Skybell Facial Recognition Not Working? Let's Fix It
Skybell's facial recognition feature is a powerful tool that transforms a generic motion alert into a specific notification, letting you know if it's a family member, a delivery driver, or a stranger at your door. When this feature fails to work correctly, you lose a key layer of smart security.
If your Skybell is struggling to identify familiar faces or isn't distinguishing people from other motion, this guide will help you troubleshoot the problem. We’ll cover the most common causes, from camera placement to software settings.
What Prevents Facial Recognition From Working?
The AI behind facial recognition is complex and relies on a clear, well-lit image. The most common reasons for failure are:
- Poor Camera Angle: The Skybell is mounted too high or too low, preventing a clear view of faces.
- Suboptimal Lighting: Strong backlighting or deep shadows obscure facial features.
- Incorrect Settings: The feature may be disabled or misconfigured within the Skybell app.
- Untrained AI: The system may need you to tag and identify people to learn who they are.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Facial Recognition
Follow these steps to fine-tune your setup for maximum accuracy.
1. Check Your Skybell's Physical Placement
The camera's position is the single most important factor for success.
- Optimal Height: For facial recognition to work reliably, the Skybell should be mounted so that its camera is roughly at face level for the average visitor. The recommended height is typically around 48 inches (1.2 metres) from the ground. If it's mounted too high, it will only see the top of people's heads.
- Direct View: Ensure the camera has a straight-on view of where people stand. If it's off to the side, it will only capture a profile, which is much harder for the AI to analyse.
2. Improve the Lighting Conditions
Your camera needs light to see, just like your eyes do.
- Avoid Backlighting: The worst lighting condition is having a bright light source (like the morning sun) directly behind your visitors. This turns them into a silhouette and makes their face impossible to see. If this is an issue, a small awning or repositioning may be necessary.
- Ensure Good Frontal Lighting: For night-time performance, a working porch light is essential. The camera's built-in night vision helps, but good external lighting provides the best detail for the AI to work with.
3. Configure In-App Settings
Let's ensure everything is enabled correctly within the Skybell app.
- Enable the Feature: Dive into your Skybell's settings within the app and locate the motion or smart detection menus. Make sure that Facial Recognition or Person Detection is toggled on.
- Check Your Subscription: Some advanced features may require an active cloud subscription. Log in to your account on the Skybell website and confirm that your plan includes facial recognition.
4. Train the AI by Tagging Faces
Facial recognition systems learn over time. You can help the process along.
- Review Event History: Go through your recent video clips. When the app detects a face, it may ask you to identify the person.
- Tag and Name Consistently: Assign names to the faces of your family members and frequent visitors. If the app makes a mistake, correct it. By consistently tagging people, you provide the AI with the data it needs to become more accurate in the future.
By optimising your Skybell's physical and digital environment, you can significantly improve the performance of its facial recognition feature, ensuring you always get the most intelligent and useful alerts.