Unlocking the Potential of Simplisafe Facial Recognition
Simplisafe's facial recognition feature represents a significant step forward in home security, transforming your camera from a simple motion detector into a smart device that knows who is coming and going. When it works correctly, it can provide immense peace of mind, alerting you that your children have arrived home from school or letting you know if an unrecognised face is at your door. However, when it fails to identify people correctly, it can be a source of frustration.
This guide will help you understand how the technology works, what common issues can cause it to fail, and how you can troubleshoot those problems to get the feature working reliably. We'll focus on practical, actionable steps you can take to improve its accuracy.
How Does Simplisafe's Facial Recognition Work?
The feature uses advanced algorithms to analyse the video feed from your SimpliCam or Video Doorbell Pro. When it detects a human face, it compares the facial geometry—the distance between eyes, the shape of the nose, and other unique identifiers—to a database of known faces that you have created in the Simplisafe app. If it finds a match, it can send you a specific notification (e.g., "John has been spotted").
Common Reasons for Facial Recognition Issues
If you're finding the system isn't working as expected, it's likely due to one of these common factors.
1. Poor Camera Placement and Lighting
This is the number one cause of poor accuracy.
- Backlighting: If a person is standing in front of a bright light source (like the sun), their face will be in shadow, making it impossible for the camera to see their features.
- Camera Angle: A camera pointing down from a high angle will only see the top of a person's head, not their face. The camera should be positioned to capture faces head-on as much as possible.
- Lighting Conditions: Very low light or deep shadows can obscure facial features, preventing a positive identification.
2. Outdated Software or Firmware
Simplisafe regularly pushes updates to its app and camera firmware to improve performance and fix bugs. If you're running an older version, you may be missing out on crucial accuracy improvements.
3. Incorrect Settings Configuration
The feature needs to be enabled correctly within your Simplisafe app. You also need to have created profiles for the people you want the system to recognise. If these profiles have poor-quality images, the system will struggle to find a match.
4. Low-Quality Image Captures
If a person is moving quickly, is too far from the camera, or turns their head away, the camera may not be able to capture a clear enough image to perform an accurate analysis.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Follow these steps to resolve issues with facial recognition.
Optimise Your Camera's View
- Positioning: Place your camera at eye level (around 1.5 metres from the ground) if possible. Ensure it looks directly at the area where people will approach, such as your front path or doorway.
- Lighting: For outdoor cameras, try to avoid positions where the sun will be directly behind the person you want to identify. For indoor cameras, ensure the area is well-lit. Night vision can work, but good ambient light is always superior.
Update Your System and App
- App: Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and check for any updates to the Simplisafe app.
- Firmware: The camera's firmware should update automatically as long as it's connected to Wi-Fi. You can check its status within the camera's settings in the app.
Manage Your People Profiles
- Review Existing Profiles: Open the Simplisafe app and navigate to the people management section. Look at the photos associated with each person. Are they clear, well-lit, and front-facing?
- Add More Images: If the system incorrectly identifies someone, use the app's feedback feature to correct it. This helps the algorithm learn and improve over time.
- Create New Profiles: Ensure everyone you expect to be recognised has a profile set up.
Check Your Subscription Plan
Facial recognition is a premium feature. Log into your account on the Simplisafe website and confirm that your monitoring plan includes this service. If it doesn't, you will need to upgrade to enable it.
When to Contact Simplisafe Support
If you have followed all the steps above and are still experiencing significant issues with accuracy or functionality, it may be time to contact Simplisafe's customer support. They can perform remote diagnostics and check for any account- or hardware-specific problems that could be causing the issue. Provide them with specific examples of when the feature failed to help them resolve your case more efficiently.