Canary Snapshot Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It
The Canary Snapshot feature is a clever tool that provides a quick visual confirmation when the mode of your security system changes. It's designed to capture and send a still image from your Canary camera at the moment your system is disarmed, giving you peace of mind that it was an authorised person arriving home.
However, if you're not receiving these snapshots, or if they are inconsistent, it can be frustrating. This guide will help you troubleshoot common issues with the Canary Snapshot feature.
## Understanding How Snapshot Works
Before troubleshooting, it's crucial to understand what Snapshot is meant to do. It is not a motion-activated feature.
- Trigger: Snapshot is triggered by a change in your Canary's mode.
- Common Use Case: The most common trigger is when your system switches from "Away" mode to "Home" mode (i.e., when you disarm the system).
- Purpose: It provides a picture of what the camera saw at the exact moment of the mode change.
If you are looking for alerts based on movement, you should be checking your motion-activated video recording settings, not Snapshot.
## Step 1: Check if the Feature is Enabled in Your Modes
The most common reason for Snapshot not working is that it has been disabled in your mode settings.
- Open the Canary App: Launch the app on your smartphone.
- Go to Settings: Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of the Dashboard.
- Select "Modes": Here you will see your different modes listed (e.g., Away, Home, Night).
- Edit Your "Home" Mode: Tap on your "Home" mode (or whichever mode you disarm to).
- Check "Canary Options": Scroll down and you will see an option for "Snapshot". Ensure this is toggled ON. If it's off, your Canary will not take a picture when you switch to this mode.
- Check Other Modes: You can enable or disable Snapshot for each mode independently. For example, you might not want a snapshot when you switch to Night mode.
## Step 2: Ensure Your Location Settings are Correct
Canary's auto-mode switching relies on your phone's location (geofencing) to determine if you are home or away. If this isn't working correctly, the modes won't change, and Snapshot won't be triggered.
- Enable Location Services: Go into your phone's main settings and ensure Location Services are fully enabled for the Canary app. Set the permission to "Always Allow" for the most reliable performance.
- Check Your Home Address: In the Canary app settings, under "Location Settings", make sure your home address is set correctly and the geofence radius is appropriate.
If you are manually changing modes and Snapshot is still not working, then the issue is not with geofencing.
## Step 3: Check Your Camera's Connectivity
For a Snapshot to be taken and uploaded, your Canary camera must be online and have a stable internet connection at the moment the mode changes.
- Is the Camera Online? Check the Canary app to ensure the camera in question doesn't show as "Offline". If it is, you'll need to troubleshoot its connection first.
- Wi-Fi Strength: A weak or intermittent Wi-Fi signal could cause the snapshot command to fail. If the camera is far from your router, consider moving it closer or using a Wi-Fi extender.
## Step 4: Check Notification Settings
Perhaps the snapshot is being taken, but you're just not being notified about it.
- In the Canary App: Go to Settings > Notifications. Ensure that "Mode Changed" notifications are enabled.
- In Your Phone's Settings: Go to your phone's system settings, find the Canary app, and make sure you have allowed it to send you push notifications.
By checking that the feature is enabled, your location settings are correct, and your camera has a solid connection, you can resolve most issues with the Canary Snapshot feature and regain that extra layer of visual confirmation.