Netatmo Pet Detection Not Working? How to Fix It

Is Your Netatmo Camera Ignoring Your Pets?

One of the standout features of Netatmo's smart cameras is their ability to differentiate between people, pets, and other motion, providing you with tailored alerts. However, when pet detection isn't working correctly, it can be frustrating. You might be missing cute moments of your furry friends or, conversely, getting notifications for things that aren't pets at all.

This troubleshooting guide is here to help you resolve any issues with your Netatmo camera's pet detection. We'll cover everything from initial setup and settings optimisation to more advanced solutions to ensure you're getting the accurate alerts you need.

## Understanding the Problem: Common Symptoms

First, let's identify the specific issue you're encountering. Pinpointing the symptom is the first step toward finding the right fix.

You may be experiencing one of the following:

• No pet detections: Your pet is clearly in the camera's view, but you receive no notification, and no event is recorded in the timeline.
• False alerts: You receive a "pet detected" notification, but the cause is a shadow, a robot vacuum, or another moving object.
• Misidentification: Your pet is detected, but the alert incorrectly labels them as a "person" or "motion."
• Intermittent performance: Pet detection works sometimes but fails at other times, seeming unreliable.
• Missing settings: You can't find the option to enable or configure pet detection within the Netatmo Security app.
• Empty recordings: You get a notification about your pet, but when you view the clip, it's empty or the pet is not visible.

## Essential Troubleshooting Steps

Let's start with the most common and effective solutions. Go through these steps in order to diagnose and fix the problem.

### 1. Verify Your Settings in the Netatmo Security App

The most frequent cause of detection issues is incorrect configuration. Let's ensure everything is set up properly.

1. Open the Netatmo Security app.
2. Tap the menu icon in the top-left corner and go to "My security settings".
3. Select the camera you want to adjust.
4. Under "Alert and recording settings", ensure that for the "Pets" category, you have "Record video and send notification" enabled. If it's set to "Ignore," the camera will not alert you.
5. Check your "Alert-Zones". If you have defined specific zones for monitoring, make sure the area where your pets spend their time is included. If the detection area is too narrow, the camera might miss them.

### 2. Optimise Camera Placement and View

The performance of the detection algorithm is highly dependent on the camera's position and what it can see.

• Positioning: The camera should be placed at a height of 2-4 metres (6-13 feet) and angled slightly downwards. This gives it a clear overview of the room.
• Obstructions: Ensure there are no objects like furniture, plants, or curtains blocking the camera's field of view.
• Lighting: While Netatmo cameras work well in various lighting conditions, very strong backlighting (e.g., pointing directly at a bright window) can create silhouettes that are difficult for the algorithm to analyse. Try to avoid this where possible.
• Clean the Lens: A smudged or dusty lens can significantly impact video clarity and the camera's ability to detect objects accurately. Wipe it gently with a soft, microfibre cloth.

### 3. Reboot Your Camera

A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches that might be affecting the detection process.

• Unplug your Netatmo camera from the power source.
• Wait for at least 30 seconds.
• Plug it back in and allow a few minutes for it to fully restart and reconnect to your network.

## Advanced Solutions for Pet Detection

If the basics haven't solved the problem, let's look at some more advanced steps.

### Resetting the Algorithm

Sometimes, the camera's learning algorithm may need a reset to re-calibrate.

1. In the Netatmo Security app, navigate to the settings for your camera.
2. Find the advanced settings or troubleshooting section.
3. Look for an option to "Reset Person/Pet Detection" or "Calibrate Detection".
4. Follow the on-screen instructions. This may require you to confirm that certain images do or do not contain a pet, helping the system to learn more accurately.

### Check for Firmware Updates

Netatmo regularly releases firmware updates to improve performance, fix bugs, and enhance detection algorithms.

• In the Netatmo Security app, go to your camera's settings.
• The app will typically notify you if a firmware update is available.
• Ensure your camera is running the latest version. If not, proceed with the update process.

By carefully checking your settings and optimising your camera's environment, you can significantly improve the reliability of Netatmo's pet detection, ensuring you never miss an important moment.