SimpliSafe Geofencing Not Working as Expected?
Geofencing is a powerful feature designed to add a layer of convenience to your SimpliSafe security system. It can remind you to arm your system if you forget on your way out, and even automatically disarm it upon your return. When it fails, you miss out on this useful automation. This guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the common issues that prevent SimpliSafe's geofencing from working.
The feature's reliability depends almost entirely on your smartphone's settings. Let's ensure everything is configured correctly for seamless operation.
## How SimpliSafe Geofencing is Designed to Work
SimpliSafe's geofencing creates a virtual radius, or "geofence," around your system's location. The SimpliSafe app on your smartphone monitors your location in the background.
- Arming Reminders: When the app detects that your phone has left the geofence area and the system is still disarmed, it sends you a push notification, prompting you to arm it remotely.
- Automatic Disarming (Beta): For some users, the app can be configured to automatically switch the system to "Home" or "Off" mode when it detects your arrival back inside the geofence.
For either of these to work, the app must have persistent access to your phone's location.
## Essential Phone Settings for Geofencing Success
The number one cause of geofencing failure is incorrect phone permissions. Modern phone operating systems have strict rules to conserve battery and protect privacy, which can interfere with this feature.
### 1. Location Services Permissions
This is the most critical setting.
- For iOS (iPhone): Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Scroll down to find the SimpliSafe app. Tap on it and ensure the permission is set to Always. If it is set to "While Using the App," geofencing will not work correctly.
- For Android: Navigate to Settings > Apps. Find and tap on the SimpliSafe app. Go to Permissions > Location. You must select Allow all the time.
### 2. Background App Activity
Your phone must allow the SimpliSafe app to run in the background.
- For iOS (iPhone): Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Ensure the toggle is enabled for the SimpliSafe app.
- For Android: These settings vary, but look for Battery optimisation or Adaptive Battery in your phone's settings. You must ensure the SimpliSafe app is exempted from any optimisation that could put it to "sleep" or restrict its background data usage. Set its battery usage to Unrestricted.
### 3. Keep Wi-Fi and Mobile Data On
For the most reliable location tracking, keep both Wi-Fi and mobile data enabled on your phone. Your phone uses a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi networks, and mobile towers to determine its location accurately and efficiently.
## Configuring and Checking Settings in the SimpliSafe App
Once your phone settings are correct, let's verify the settings within the SimpliSafe app itself.
- Open the SimpliSafe app and tap the three-bar menu icon (☰).
- Go to App Settings.
- Tap on Geofencing.
- Ensure the main Geofencing toggle is enabled.
- Check that your location is correctly displayed on the map. You can adjust the radius of the geofence here. If you are getting reminders too early or too late, try making the circle larger.
- Configure your Arming Reminders and Automatic Disarming preferences as desired.
## What to Do if Geofencing Remains Unreliable
If you have double-checked all the settings above and are still experiencing problems, try the following:
- Log Out and Back In: Tap the menu in the SimpliSafe app and choose to log out. Log back in with your credentials. This can sometimes refresh a stale connection to the server.
- Restart Your Phone: A simple reboot can clear up temporary glitches with your phone's location services.
- Re-install the App: As a last resort, deleting and reinstalling the SimpliSafe app can resolve issues caused by a corrupted app installation. You will need to grant all the necessary permissions again after reinstalling.
By ensuring the app has the constant location access it needs, you can make your SimpliSafe geofencing a reliable and convenient part of your daily routine.