensuring both the mobile device permissions are correct and the server-side configuration is properly set up, you can leverage geofencing to create a truly automated and intelligent security system with AXIS Camera Station.