Reolink Motion Detection Not Working? (Easy Fixes)
A Reolink camera that doesn't detect motion is a security risk. Whether you're not getting push notifications, or the camera isn't recording clips of events, the core function of the device is compromised. The good news is that the cause is usually a simple misconfiguration in the settings rather than a hardware fault.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential settings and troubleshooting steps to get your Reolink camera's motion detection working perfectly.
## Essential First Step: Check the Reolink App Settings
The vast majority of motion detection problems can be traced back to the settings within the Reolink App or Client. Let's go through them one by one.
### 1. Enable Motion Detection
It sounds basic, but it's worth checking.
- How to check: Go to Device Settings > Detection Alarm. Make sure the main "Motion Detection" toggle is switched on.
### 2. Configure Your Recording Schedule
Your schedule determines when the camera is actively looking for motion. If it's not detecting motion at night, for example, your schedule might be the reason.
- How to check: Go to Device Settings > Recording > Schedule. You will see a grid representing the hours of the day and days of the week.
- What to do: Ensure the "Motion" (usually blue) option is enabled for the times you want the camera to be active. For 24/7 motion detection, the entire grid should be blue. Make sure you haven't accidentally set it to "None" (white).
### 3. Adjust Sensitivity and Alarm Delay
Sensitivity controls how much change in the scene is required to trigger an alert.
- How to check: Go to Device Settings > Detection Alarm > Sensitivity.
- What to do: If the sensitivity is too low, it may not pick up on genuine motion. If it's too high, you'll get false alarms. A good starting point is a medium value (around 30-40). Adjust it up or down based on your testing. The "Alarm Delay" setting can also be useful to avoid alerts from fast-moving objects like a bird flying past.
### 4. Set the Correct Motion Detection Zone
Motion zones tell your camera where to look for motion. If you have a zone set incorrectly, it might be ignoring the area you care about.
- How to check: Go to Device Settings > Detection Alarm > Motion Zone.
- What to do: The screen will show the camera's view. You need to "paint" the areas you want the camera to monitor for motion. Any area left unpainted will be ignored. Ensure you have covered all the relevant parts of the scene. Conversely, if you get too many alerts, you can use this to exclude busy areas like a public path.
### 5. Check Push Notification Settings
If the camera is recording motion but you're not getting alerts on your phone, the issue is with your notification settings.
- How to check: Go to Device Settings > Push Notifications. Ensure the main "Push Notifications" toggle is on. Then, check the "Schedule" within this menu. Just like the recording schedule, you need to set a schedule for when you want to receive alerts.
## Hardware and Connection Checks
If you've double-checked all the app settings and it's still not working, consider these points.
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For Battery-Powered Cameras (e.g., Argus series): These cameras use a Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor. This sensor detects body heat.
- PIR sensors do not work through glass. You cannot have the camera indoors looking out a window.
- Ensure the camera is positioned to detect movement across its field of view, not directly towards it.
- Make sure the "PIR Sensor" is enabled in the camera's settings.
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Update Firmware: Check if there is a firmware update available for your camera. Go to Device Settings > Device Info > Upgrade. Firmware updates often include important bug fixes that can resolve performance issues.
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Reboot the Camera: A simple reboot can often clear temporary glitches. You can do this through the app (Device Settings > Advanced > Reboot) or by unplugging the power cable for 30 seconds if it's a wired camera.
By methodically working through these settings, from the recording schedule to the motion zone, you can almost certainly identify and fix the reason your Reolink camera isn't detecting motion.