Guardzilla Geofencing Not Working? A Troubleshooting Guide
Geofencing is one of the most convenient features of the Guardzilla security system, allowing it to automatically arm when you leave home and disarm upon your return. When this feature fails, it not only creates an inconvenience but can also leave your home unprotected. This guide will help you diagnose and fix the common issues that cause Guardzilla's geofencing to stop working.
The problem almost always lies with the settings on your smartphone, as it's your phone's location that controls the geofencing feature.
## Step 1: Check and Correct App Permissions
The single most common reason for geofencing failure is incorrect location permissions for the Guardzilla app. For the feature to work, the app must be able to check your location even when it's not open on your screen.
- For iOS (iPhone):
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
- Find Guardzilla in the list of apps.
- Under 'Allow Location Access', you must select 'Always'. If it's set to 'While Using the App' or 'Never', geofencing will not work correctly.
- For Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Guardzilla > Permissions.
- Tap on 'Location'.
- Select 'Allow all the time'. The wording may vary slightly, but you must choose the option that lets the app access your location even when it's not in use.
## Step 2: Verify Your Phone's Location Settings
The app relies on your phone's built-in location services. If these are disabled or not set for high accuracy, geofencing will be unreliable.
- Enable Location Services: Ensure your phone's main location toggle is switched on.
- Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning: On Android, there's often a setting for 'Google Location Accuracy' or 'Improve Accuracy'. Enabling this allows your phone to use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals in addition to GPS, which dramatically improves location precision, especially indoors.
- Keep Wi-Fi On: Even if you're not connected to a network, keeping your phone's Wi-Fi enabled allows it to scan for nearby networks, which is a key part of how it determines its location quickly and accurately.
## Step 3: Disable Battery Optimisation for the Guardzilla App
Modern smartphones are very aggressive about closing apps that run in the background to save battery. This can prevent the Guardzilla app from checking your location and triggering the geofence. You need to tell your phone to leave the Guardzilla app alone.
- For Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Guardzilla > Battery.
- Look for battery optimisation or restriction settings.
- Set the app to 'Unrestricted' or 'Not optimised'. This ensures the operating system doesn't put the app to sleep.
- For iOS:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Find Guardzilla in the list and make sure its toggle is switched on.
## Step 4: Check Your Home Location in the Guardzilla App
The geofence is a virtual circle drawn around the address you've set as 'Home'. If this location is inaccurate, the feature won't work as expected.
- Open the Guardzilla app.
- Go into the settings menu where you manage your location or geofencing.
- Verify that the pin on the map is placed correctly over your home address. If it's slightly off, it can cause the system to arm or disarm at the wrong time or not at all. Adjust the pin if necessary.
By ensuring the app has the correct permissions, your phone is set for high-accuracy location, and battery optimisation is disabled for the app, you can resolve most Guardzilla geofencing issues.