Troubleshooting Geeni Facial Recognition Issues
Geeni smart cameras offer advanced features like facial recognition, designed to provide more intelligent and personalised security alerts. However, when this feature doesn't work as expected, it can be frustrating. This comprehensive guide will help you diagnose and solve the most common problems with Geeni's facial recognition, from initial setup to improving detection accuracy.
### How Geeni Facial Recognition Works
Geeni's facial recognition technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse the video stream from your camera. When it detects a human face, it compares it against a library of 'familiar faces' that you create in the app. If it finds a match, it can send you a specific notification, such as "John has arrived home." If it detects a face that is not in your library, it can alert you to an "unfamiliar person." This requires a combination of a clear camera view, good lighting, and correct software settings.
Common Problems and Their Causes
Understanding why the feature is failing is the first step. Most issues stem from a few key areas: camera placement, lighting conditions, software settings, or subscription status.
### Symptoms of Facial Recognition Failure
You might be experiencing one of the following issues:
- The camera fails to recognise or identify any faces, treating everyone as an "unfamiliar person."
- It frequently misidentifies one familiar person as another.
- You do not receive notifications when a familiar face is detected.
- The option to enable or configure facial recognition is missing or greyed out in the app.
- The system is slow to recognise faces, with alerts arriving long after the person has left the frame.
- The "Familiar Faces" library is not saving new profiles correctly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Geeni Facial Recognition
Follow these troubleshooting steps to get your camera's intelligent alerts working correctly.
### 1. Check Camera Placement and Environment
The physical setup of your camera is the most critical factor for accurate facial recognition.
- Optimal Camera Height: Position the camera at a height that allows it to see faces head-on, not just the tops of heads. A height of around 2-2.5 metres (7-8 feet) is often ideal for entranceways.
- Angle of View: Avoid sharp downward angles. The camera should be angled slightly down, enough to capture the desired area but also to clearly see the facial features of approaching individuals.
- Lighting is Key: The area must be well-lit. Strong backlighting (e.g., a camera pointing towards a bright window or the rising/setting sun) can create silhouettes, making faces impossible to recognise. Similarly, very dim or dark environments will prevent the camera from capturing enough detail. Consider adding external lighting if needed.
- Clean the Lens: A smudged or dirty camera lens can significantly blur the image, making facial recognition impossible. Clean it regularly with a soft, microfibre cloth.
### 2. Configure Settings in the Geeni App
Incorrect software settings can easily disable or hinder the feature.
- Enable Facial Recognition: Open the Geeni app, select your camera, and go to its 'Settings'. Find the 'Facial Recognition' or 'Familiar Faces' option and ensure it is toggled on.
- Build a Robust Profile Library: Accuracy improves with better data. When adding a familiar face, use a clear, well-lit, forward-facing photo. The app may also allow you to add multiple images for the same person; take advantage of this by adding photos from slightly different angles.
- Manage Notification Settings: Dive into the 'Notifications' menu for your camera. You often have separate toggles for different alert types. Ensure that alerts for 'Familiar Faces' are enabled.
- Check for Firmware Updates: In the camera's settings, look for a 'Device Info' or 'Firmware Update' section. Manufacturers regularly release updates that can improve the performance and accuracy of features like facial recognition.
### 3. Verify Your Geeni Smart Cloud Subscription
For most Geeni models, advanced features like facial recognition are tied to a cloud storage subscription. The AI processing required to analyse and match faces happens on Geeni's servers, not in the camera itself.
- Check Subscription Status: In the Geeni app, navigate to your account settings or the 'Cloud Storage' section to verify that your subscription is active.
- Restore Purchases: If you have recently changed phones or reinstalled the app, you may need to use a 'Restore Purchases' option to re-link your active subscription to the app.
If you have worked through all these steps and are still experiencing issues, the final step is to try a full reset of the camera and set it up again from scratch. This can often clear any persistent software glitches.