Not Getting Motion Alerts? A Guide to Fixing Netatmo Motion Detection
The core purpose of your Netatmo security camera is to intelligently detect motion and alert you to important events. When this functionality fails, your sense of security is compromised. Whether you're getting no alerts at all, or the camera is failing to record obvious movement, this guide will help you systematically troubleshoot and resolve the problem.
These steps apply to both the Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera (Welcome) and the Smart Outdoor Camera (Presence), though some settings may be specific to one model.
## Start with the In-App Settings
The vast majority of motion detection issues originate from a misconfiguration within the Netatmo Security app.
### 1. Check if Monitoring is Active
Netatmo has a feature to quickly enable or disable monitoring. If this is off, the camera will not detect or record anything.
- Open the Netatmo Security app.
- On the main screen, there is an icon or menu at the top right.
- From here, you can control the monitoring status. Make sure it is set to 'ON'. If it says 'OFF', the camera is effectively disabled.
### 2. Configure Your Alert Zones
Netatmo's 'Alert Zones' are a powerful feature to reduce unwanted notifications, but if they are not set up correctly, they can prevent you from getting the alerts you need.
- In the app, go to the Settings menu.
- Select your camera.
- Find the settings for 'Alert Zones' or a similar name.
- You will see your camera's view with an overlay. You must define the exact areas where you want the camera to watch for motion.
- If no zones are defined, or if the zones are drawn incorrectly (e.g., they don't cover your doorway), the camera will ignore motion in the undefined areas. Adjust the zones to cover all areas of interest.
### 3. Adjust Settings for People, Cars, and Animals
The Outdoor Camera is particularly smart, but you need to tell it what to do when it sees something.
- Navigate to your camera's settings within the app.
- Find the motion detection or alert settings.
- You will see separate options for People, Cars, Animals, and Other Motion.
- For each category, you can define whether the camera should 'Record', 'Record and Notify', or 'Ignore'.
- If you are not getting alerts for people on your driveway, for example, ensure the 'People' category is set to 'Record and Notify'.
## Broader Troubleshooting Steps
If your in-app settings appear correct, it's time to look at other potential issues.
### 4. Check Your Phone's Notification Settings
The problem may not be with the camera, but with your phone itself.
- For iOS (iPhone): Go to Settings > Notifications > Security. Ensure that 'Allow Notifications' is turned on and that you have enabled options for Lock Screen, Notification Centre, and Banners.
- For Android: Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Security. Tap on 'Notifications' and make sure they are all enabled. Also, check that the app has not been put into a 'deep sleep' or battery-saving mode that might restrict background activity.
### 5. Power Cycle the Camera
A simple reboot can clear many temporary software faults.
- For the Indoor Camera: Unplug the power adapter from the wall, wait 60 seconds, and plug it back in.
- For the Outdoor Camera: This device is hardwired. You will need to locate the corresponding circuit on your consumer unit (fuse box) and switch it off. Leave it off for 60 seconds before switching it back on.
### 6. Clean the Camera's Lens and Sensor
The Outdoor Camera uses an infrared sensor (located below the main camera) to detect motion. If this sensor is obscured by dirt, cobwebs, or grime, its performance will be severely degraded.
- Use a soft, microfibre cloth to gently clean the main camera lens and the dark sensor panel below it.
- Ensure there are no physical obstructions, like a drooping sun shield or overgrown plants, blocking the camera's view.
By carefully working through these steps, you can identify the misconfiguration or issue that is preventing your Netatmo camera from detecting motion correctly and restore its functionality as a reliable security device.