Geeni Motion Detection Not Working? A Complete Troubleshooting Guide
When your Geeni smart camera fails to detect motion or send alerts, it can be a significant cause for concern. This core security feature is essential for keeping you informed about what's happening at home. The good news is that the problem is usually related to a setting or a simple connectivity issue.
This guide will walk you through the steps to diagnose and resolve why your Geeni motion detection isn't working.
## Step 1: Check the Fundamental Settings in the Geeni App
Before looking at anything else, let's confirm everything is configured correctly within the app itself.
- Open the Geeni App and tap on the camera you are troubleshooting.
- Tap the settings icon (often a pencil or three dots) in the top-right corner.
- Select 'Motion Detection Settings'.
- Confirm Motion Detection is On: The main toggle for 'Motion Detection' must be enabled. If it's off, the camera's motion sensor is completely inactive.
- Increase Sensitivity: Set the 'Sensitivity Level' to 'High' for testing. A low setting might be causing the camera to ignore legitimate movement. You can fine-tune this later.
## Step 2: Ensure Notifications Are Correctly Configured
If the camera is detecting motion but your phone isn't alerting you, the problem lies with your notification settings.
### Check App Notifications
- In the camera's settings menu, find 'Notification Settings'.
- Ensure that notifications for 'Motion Detection' are turned on.
### Check Phone-Level Permissions
This is the most common reason for not receiving alerts. You must give the Geeni app permission to send notifications to your phone.
- On an iPhone: Go to Settings > Notifications > Geeni. Make sure 'Allow Notifications' is on, and that you have 'Lock Screen', 'Notification Centre', and 'Banners' enabled.
- On an Android phone: Go to Settings > Apps > Geeni > Notifications. Ensure the toggle to 'Show notifications' is on.
## Step 3: Investigate Connectivity and Hardware
If all the settings appear correct, the issue could be with the camera's connection or storage.
- Reboot Your Camera and Router: A simple restart can fix many unforeseen glitches. Unplug both your Geeni camera and your Wi-Fi router from power. Wait for about 60 seconds, then plug them back in. Allow a few minutes for both devices to restart and reconnect fully.
- Check Wi-Fi Signal: A weak or unstable Wi-Fi connection can prevent the camera from sending a notification or uploading a recorded clip. Make sure your camera is located in an area with a strong, reliable Wi-Fi signal.
- Inspect the SD Card: If you use a Micro SD card for local storage, it could be the source of the problem. A full or corrupted card might prevent new recordings, which can interfere with the notification process.
- Power off the camera.
- Remove the SD card.
- Power the camera back on and test motion detection without the card.
- If it works, the issue is the card. You should back up any needed footage and reformat the card before using it again.
## Step 4: Rule Out Scheduling Conflicts
The Geeni app allows you to set a schedule for when motion detection and notifications are active. It's easy to set one by accident.
- Look for a 'Schedule' option within the 'Motion Detection' or 'Notification' settings.
- Make sure there isn't a schedule active that is preventing the camera from detecting motion at the current time. Disable any schedules to see if that resolves the issue.
By systematically working through these checks, you can pinpoint the exact reason your Geeni motion detection is failing and restore this vital security feature.