Bosch Geofencing Not Working? A Troubleshooting Guide

Bosch Geofencing Not Working? Here's How to Fix It

Geofencing is a powerful feature in the Bosch smart home ecosystem that uses your phone's location to automate actions. It can automatically arm your alarm system when you leave home or turn on your cameras, providing a seamless and intelligent security experience. When it fails to work, you lose this convenience and may even forget to arm your system.

This guide will help you troubleshoot the common reasons why Bosch geofencing might not be working and how to resolve them.

1. Check and Correct App Permissions

The single most common cause of geofencing failure is incorrect location permissions for the Bosch app (such as the Bosch Smart Home or Bosch Camera app). The app needs to know your location even when it's not open on your screen.

• For iOS (iPhone):
  1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
  2. Find the relevant Bosch app in the list.
  3. Under "Allow Location Access", you must select "Always". If "While Using the App" is selected, geofencing will not function correctly.
  4. Ensure the "Precise Location" toggle is also turned on.
• For Android:
  1. Go to Settings > Apps.
  2. Find and select the Bosch app.
  3. Tap on Permissions > Location.
  4. Select "Allow all the time". Choosing "Allow only while using the app" will prevent geofencing from working when the app is in the background.

2. Disable Battery Optimisation for the App

Modern smartphones are aggressive in closing apps that run in the background to save battery. This can interfere with the geofencing service. You need to tell your phone to make an exception for the Bosch app.

• For iOS: Low Power Mode can reduce background activities. If you are experiencing issues, try disabling it by going to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode.
• For Android: The steps can vary slightly by manufacturer, but you are looking for "Battery Optimisation" or a similar setting.
  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Bosch App > Battery.
  2. Look for an optimisation setting and select "Unrestricted" or "Not Optimised". This allows the app to run in the background without being shut down by the system.

3. Verify Your Geofence Setup

An incorrectly configured geofence zone can also be the problem.

• Check the Location: Open the Bosch app and go to the geofencing settings. Make sure the pin for your home is placed accurately on the map.
• Adjust the Radius: The geofence is a virtual circle around your location. If the radius is too small, your phone's GPS might drift in and out, causing false triggers or failures. Try increasing the radius slightly (e.g., to 150 or 200 metres) to make it more stable.

4. Ensure a Stable Network Connection

Geofencing requires your phone to communicate its location to the Bosch servers.

• Mobile Data: Ensure that mobile data is enabled on your phone. If you only have Wi-Fi on, geofencing will fail as soon as you leave your home's Wi-Fi range.
• GPS Signal: The feature relies on a good GPS signal. It may not work reliably in underground car parks or areas with a poor satellite view. The trigger should occur once you get a clear signal.

5. Reboot and Relaunch

If you've checked all the settings and it's still not working, try a fresh start.

1. Log Out: Log out of your account in the Bosch app.
2. Force Close: Force close the app from your phone's recent apps menu.
3. Reboot Your Phone: Turn your phone completely off and then back on again.
4. Log In: Open the app and log back into your account.

This process can often clear up temporary glitches with the app or your phone's location services. By systematically working through these permissions, settings, and connection checks, you can solve the vast majority of issues with Bosch geofencing.