Troubleshooting Geofencing in the Hik-Connect App
The geofencing feature in the Hik-Connect app provides excellent automation for your Hikvision security system. It uses your phone's GPS location to create a virtual boundary around your property. When you cross this boundary, it can automatically arm the system as you leave and disarm it as you arrive, saving you from having to do it manually every time.
When this convenient feature fails, it's usually due to a small number of configuration issues on your smartphone. This guide will help you resolve them.
1. Grant Correct Location Permissions
This is the most critical step and the cause of most geofencing problems. For the app to know when you've crossed the boundary, it needs constant access to your phone's location.
- Navigate to App Settings: On your smartphone (iOS or Android), go to Settings and find the application manager. Select the Hik-Connect app.
- Set Location to 'Always Allow': Find the 'Permissions' section. The 'Location' permission must be set to "Allow all the time" or "Always Allow". If it is set to "Allow only while using the app," geofencing will fail because the app won't be able to check your location when it's running in the background.
- Enable Precise Location: Ensure the "Use precise location" toggle is switched on. This allows for a much more accurate geofence boundary.
2. Disable Battery Optimisation for Hik-Connect
Smartphones are designed to save battery by preventing apps from running in the background. This "feature" can stop geofencing from working. You need to tell your phone to make an exception for the Hik-Connect app.
- Find Battery Settings: Go to your phone's Settings and locate the Battery or Power Management section.
- Locate App Optimisation: Look for a setting called "Battery Optimisation," "App launch," "Adaptive Battery," or similar.
- Exclude Hik-Connect: Find the Hik-Connect app in the list and change its setting to "Don't optimise," "Unrestricted," or "Manage manually" (ensuring all background running options are enabled). This ensures your phone doesn't put the app to sleep.
3. Verify Your In-App Geofence Configuration
It's worth double-checking the settings within the Hik-Connect app itself.
- Check the Location and Radius: Open the app and go to the Geofence settings. Make sure the pin on the map is accurately placed on your property. If the arming/disarming happens too early or too late, try adjusting the radius of the geofence circle. A slightly larger radius is often more reliable.
- Ensure the Feature is Enabled: Confirm that the main toggle switch for "Arm/Disarm by Geofence" is turned on for the correct security panel or device.
- Check Scheduled Times: Some settings allow you to enable geofencing only during certain times. Make sure you don't have a schedule configured that is preventing it from working when you expect it to.
4. Ensure a Stable Data Connection
The Hik-Connect app needs to send a signal from your phone back to your security system via the internet.
- Background Data: In your phone's app settings for Hik-Connect, ensure that it has permission to use background data and mobile data.
- Network Signal: If you are in an area with poor mobile signal as you leave or arrive, the command from your phone might be delayed. While the system is designed to handle this, persistent network issues can affect performance.
By systematically addressing these four key areas—location permissions, battery optimisation, in-app settings, and data connection—you can solve nearly all issues related to Hikvision's geofencing feature.