Eufy Motion Detection Not Working? Here's How to Fix It
A key feature of your Eufy security camera is its intelligent motion detection. When it fails to alert you to activity, your sense of security can be compromised. Whether you're not receiving notifications, recordings are being missed, or the detection seems unreliable, this guide will provide you with clear troubleshooting steps to get your camera working perfectly again.
### First Steps: The Essential Checks
Before adjusting advanced settings, let's make sure the basics are covered. Many motion detection issues can be traced back to a simple setting being overlooked.
- Is the Camera On? Open the Eufy Security app and check the main dashboard. Ensure the camera in question is not turned off. You can toggle it on or off from the main device view.
- Is Motion Detection Enabled? Select your camera, then go to Camera Settings > Motion Detection. Make sure the main toggle for "Motion Detection" at the top of the screen is switched ON.
- Check Your Security Mode: At the bottom of the app, check which mode is active (e.g., "Home," "Away," "Disarmed"). Go into the "Security" tab and check the rules for your active mode. Ensure that for the camera in question, the boxes for "Record Video" and "Push Notification" are both ticked. If the mode you are in has recording disabled, nothing will happen.
Fine-Tuning Your Eufy Camera's Detection
If the basic settings are correct, it's time to delve deeper into the motion detection settings to match your specific environment.
### Step 1: Adjust Motion Sensitivity
The sensitivity level determines how much movement is required to trigger a recording.
- Finding the Setting: Go to Camera Settings > Motion Detection. You will see a sensitivity slider, typically from 1 (low) to 7 (high).
- Making Adjustments: If your camera is not detecting motion, the sensitivity may be too low. We recommend increasing it by one or two levels and then testing it by walking in front of the camera. If you are getting too many false alarms, the sensitivity is too high.
### Step 2: Set the Correct Detection Type
Eufy's AI is powerful, but it needs to be configured correctly for your needs.
- Human Only vs. All Motions: In the "Motion Detection" settings, you can choose between "Human Only" or "All Motions".
- Human Only: This is great for reducing false alarms from pets, cars, or blowing leaves. However, if a person is far away or only partially in the frame, the AI might miss them.
- All Motions: This will trigger a recording for any significant pixel change. It's more likely to catch every event, but can also lead to more unwanted notifications.
- Troubleshooting: If you feel you are missing events on "Human Only" mode, switch to "All Motions" for a day. If you start getting the recordings you expect, you may need to reposition your camera for a clearer view of people for the AI to work more effectively.
### Step 3: Configure Your Activity Zones
An incorrectly drawn Activity Zone is a very common reason for missed recordings.
- How They Work: Activity Zones instruct the camera to ignore motion everywhere outside the zones you define.
- Check Your Zones: Go to Camera Settings > Motion Detection > Activity Zone. You will see your camera's view with the zones overlaid. Ensure the zones cover the entire area you want to monitor. For example, if a zone only covers a person's legs, it might fail to trigger a "Human" detection.
- Testing: To rule out a zone issue, try disabling the Activity Zone feature temporarily and test again.
### Step 4: Check Network Connection and Syncing
Your camera needs to communicate effectively with the HomeBase and your network.
- Wi-Fi Signal: Check the camera's Wi-Fi signal strength in its settings. A weak signal can prevent notifications from being sent promptly.
- Sync the Device: If your camera seems unresponsive, try the "Sync Device" option in the app, which forces it to re-establish a connection with the HomeBase.
- Restart Devices: Don't underestimate the power of a simple restart. Try restarting both your camera and your HomeBase to clear any temporary software glitches.