How to Fix Eufy Vehicle Detection Not Working
Eufy security cameras are known for their impressive on-device AI, which can intelligently distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles. This technology is fantastic—when it works. If you're finding that your Eufy camera is failing to alert you to cars pulling into your driveway or parking on your street, it's time to do some troubleshooting.
This guide is designed to walk you through the settings and environmental factors that can impact the performance of Eufy's vehicle detection. With a few adjustments, you can significantly improve its accuracy and reliability without needing to pay for any subscription fees.
Common Symptoms of Eufy Detection Failure
First, let's confirm the problem. You are likely facing a vehicle detection issue if:
- You receive notifications for people, but not for cars that are clearly in view.
- The camera triggers a recording for a vehicle but labels it as a generic "motion" event.
- The "Vehicle" filter in your Events tab is always empty.
- Detection is unreliable, catching some cars but missing others.
- The feature seems to work during the day but fails completely at night.
- You get false alerts for other objects (like shadows) being misidentified as vehicles.
Step-by-Step Eufy Troubleshooting Guide
Let's get this fixed. Work through the following steps in the Eufy Security app.
1. Ensure Vehicle Detection is Enabled
It might seem basic, but it's essential to check that the feature is actually turned on for the correct camera.
- Open the Eufy Security app and select the camera you want to configure.
- Tap the gear icon to enter its Settings.
- Go to Motion Detection.
- Make sure you are using "Human and Vehicle" detection or that "Vehicle" is selected as a specific detection type. If it's set to "Human Only" or "All Motion," its behaviour will be different.
2. Optimise Your Activity Zones
Activity Zones are crucial. They tell the camera's AI where to concentrate its efforts. A poorly drawn zone is a primary cause of missed detections.
- In the camera's settings, go to Activity Zone.
- Draw a precise zone that covers the area where you expect to see vehicles, such as your driveway or the road in front of your house.
- Be specific. Avoid extending the zone to cover busy pavements or large trees and bushes. Constant, irrelevant motion can distract the AI and cause it to miss important events.
- Ensure the zone is large enough to capture a significant portion of the vehicle. A zone that only covers the tyres, for example, might not be effective.
3. Adjust Motion Sensitivity
The sensitivity level determines how much movement is required to trigger an analysis and potential recording.
- Navigate to the Motion Detection settings.
- You will see a sensitivity slider, usually from 1 to 7.
- If you are missing events, try increasing the sensitivity by one level.
- If you are getting too many false alerts, decrease the sensitivity.
- Make a small adjustment, then test for a day to see how it performs before making further changes.
4. Check Camera Placement and Angle
How the camera sees the world directly impacts its ability to analyse it. The AI is trained to recognise the typical shape of a car.
- Height: Mount the camera 2-3 metres (7-10 feet) high.
- Angle: Angle the camera down. A direct, straight-on view from the same level as the car can be less reliable than a slightly downward-looking angle. This perspective gives the AI a clearer view of the vehicle's overall shape.
- Clear View: Ensure there are no obstructions. A single tree branch blowing in the wind in front of the lens can wreak havoc on motion detection.
5. Update Your System's Firmware
Eufy regularly releases firmware updates for their cameras and HomeBases. These updates often include significant improvements to the AI detection algorithms.
- In the Eufy Security app, go to your device settings for both the camera and the HomeBase.
- Check for a "Firmware Update" section.
- If an update is available, install it. This is one of the most effective ways to improve performance.
6. Reboot the System
If settings seem correct but it's still not working, a simple reboot can clear any temporary software glitches.
- For battery-powered cameras: Use the "Restart Device" option in the camera's settings menu in the app.
- For wired cameras: Unplug the camera from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
- Reboot the HomeBase: Unplug the HomeBase from power for a minute before reconnecting it. Give it a few minutes to boot up and sync with your devices.