## How to Fix Tend Camera Zone Settings Not Working
Activity zones are a key feature for your Tend camera, designed to help you receive more relevant motion alerts. By specifying the exact areas you want to monitor within the camera's view, you can significantly reduce the number of false alarms caused by background movement, such as traffic or swaying trees.
If you've set up activity zones in the Tend app but find they aren't working as you expect, this troubleshooting guide will provide you with the professional and empathetic help you need to get them configured correctly.
### The Purpose of Activity Zones and Sensitivity
It's important to understand the two settings that work together for motion detection:
- Activity Zones: This tells your camera WHERE to watch for motion. You draw a box around a specific area, like a doorway or a walkway.
- Motion Sensitivity: This tells your camera HOW MUCH movement is needed to trigger an alert within that zone. A low setting requires a large motion, while a high setting can be triggered by very small movements.
For the system to work effectively, you need to get both of these settings right.
## Common Issues with Tend Activity Zones and Their Solutions
Let's walk through the most common problems users experience and how to resolve them.
### Problem: The Activity Zones I Create Don't Save
You spend time carefully drawing a zone, but when you check later, it has disappeared or reverted to the full-screen default.
- Not Saving a_nd Exiting Correctly: This is the most frequent reason for zones not sticking. In the Tend app, after you draw or resize your activity zone, you must tap the 'Save' button or the checkmark icon, which is typically in the top corner of the screen. If you just use the 'back' button to leave the screen, your changes will not be saved.
- App Glitch: Occasionally, a temporary glitch in the app can prevent settings from being saved correctly. Try closing the app completely (removing it from your phone's recent apps list) and then reopening it. If the problem persists, try logging out of your account and logging back in to establish a fresh session with the server.
### Problem: I Still Get Alerts from Outside My Defined Zone
This can be very frustrating and defeats the purpose of setting up zones in the first place.
- Motion Sensitivity is Set Too High: This is the most likely culprit. Even if the main movement is outside the zone, significant changes in lighting or fast-moving shadows that clip the very edge of your zone can be enough to trigger an alert if the sensitivity is on a high setting.
- Solution: In the Tend app, navigate to your camera's settings and find the
Motion Detection Sensitivity. If it's on 'High', reduce it to 'Medium' or even 'Low'. Test the results and adjust as needed. This is often a process of trial and error to find the perfect balance for your specific environment.
- Solution: In the Tend app, navigate to your camera's settings and find the
- The Zone is Poorly Drawn: Your zone might be slightly larger than you think, or it might include the edge of a busy road or a rustling plant.
- Solution: Go back to the activity zone editor. Delete your current zone and draw a new one, making sure to leave a small buffer between the edge of the zone and any areas with constant, irrelevant motion.
### Problem: I Don't Get Any Alerts, Even for Motion Inside the Zone
You've set a zone, but now you're missing important events.
- Motion Sensitivity is Set Too Low: If you have the sensitivity set to 'Low', the camera requires a very significant event to trigger an alert. A person walking quickly through the far edge of the zone might not be enough. Try increasing the sensitivity to 'Medium'.
- Firmware is Out of Date: The camera's internal software (firmware) controls how it handles these settings. An older firmware version might have a bug. Check within the Tend app's camera settings for a 'Firmware Update' option and install any updates that are available.
By ensuring you save your settings properly and finding the right balance between your zone placement and motion sensitivity, you can fine-tune your Tend camera's alerts to be both accurate and meaningful.