Wyze Detection Zone Not Working? Let's Troubleshoot Now
The detection zone feature on Wyze cameras is essential for receiving relevant security alerts. By telling your camera to ignore motion in certain parts of the frame—like a public pavement or a neighbour's garden—you can significantly reduce the number of false notifications. When this feature stops working, however, it can be very frustrating.
This guide provides a step-by-step process, in British English, to diagnose and fix issues with your Wyze detection zones.
## First Steps: Essential Checks
Before diving into more complex solutions, let's ensure the basics are covered. These steps resolve the majority of detection zone problems.
### 1. Update Everything
Wyze frequently releases app and firmware updates to fix bugs and improve performance. A glitch in an older version could be the cause of your issue.
- Update the Wyze App: Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your phone and check for any available updates for the Wyze app.
- Update Camera Firmware: Open the Wyze app, go to the Account tab, then Firmware Update. Here you can see if any of your cameras have pending updates. Install them and wait for the camera to restart.
### 2. Correctly Set and Save the Zone
It's easy to draw a zone but forget to save it properly. Let's walk through the process to be sure.
- Open the Wyze app and select the camera in question.
- Tap the Settings gear icon in the top right.
- Tap on Detection Settings.
- Tap on Detection Zone.
- Ensure the Detection Zone is toggled On.
- You will see a grid overlay on a still image from your camera. Tap the squares to activate or deactivate them. The darkened squares are the inactive areas where motion will be ignored. The clear squares are the active detection zone.
- Once you have configured the grid, tap the back arrow in the top left. This action saves your zone. There isn't always an explicit "Save" button.
## Step 2: Fine-Tuning Your Detection Settings
If the zone is set correctly but isn't performing as expected, the next step is to adjust the sensitivity.
- Getting Alerts Outside the Zone? This almost always means your Detection Sensitivity is too high. The camera might be picking up shadows or light changes that bleed over from the inactive area. Go to Settings > Detection Settings and move the sensitivity slider one or two notches to the left (towards Low).
- Missing Alerts Inside the Zone? Conversely, if you're not getting alerts for obvious motion within your active zone, the sensitivity may be too low. Move the slider to the right (towards High).
After each adjustment, test the camera to see if the issue is resolved. Finding the perfect balance can sometimes take a bit of trial and error.
## Step 3: Consider Environmental Factors
The performance of Wyze's pixel-based motion detection can be heavily influenced by the camera's environment.
- Night Mode Changes: When the camera switches to night vision, the image changes dramatically. The infrared (IR) light can create new reflections and shadows that might not exist during the day. This can sometimes cause the detection zone to behave differently.
- Spiders and Debris: A spider web, dust, or a water droplet on the lens is a very common cause of false alerts. These objects are so close to the lens that their movement can trigger alerts regardless of your zone settings. Ensure your camera lens is perfectly clean.
- Moving Trees and Shadows: If the edge of your detection zone is near a tree or bush that moves in the wind, it can trigger unwanted alerts. You may need to adjust your zone to create more of a buffer around such objects.
## Step 4: Power Cycle and Re-Setup
If the problem persists, clearing the camera's temporary memory and settings can often help.
- Power Cycle the Camera: Unplug your Wyze Cam from its power source. Wait for a full 30 seconds to ensure it fully powers down. Then, plug it back in. Wait for it to reconnect and then test the detection zone again.
- Toggle the Zone Off and On: Go back into Settings > Detection Settings > Detection Zone. Toggle the feature off, back out to save the change, then go back in and toggle it on again. Redraw your zone and save it. This can sometimes reset a software glitch.
- Delete and Re-add the Camera: As a final step, you can delete the camera from your Wyze app and set it up again from scratch. This is a hassle, as it requires you to re-enter Wi-Fi details and all your settings, but it can resolve deeper configuration issues.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can solve the most common problems with Wyze detection zones and get back to receiving only the notifications that matter.