Is Your Reolink Camera Sending Too Many Notifications?
A motion detection security camera is a powerful tool for monitoring your property, but it can quickly become a nuisance if it bombards you with alerts for every passing car, swaying tree branch, or neighbourhood cat. If your Reolink camera's motion detection is too sensitive, you might find yourself ignoring notifications altogether, which defeats the purpose of having a security system. An overly sensitive camera fills your storage with unnecessary recordings and makes it difficult to find genuine security events.
Fortunately, Reolink provides a robust set of tools within its app to help you fine-tune motion detection settings. This guide will walk you through the various adjustments you can make to reduce false alarms and ensure you are only alerted to the events that truly matter. By customising these settings, you can transform your camera from a source of annoyance into a precise and reliable security guardian.
Understanding Reolink Motion Detection Technology
Reolink cameras use a combination of technologies to detect motion. Most use pixel-based detection, which analyses changes in pixels between video frames. Newer models also incorporate PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors that detect body heat and advanced AI algorithms for person and vehicle detection. Understanding which type your camera uses is key to effective calibration.
- Pixel-Based Detection: Highly versatile but can be triggered by any visual change, including shadows, light changes, or rain.
- PIR Detection: More accurate for detecting people and animals, as it senses thermal signatures. Less likely to be triggered by inanimate objects.
- AI Smart Detection: The most advanced option, using algorithms to identify specific object types like people, vehicles, and pets, offering the highest level of accuracy.
Step-by-Step Guide to Adjust Reolink Sensitivity
Follow these instructions to customise your camera's motion detection settings and reduce the frequency of false alerts. It is best to make small adjustments and then test the results over a day or two.
1. Adjust the Main Sensitivity Setting
The primary sensitivity control is a simple slider that determines how much change in the scene is required to trigger a recording.
- Navigate to Settings: Open the Reolink app and go to Device Settings > Detection Alarm.
- Lower the Sensitivity: You will see a Sensitivity slider, likely set to a medium or high default value. Lower this value by 5-10 points.
- Test and Readjust: Observe the number of alerts you receive. If you are still getting too many, lower it again. If you find it's missing important events, increase it slightly.
2. Configure Custom Motion Zones
Motion zones are crucial for eliminating alerts from high-traffic areas that are not relevant to your security.
- Access Motion Zone Settings: In the Detection Alarm menu, find and select Detection Zone.
- Define Your Zones: The screen will show your camera's view overlaid with a grid. You can 'paint' the areas where you want to detect motion and 'erase' the areas you want the camera to ignore.
- Be Specific: Exclude public pavements, busy roads, and neighbours' properties. Also, consider excluding bushes or trees that move a lot in the wind.
3. Utilise Smart Detection (Person/Vehicle Alerts)
If your camera supports it, smart detection is the most powerful tool for eliminating false positives.
- Enable Smart Detection: In the Detection Alarm settings, look for options like Smart Detection or separate toggles for Person Detection and Vehicle Detection.
- Customise Alerts: You can choose to receive notifications only when a person or vehicle is detected, while still having the camera record other motion events without sending an alert. This provides a perfect balance of security and peace.
4. Use the Object Size Filter
This advanced feature allows you to tell the camera to ignore objects that are either too small or too large to be a security concern.
- Find Object Size Settings: This is usually located within the advanced motion detection settings.
- Set Minimum and Maximum Sizes: You can draw boxes on the screen to define the minimum size of an object to trigger an alert (e.g., larger than a small animal) and the maximum size (e.g., smaller than a passing lorry that might clip the edge of the frame).
When to Seek Further Help
If you have meticulously configured all these settings and are still struggling with an unmanageable number of false alerts, it might be worth checking the camera's placement. Ensure it is installed in a stable position, as vibrations from wind can sometimes trigger alerts. If problems persist, reaching out to Reolink's support team with details of your settings can provide more specific guidance.