Hik-Connect Geofencing Not Working? Here's The Fix

## How to Fix Hik-Connect Geofencing Not Working

The geofencing feature in the Hik-Connect app is a powerful tool for automating your security system. It's designed to automatically arm your alarm when you leave a designated area and disarm it upon your return, providing both convenience and peace of mind. However, when this feature fails, it can leave your property unprotected or cause unnecessary hassle.

This guide is designed to help you systematically troubleshoot and resolve the most common issues with Hik-Connect's geofencing, using professional, clear, and empathetic instructions.

### Core Concepts: How Geofencing Should Work

Before we troubleshoot, let's clarify what's happening behind the scenes. The Hik-Connect app creates a virtual boundary (a geofence) around your property using your phone's location services (GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular). The app runs in the background on your phone, constantly checking your location relative to this boundary. When it detects that you've crossed the line—either going out or coming in—it sends a command via the internet to your Hikvision alarm or camera system to change its arming state. For this to work, your phone's settings must be perfect, and your system must be correctly configured.

## Common Geofencing Failures and Their Solutions

Let's break down why your system isn't arming or disarming automatically.

### Problem: The System Never Arms or Disarms Automatically

This is the most frequent complaint, where the geofencing feature seems completely inactive.

• Incorrect App Permissions: This is the leading cause. The app cannot track your location in the background without the right permissions.
  • On iPhone: Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Hik-Connect. You must set Allow Location Access to "Always".
  • On Android: Navigate to Settings > Apps > Hik-Connect > Permissions > Location. You must select "Allow all the time". Setting it to "Allow only while using the app" will not work.
• Aggressive Battery Optimisation: Modern smartphones try to save battery by "sleeping" apps they think aren't being used. This prevents geofencing from working.
  • Go to your phone's Settings > Battery.
  • Find the 'App Launch' or 'Battery optimisation' section.
  • Locate the Hik-Connect app and set it to be managed manually, ensuring that 'Auto-launch', 'Secondary launch', and 'Run in background' are all enabled. The specific terms may vary by phone manufacturer.
• Force-Closing the App: If you get into the habit of swiping up and force-closing all your apps, you will disable geofencing. The app must be allowed to remain running in the background. You don't need it open on the screen, but it must not be manually killed.

### Problem: The Arming/Disarming is Unreliable or Delayed

Sometimes the feature works, but not consistently, or there's a long delay between arriving home and the system disarming.

• Geofence Radius is Too Small: A small radius (e.g., less than 100 metres) can be problematic due to "GPS drift," where your phone's perceived location bounces around. This can cause the app to think you've left when you're still at home.
  • Solution: In the Hik-Connect app, go to the Geofence configuration page. Increase the radius to at least 200 metres. This creates a more stable buffer.
• Poor Internet Connection: The command to arm or disarm is sent over the internet. If you leave home and drive through an area with no mobile data, the "arming" command can't be sent until your phone is back online. This can explain delays. Similarly, upon arrival, the command is sent as soon as you cross the boundary; a slow connection can delay its execution.

### Problem: Geofencing is Not Configured Correctly in the App

Finally, ensure the feature is set up correctly within Hik-Connect itself.

• Check the Configuration: Open the Hik-Connect app and go to the Geofence settings.
  • Verify that the toggle switch to enable Geofence is on.
  • Confirm that you have linked the correct action (e.g., "Arm" or "Disarm") to the correct trigger ("When I Leave the Area" or "When I Enter the Area"). It's easy to mix these up during setup.

By methodically working through these phone and app settings, you can resolve almost all Hik-Connect geofencing issues and restore its convenient, automated functionality.