Eufy Facial Recognition Not Working? Let's Fix It.
Eufy's facial recognition is a powerful feature that transforms your security camera from a simple motion detector into a smart home device that knows the difference between a family member and a stranger. When it works, it's brilliant. But when it starts misidentifying people or failing to recognise them at all, it can be a source of frustration.
If you're tired of getting notifications for "unfamiliar faces" when it's just your partner coming home, you're in the right place. This guide will help you troubleshoot and fine-tune Eufy's facial recognition to improve its accuracy and reliability.
## Common Facial Recognition Symptoms
First, let's identify the specific issue you're facing. Understanding the symptom will help you apply the right solution.
- Familiar Faces Not Recognised: The system fails to identify people you have already saved in your "Familiar Faces" album.
- Inaccurate Identification: The camera consistently mixes up two or more different people.
- No Faces Detected: The system doesn't seem to detect any faces at all, familiar or otherwise.
- "Familiar Faces" Album Not Updating: New faces captured by the camera are not being added to the album for you to identify.
- Poor Performance in Certain Conditions: Recognition works fine during the day but fails at night or when a person is wearing a hat or glasses.
- Feature is Greyed Out: The option to enable facial recognition is unavailable in the app settings.
## How to Improve Eufy Facial Recognition Accuracy
Follow these steps to troubleshoot and enhance the performance of your Eufy camera's AI.
### 1. Optimise Camera Placement and Lighting
The position of your camera is the single most important factor for accurate facial recognition.
- Height: Install your camera between 7-10 feet (2-3 metres) from the ground. If it's too high, it will only see the top of people's heads.
- Angle: The camera should be angled slightly downwards, aiming for a clear, straight-on view of a person's face as they approach. Avoid sharp side angles.
- Lighting: Faces must be clearly illuminated. For nighttime performance, ensure the area is well-lit by a porch light or the camera's own spotlight or infrared LEDs. Strong backlighting (e.g., the sun directly behind a person) can create silhouettes and hinder detection.
### 2. Manage Your "Familiar Faces" Album
You need to actively teach the AI. The more data you provide, the smarter it gets.
- Add Clear Profile Images: Go to the "Familiar Faces" section in the app. For each person, make sure you have a few clear, well-lit, front-facing photos.
- Name Every Face: Regularly check your event history for unrecognised faces. Tap on them and assign a name. This is crucial for the learning process.
- Correct Mistakes: If the AI misidentifies someone, correct it. In the event details, you can change the name from "Person A" to "Person B."
- Merge Duplicates: Over time, the app might create multiple profiles for the same person. Periodically go into the "Familiar Faces" settings and merge these duplicates into a single profile.
### 3. Check App and Firmware Settings
Ensure everything is configured correctly within the software.
- Enable the Feature: Double-check that "Facial Recognition" or "Familiar Faces" is enabled in the camera's settings within the Eufy Security app.
- Update Firmware: Manufacturers constantly release firmware updates to improve performance, including AI algorithms. Make sure your camera and HomeBase have the latest firmware installed. You can check for updates in the "About Device" section of the app.
- Detection Zone: Make sure your motion detection activity zone is configured to cover the area where you expect to see faces.
### 4. Reboot Your System
When in doubt, a simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches.
- Restart the Camera: Use the "Restart Device" option in the camera's settings in the app. If that's not available, you can power cycle it by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
- Reboot the HomeBase: If your camera is connected to a HomeBase, restart that as well.
By optimising your camera's physical placement and actively managing the software settings, you can significantly improve the accuracy of Eufy's facial recognition and enjoy a smarter, more personalised home security experience.