Tend Geofencing Not Working? A Step-by-Step Fix

How to Troubleshoot Tend Geofencing Not Working

Geofencing with the Tend Secure app should provide seamless, automated control over your cameras, arming them when you leave and disarming them upon your return. If this feature isn't working, you're missing out on a key convenience and may even leave your system disarmed by mistake. This guide will help you resolve the most common issues that prevent Tend's geofencing from functioning correctly.

The problem is almost always rooted in your smartphone's settings, which can prevent the Tend Secure app from properly tracking your location in the background.

Step 1: Set the Correct App Permissions

This is the most crucial step. The Tend Secure app needs continuous and precise access to your phone's location to determine when you've entered or exited your designated home zone.

• For iOS (iPhone):

  1. Navigate to your iPhone's Settings.
  2. Scroll down and select the Tend Secure app.
  3. Tap on Location.
  4. The permission must be set to "Always". If it is set to "While Using the App," geofencing will fail as soon as the app is closed or in the background.
  5. Ensure the "Precise Location" toggle is switched ON.

• For Android:

  1. Go to your phone's Settings.
  2. Tap on Apps > Tend Secure > Permissions.
  3. Select Location.
  4. Choose the "Allow all the time" option.
  5. Confirm that "Use precise location" is also enabled.

Step 2: Disable Restrictive Battery/Power Saving Modes

To save power, smartphones often "put to sleep" apps that are running in the background. This is a major issue for geofencing, which requires the app to be active.

• For iOS (iPhone):

  • Turn off Low Power Mode. You can find this setting in Settings > Battery.
  • Check that Background App Refresh is enabled for Tend Secure. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure the toggle for the app is on.

• For Android:

  • The exact steps can differ between phone manufacturers.
  • Go to Settings > Apps > Tend Secure > Battery.
  • You need to select the "Unrestricted" or "No restrictions" option. This exempts the app from the operating system's aggressive power-saving protocols.

Step 3: Verify the Geofence Setup in the Tend App

A simple misconfiguration in the app can also cause issues.

1. Open the Tend Secure app.
2. Go into the settings where you configured the geofence.
3. Check the Map Pin: Make sure the pin marking your "Home" location is placed accurately on the map.
4. Adjust the Radius: A very small geofence boundary can be unreliable due to minor GPS fluctuations. If your radius is set to the minimum, try increasing it to 200 or 300 metres to create a more stable trigger zone.
5. Ensure Cameras are Assigned: Verify that the cameras you want to control are actually assigned to the geofencing rule.

Step 4: General Phone Settings

• Keep Location Services On: Ensure your phone's main location service (GPS) is enabled. Geofencing cannot work without it.
• Keep Wi-Fi Enabled: Your phone uses nearby Wi-Fi networks (even if you're not connected to them) to get a faster, more accurate location fix than with GPS alone. It is highly recommended to keep your phone's Wi-Fi turned on.

By performing this systematic check of app permissions, phone battery settings, and the in-app configuration, you can overcome the obstacles preventing Tend geofencing from working. This will restore the "set it and forget it" convenience to your home security setup.