Fix Doorbird Geofencing Not Working Issues

Fix Doorbird Geofencing Not Working Issues

Geofencing is a powerful feature of the Doorbird system, allowing you to automate actions based on your physical location. For example, you can have it automatically open a gate when you arrive home or silence certain notifications when you are present. When this smart feature fails, it can be a frustrating experience, undermining the convenience of your smart home setup.

This troubleshooting guide will walk you through the common causes of Doorbird geofencing problems and how to resolve them, ensuring your location-based automations work smoothly.

## Common Symptoms of Geofencing Failure

First, let's identify the specific problem you are encountering. Common symptoms include:

• Automated Actions Do Not Trigger: The main function fails; for example, your gate does not open upon arrival, or a connected smart light does not turn on.
• App Fails to Update Location: The Doorbird app does not correctly register whether you are 'Home' or 'Away'.
• Inconsistent or Delayed Actions: The geofencing trigger works, but it is extremely unreliable or is delayed by several minutes, making it impractical.
• Geofencing Settings Won't Save: You configure the geofence in the app, but the settings do not seem to apply or they revert back.
• Excessive Battery Drain: You notice your smartphone's battery is draining much faster than usual since enabling the feature.

## Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Doorbird Geofencing

Geofencing relies on a partnership between your smartphone's operating system and the Doorbird app. The problem usually lies in the settings of one of these two components.

### 1. Check Smartphone Permissions and Settings

This is the most common source of geofencing issues. The Doorbird app needs specific, uninterrupted access to your phone's location services.

• Grant 'Always Allow' Location Access:
  • For iOS (iPhone): Go to Settings → Privacy → Location Services. Find the Doorbird app in the list. You must set the permission to Always. If it is set to "While Using the App", geofencing will not work when the app is in the background. Also, ensure the Precise Location toggle is enabled.
  • For Android: Go to Settings → Location → App permissions. Find the Doorbird app and set its access to Allow all the time.
• Disable Battery Optimisation for the App: Modern smartphones aggressively manage battery life by putting apps to sleep. This is a major cause of geofencing failure.
  • For Android: Go to Settings → Apps → Doorbird → Battery. Select Unrestricted. (The exact path may vary by phone brand).
  • For iOS: Disable Low Power Mode in Settings → Battery, as this mode reduces background activities like GPS tracking.
• Enable Background App Refresh: On iOS, go to Settings → General → Background App Refresh and ensure it is enabled for the Doorbird app.

### 2. Configure the Geofence Correctly in the Doorbird App

An improperly configured geofence will lead to poor performance.

• Set an Accurate Home Location: Open the Doorbird app and navigate to the Geofencing settings. Make sure the pin on the map is dropped exactly on your home's location.
• Use an Appropriate Radius: Do not set the geofence radius too small. A very small circle makes the system vulnerable to normal GPS drift, which can cause it to think you are leaving and returning when you are stationary. A radius of 150 metres or more is generally recommended for reliable performance.

### 3. Ensure a Stable Network Connection

Both your phone and your Doorbird need a reliable internet connection to communicate and execute the commands.

• Check Your Phone's Data: Ensure your smartphone has a stable mobile data (4G/5G) or Wi-Fi connection when you are away from home.
• Check Your Doorbird's Connection: The Doorbird unit itself must be online and connected to the internet for it to receive the command triggered by the geofence. Check in the app that your Doorbird is online and you can view its video feed.

### 4. Update and Refresh

Finally, if problems persist, running the latest software and re-establishing the connection can help.

• Update the Doorbird App: Check your phone's app store for any available updates to the Doorbird app.
• Restart Your Phone: A simple reboot can often clear temporary glitches with your phone's location services.
• Log Out and Log Back In: Sign out of your account in the Doorbird app, close it, and then sign back in. This can refresh your settings and re-establish a proper link with the Doorbird servers.