How to Fix Eufy Security Notification Lag
Receiving a security notification seconds after an event has happened can make all the difference. If you're experiencing a significant delay between motion being detected by your Eufy camera and the alert arriving on your phone, it can be both worrying and frustrating. This notification lag can undermine the effectiveness of your entire security setup.
This guide will help you understand the common causes of delayed Eufy notifications and provide a comprehensive set of troubleshooting steps to fix the problem and ensure you receive alerts as instantly as possible.
Common Causes for Eufy Notification Delays
The journey of a notification from your camera to your phone is complex. A delay can be introduced at several points along the way:
- Camera-to-HomeBase/Wi-Fi Delay: The camera needs to detect motion and send that information to the Eufy HomeBase or directly to your Wi-Fi router. A weak signal here can be the first bottleneck.
- Internet Upload Delay: Your home internet connection must upload the event data to Eufy's servers. A slow or congested upload speed will slow this down.
- Eufy Server to Phone Delay: Eufy's servers process the data and send a push notification to your phone via Apple's or Google's notification services.
- Phone-Side Delay: Your phone itself might be delaying the notification due to power-saving settings, a poor connection, or app-specific issues.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Notification Lag
Work through these steps to find and eliminate the cause of the delay.
1. Optimise Notification Settings in the Eufy App
Eufy gives you direct control over how notifications are delivered. The fastest setting isn't always the default.
- Open the Eufy Security app and select the camera you want to adjust.
- Tap the Settings icon (gear symbol) for that camera.
- Go to Notifications.
- Look for the notification type setting. You will typically see a few options:
- Most Efficient (formerly 'Include Text Only'): This is the fastest option. It sends the text alert immediately without waiting for a video thumbnail to be prepared.
- Full Effect (formerly 'Include Thumbnail'): This sends the text alert and a snapshot of the event. It's slightly slower as it has to generate and send the image.
- Coolest (if available): This may include more animated effects and be the slowest.
- For the fastest possible alert, select Most Efficient. You can still view the recorded clip by tapping on the notification.
2. Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength
A weak connection for either your camera or your HomeBase can cause significant delays.
- In the Eufy app, go to your camera's settings and find the Wi-Fi Connection or Wi-Fi Signal Strength section.
- Ensure the camera has a 'Good' or 'Great' signal. If it's weak, the camera will struggle to upload event data quickly.
- If you use a HomeBase, ensure it also has a strong connection to your router (a wired Ethernet connection is best).
- If signals are weak, try moving your router, HomeBase, or camera closer together.
3. Adjust Your Phone's Settings
Your phone's operating system often tries to save battery by restricting background apps, which can delay notifications.
- For Android Users:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Eufy Security > Battery.
- Set the app's battery usage to Unrestricted. This prevents Android from putting the app to sleep.
- Also, check that the Eufy app has permission to display notifications.
- For iPhone Users:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure it is enabled for the Eufy app.
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Eufy Security and ensure that Time-Sensitive Notifications are turned on. This gives Eufy alerts priority.
- Make sure you are not in a 'Focus' mode that silences notifications.
4. Restart Your Devices
A simple reboot can clear up many temporary software and network issues.
- Restart your Eufy camera (and HomeBase, if you have one).
- Restart your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it for 60 seconds.
- Restart your smartphone.
By optimising your app settings and ensuring your devices have a strong, unrestricted connection, you can significantly reduce or eliminate notification lag, making your Eufy security system more responsive and effective.