Getting Too Many Alerts from Your Geeni Camera? Here's How to Fix It
Geeni smart cameras are a fantastic and user-friendly way to keep an eye on your home. However, their effectiveness can be diminished if you're constantly bombarded with notifications for every little movement. When you receive dozens of alerts for swaying trees or passing cars, you might start to ignore them, potentially missing a notification that truly matters.
This guide will help you reclaim control over your notifications. We'll show you how to dive into the Geeni app and fine-tune your camera's settings to filter out the noise and only get alerts for events you care about.
The Goal: Meaningful Notifications
The ideal security camera setup is one that works silently in the background and only alerts you when your attention is genuinely required. By optimising your settings, you will:
- Reduce "alert fatigue": The tendency to ignore notifications due to their high frequency.
- Save your phone's battery: Fewer push notifications mean less power consumption.
- Focus on real events: Be confident that an alert from your Geeni camera warrants a look.
- Clear up your event history: Make it easier to find important clips without wading through clutter.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Reducing Geeni Alerts
These adjustments are simple and can all be made directly from the Geeni mobile app.
1. Lower the Motion Detection Sensitivity
This is the most impactful change you can make. Geeni cameras detect motion by analysing changes in pixels in the video. A high sensitivity setting means even very small changes will trigger an alert.
- Navigate to Settings: Open the Geeni app, select the camera you wish to configure, and tap the settings icon (usually a pencil or cog) in the top-right corner.
- Find Motion Detection: In the settings menu, tap on "Motion Detection."
- Adjust the Slider: You'll see a "Sensitivity Level" slider, typically with Low, Medium, and High options. If you're getting too many alerts, it's almost certainly on High. Move it down to Medium.
- Test and Evaluate: Let the camera run on the new setting for a day. If you're still getting too many false alerts, try moving it down to Low. The aim is to find the right balance for your specific environment.
2. Set Up an Activity Zone (On Supported Models)
The Activity Zone feature is incredibly useful for cameras that overlook areas with unavoidable, constant motion.
- Locate the Feature: In the same "Motion Detection" settings menu, look for an option named "Activity Zone" or "Motion Zone."
- Define Your Area: This will bring up your camera's live view with a grid. You can then draw a specific zone, or select grid squares, that you want the camera to monitor. For example, you can draw a box around your front door and walkway, while completely ignoring the busy street and pavement next to it. Any motion outside this box will be ignored.
3. Use Scheduling to Your Advantage
You may not need motion alerts 24/7. The scheduling feature lets you define when the camera is actively looking for motion and sending you notifications.
- Find the Schedule: In the main settings menu for your camera, look for a "Schedule" option.
- Set Your Times: You can create rules to, for example, only have motion detection active when you're typically not home, or only during nighttime hours. This is a great way to reduce interruptions when you know there will be friendly movement.
4. Be Aware of Environmental Triggers
- Camera Placement: Angle your camera to minimise the view of high-traffic public areas. Also, try to avoid pointing it directly at bushes or trees that sway heavily in the wind.
- Night Vision Issues: The infrared LEDs for night vision attract insects. A moth fluttering in front of the lens or a spider building a web can cause a storm of false alerts. Make it a habit to periodically wipe the camera clean.
By implementing these straightforward strategies, you can dramatically cut down on the number of unwanted alerts from your Geeni camera, turning it into a smarter and more efficient security asset.