Is Your Canary Camera Missing Package Deliveries?
The Package Detection feature on Canary cameras is an invaluable tool for knowing exactly when your parcels arrive. It's designed to give you specific alerts, cutting through the noise of general motion notifications. However, if you find that your Canary camera is failing to detect packages, it can be a cause for concern, leaving you to wonder if your delivery is safe.
This troubleshooting guide will help you identify and fix the reasons why your Canary's package detection might be missing, so you can regain confidence in your home security.
### Why Package Detection Might Fail
Several factors can contribute to this issue. It could be related to your subscription status, camera settings, physical placement, or even lighting conditions. By methodically checking each of these, you can restore the feature's functionality.
How to Troubleshoot Missing Package Detection
Follow these steps to get your Canary camera identifying your deliveries again.
### 1. Confirm Your Canary Premium Subscription
Package Detection is a premium feature. The first thing to check is that your subscription is active.
- Open the Canary app on your smartphone.
- Navigate to the Settings menu.
- Check your Subscription Status or Account details.
- If your Canary Premium subscription has expired, you will need to renew it to continue using Package Detection and other premium features.
### 2. Optimise Your Camera's Placement
The position of your Canary camera is critical for accurate package detection.
- Clear Line of Sight: Ensure the camera has an unobstructed view of the area where packages are typically left. Bushes, pillars, or other objects can block the view.
- Optimal Height and Angle: Position the camera so that it looks down at the delivery area at a slight angle. If it's too high, packages might be too small to detect. If it's too low, the view might be too limited.
- Distance: The camera should be close enough to clearly see the package. If it's too far away, the AI may not be able to identify it correctly.
### 3. Check Your Notification Settings
You need to ensure that package detection notifications are enabled.
- In the Canary app, go to your camera's Settings.
- Find the Notifications menu.
- Make sure that Package Detection alerts are turned on. Sometimes, these can be accidentally disabled.
- Also, check that your phone's system settings are not blocking notifications from the Canary app.
### 4. Improve Lighting Conditions
The AI that powers package detection works best with good lighting.
- Daylight: Ensure the delivery area is well-lit during the day. Avoid placing the camera where strong backlight or glare could obscure the view.
- Night Vision: If you receive deliveries at night or in low-light conditions, make sure your camera's night vision is enabled and working effectively. Check that there are no nearby surfaces causing a reflection or glare that could interfere with the infrared LEDs.
### 5. Reboot Your Canary Camera
A simple reboot can often resolve temporary software glitches that might be affecting the feature.
- Unplug your Canary camera from the power outlet.
- Wait for about 60 seconds.
- Plug it back in and wait for it to come online.
- Monitor your next few deliveries to see if the issue is resolved.
If you have followed all of these steps and your Canary camera is still not detecting packages, it may be time to reach out to Canary Support. They can provide more specific assistance and check for any issues with your account or device.