How to Stop Geeni Camera False Alerts and Alarms
Geeni smart cameras are a fantastic and affordable way to keep your home secure. However, a camera that constantly sends you notifications for every little thing can quickly become more of an annoyance than a help. If you're tired of alerts caused by your cat, changing sunlight, or a plant swaying near a vent, this guide is for you.
We'll walk you through the simple settings adjustments in the Geeni app to make your camera's alerts smarter, more accurate, and genuinely useful.
Why Your Geeni Camera is Sending False Alerts
Understanding the cause makes the solution clear. Here are the most common reasons for false alarms:
- Motion Sensitivity is Too High: This is the number one culprit. The default setting is often "High," which tells the camera to notify you about even the smallest movements.
- Camera Placement: Pointing the camera at a high-traffic or constantly changing area (like a window overlooking a busy street or a tree) will naturally lead to more alerts.
- Environmental Triggers: Pets walking around, shadows moving as the sun shifts, car headlights, and even tiny insects crawling on the lens can all trigger a motion alert.
- Reflections: The camera might pick up reflections from a TV screen or a window, mistaking them for motion.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Fewer, Smarter Geeni Alerts
These adjustments are all made within the Geeni app on your smartphone. Open the app, select the camera you want to configure, and let's get started.
1. Adjust the Motion Detection Sensitivity
This single step will solve the problem for most users.
- Open Camera Settings: Tap on your camera's live view, then tap the three dots or pencil icon in the top-right corner to open its settings.
- Select Motion Detection: Find and tap on the "Motion Detection" setting (it might be under a "Detection" or "Alarm" heading).
- Lower the Sensitivity Level: You will see options like "Low," "Medium," and "High." If you're getting too many alerts, it's almost certainly set to "High."
- Change to 'Medium' or 'Low': We recommend first changing it to Medium. This often provides a good balance of catching important events without reacting to every tiny movement. If you still get false alerts from pets, try changing it to Low.
- Save and Test: There is no "save" button; the change is instant. Go back and monitor your notifications for a few hours to see the effect.
2. Set Up an Activity Zone (If Available)
Some Geeni models have a feature called "Activity Zone" or "Motion Detection Area." This is incredibly useful for telling your camera to ignore motion in specific parts of its view.
- Find the Setting: This option is usually within the same "Motion Detection" menu.
- Draw Your Zone: The app will show you the camera's view and allow you to draw a box or highlight a specific area.
- Focus on What's Important: Draw the zone only around the area you care about. For example, if the camera covers your living room but you only want to know if someone approaches the main door, draw a small box right in front of the door. This will make the camera ignore your pet walking around on the other side of the room.
3. Re-evaluate Your Camera's Position
Take a fresh look at where your camera is placed.
- Avoid Constant Motion: Is it pointed at a tree that sways in the wind? Are curtains from a nearby air vent moving in its view? Is it aimed at a busy street where cars are always passing?
- Check for Reflections: Avoid pointing the camera directly at a window, as changing light and reflections can be a major source of false alerts.
- Angle it Downwards: Try to angle the camera slightly downwards to focus on the floor and immediate area rather than a wide, busy scene.
4. Use the "Home" and "Away" Modes
The Geeni app allows you to create "scenes" or "automations" that can disable motion alerts when you're home and re-enable them when you leave. This won't stop false alerts from happening, but it will stop them from bothering you when you don't need them.
By making these simple adjustments, you can turn your Geeni camera from a noisy distraction into a smart and reliable security partner.