Is Your Nest Camera's Person Detection Unreliable?
One of the most valuable features of a Nest camera, especially with a Nest Aware subscription, is its ability to intelligently distinguish between general motion and a person. A 'Person Seen' alert is far more significant than a generic 'Motion Detected' notification. But what happens when this feature gets it wrong?
Receiving alerts for people when no one is there, or worse, failing to detect a person who is clearly visible, undermines the reliability of your security system. This guide will help you troubleshoot and fine-tune your Nest camera's settings for much more accurate person detection.
Common Person Detection Problems
Let's clarify the issues this guide addresses:
- False Positives: You receive a 'Person Seen' alert, but the recording shows only shadows, a moving car, a pet, or even nothing at all.
- Missed Events: A person clearly walks into the frame, but your camera only registers it as general motion or, in some cases, misses it entirely.
- Inconsistent Performance: The feature works correctly sometimes but fails at other times, such as at night or in certain weather conditions.
- Familiar Face Errors: The camera misidentifies people you have already tagged or fails to recognise them.
How to Fix and Improve Nest Person Detection
Improving the accuracy of this A.I.-driven feature involves optimising the camera's environment and settings.
1. The Importance of Camera Placement and Angle
The position of your camera is critical for the detection algorithm to work effectively.
- Height: Install your camera at the recommended height, which is typically 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 metres) off the ground. A camera that is too high or too low will see people from an unusual angle, making them harder to identify.
- Angle: The camera should be angled downwards slightly. This provides a clear, top-down view of a person's entire body, which is what the algorithm is trained to look for. Avoid pointing it directly at the horizon.
- Clear View: Ensure there are no obstructions like tree branches, flags, or decorations partially blocking the camera's view. These can confuse the algorithm and cause missed events.
2. Create and Refine Activity Zones
Activity Zones are essential for improving accuracy and are a key feature of the Nest Aware subscription. They tell your camera precisely where to look for activity and what to ignore.
- Be Specific: Instead of one large zone covering your entire garden, create smaller, more specific zones for key areas like your walkway, your driveway, or in front of a door.
- Avoid Public Areas: Exclude public pavements, roads, or your neighbour's property from your zones. This will dramatically reduce irrelevant alerts.
- Refine Boundaries: If you get false alerts from car headlights, for example, adjust the zone boundary so it does not include the road or the reflection area.
3. Optimise Lighting Conditions
The detection algorithm relies on a clear image. Poor lighting is a common cause of poor performance.
- Daytime: Avoid pointing the camera directly at the sun. Strong backlighting or glare can create silhouettes that are difficult for the A.I. to analyse.
- Night-time: Ensure the area is well-lit. While Nest's Night Vision is excellent, it works best when supplemented with external lighting like a porch light or motion-activated floodlight. Good lighting reduces image noise and provides the contrast needed to identify a human shape.
- Clean the Lens: A surprisingly common issue is a dirty or smudged camera lens. Dust, water spots, or spiderwebs can distort the image and lead to detection errors. Clean it regularly with a soft, microfibre cloth.
4. Check Your Nest Aware Subscription
It is worth repeating: person detection is a Nest Aware feature. If your subscription has expired, your camera will revert to basic motion detection only. Double-check that your subscription is active in your Google account settings.
By carefully considering your camera's placement, creating precise activity zones, and ensuring good lighting, you can significantly improve the reliability of Nest's person detection and receive alerts that truly matter.