Samsung Motion Detection Not Working? Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting Samsung Motion Detection Issues

Whether you're using a Samsung SmartThings camera or another compatible device, motion detection is a key feature for your home security. When it isn't working as expected—either by failing to detect movement or by sending you constant false alarms—it can undermine your entire setup.

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough to help you diagnose and fix common motion detection problems with your Samsung security cameras through the SmartThings app.

## Understanding How Samsung Motion Detection Works

Most Samsung and compatible cameras use pixel-based motion detection. This means the camera's software analyses changes in the video frame to identify movement. This is different from Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors, which detect body heat. Because it's looking for visual changes, it can sometimes be triggered by non-threatening things like shadows, car headlights, or swaying foliage.

Common problems fall into two categories:

1. Not Detecting Motion: You miss important events because the camera fails to trigger.
2. Detecting Too Much Motion: You are inundated with false alarms from insignificant movements.

We will address both scenarios below.

## Scenario 1: Motion Detection is Not Working at All

If your camera isn't sending any alerts or recording any motion events, work through these steps.

### 1. Check if Motion Detection is Enabled

It sounds simple, but it's a common oversight.

1. Open the SmartThings app on your phone.
2. Navigate to your camera's device page.
3. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner and select "Settings".
4. Find the "Motion detection" or "Event detection" toggle and ensure it is switched ON.

### 2. Review Your Motion Detection Zones

If you have detection zones configured, the camera will only look for motion within those specific areas.

1. In the camera's settings, find "Motion detection zones".
2. Make sure the zone is drawn correctly over the area you want to monitor. If no zone is set, the camera should monitor the entire field of view.
3. Ensure the zone is active. You can try deleting and redrawing the zone to be sure.

### 3. Increase the Sensitivity Level

If the sensitivity is too low, the camera may not pick up on subtle but important movements.

1. In the "Motion detection" settings, find the "Sensitivity" slider.
2. If it is set to a low level, move it to a medium or high setting.
3. Walk in front of the camera to test if the adjustment has worked.

### 4. Check Network and Power

A camera that is offline cannot detect motion.

• Check Wi-Fi: Ensure the camera has a strong and stable Wi-Fi connection. A weak signal can prevent it from sending notifications.
• Check Power: Make sure the camera is powered on and the power cable is securely connected.

## Scenario 2: Motion Detection is Too Sensitive

If you're being overwhelmed by notifications, you need to filter out the noise.

### 1. Decrease the Sensitivity Level

This is the most direct way to reduce false alarms.

1. Go to your camera's "Motion detection" settings in the SmartThings app.
2. Move the "Sensitivity" slider to a lower setting.
3. This will make the camera less likely to trigger from minor events like moving leaves or shadows.

### 2. Optimise Your Motion Detection Zones

Use zones to tell your camera what to ignore.

1. Open "Motion detection zones" in the settings.
2. Draw a precise zone that only covers the area you care about.
3. Crucially, exclude any sources of constant false triggers, such as busy roads, waving flags, or swaying trees. This is the most effective way to cut down on unwanted alerts.

### 3. Consider Camera Repositioning

Sometimes the physical placement of the camera is the problem.

• Avoid pointing the camera directly at sources of light or areas with dramatic shadow changes.
• Angle the camera down to focus on your property, cutting out the sky and distant traffic.
• Ensure there are no reflective surfaces (like windows) in the frame that could cause glare.

### 4. General Maintenance

• Update Everything: Ensure both your SmartThings app and your camera's firmware are updated to the latest versions to benefit from bug fixes and performance improvements.
• Clean the Lens: A smudge or piece of dust on the lens can sometimes cause the software to detect motion. Wipe it clean with a microfibre cloth.
• Reboot the Camera: When in doubt, a simple restart by unplugging the power for 30 seconds can resolve many unexplained issues.

By carefully working through these settings, you can configure your Samsung camera's motion detection to be both reliable and precise.