Troubleshooting Yi Camera Zone Settings Not Working
Yi Home Cameras provide a valuable feature known as 'Activity Zones,' which allows you to specify particular areas within the camera's view to monitor for motion. This is essential for reducing the number of false alarms you receive. For example, you can draw a zone around your doorway while excluding a nearby window that faces a busy street. However, it's a common frustration when these zone settings don't work correctly. This guide will help you diagnose and fix the problem.
### How Activity Zones Should Work
When properly configured, your Yi camera should only send you a motion alert and create a recording when movement is detected inside the designated activity zone(s). Any motion occurring outside these zones should be completely ignored by the alert system. If this isn't happening, let's work through the potential causes.
## Initial Steps to Fix Zone Setting Issues
Before diving into more complex solutions, let's cover the basics. These steps resolve the majority of user issues.
### 1. Ensure You Have an Active Subscription
One of the most common reasons for activity zones failing to work is the subscription status. For many Yi camera models and firmware versions, Activity Zones are a premium feature that requires an active Yi Home (or Kami) cloud subscription.
- How to Check: Open the Yi Home app, go to your account settings, and check your subscription status. If you don't have a subscription, the feature may appear to be active in the settings but will not be enforced by the camera.
### 2. Correctly Save Your Zone Configuration
It's easy to draw a zone and then exit the screen without properly saving it.
- In the Yi Home app, select your camera.
- Go to Settings > Smart Detection.
- Tap on Activity Zone.
- Draw the area you want to monitor. You can often create multiple zones.
- Crucially, make sure you tap the 'Save' or checkmark icon, which is usually in the top right corner of the screen. If you just go back, your changes will be discarded.
### 3. Reboot Your Camera
A simple reboot can often clear temporary software glitches that might be preventing the zone settings from being applied correctly. Unplug the camera from its power source, wait for at least 30 seconds, and then plug it back in. Give it a few minutes to fully restart and reconnect to the network before testing it again.
## Advanced Troubleshooting for Activity Zones
If the initial steps didn't work, let's investigate further.
### Symptom: The Camera Detects All Motion, Ignoring the Zone
This is the primary issue where the zones you've set seem to have no effect.
- Solution 1: Update Firmware and App: Bugs in the camera's firmware or the Yi Home app are a frequent cause of this problem.
- Firmware: In the camera's settings, look for a 'Firmware Version' or 'Device Info' section. The app should tell you if an update is available.
- App: Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and check if there is an update for the Yi Home app.
- Solution 2: Adjust Motion Detection Sensitivity: While you have a zone set, the overall motion sensitivity setting is still active. If the sensitivity is set to 'High,' it might be so sensitive that it picks up subtle changes in light or shadows that cross the boundary of your zone, leading to a false trigger. Try lowering the sensitivity to 'Medium' or 'Low' and see if that improves accuracy.
### Symptom: Activity Zone Settings Disappear or Won't Save
If you set a zone and later find it has been deactivated or was never saved, this points to a communication issue.
- Solution 1: Re-format the SD Card: If you are using an SD card, it can sometimes become corrupted and interfere with the camera's ability to save settings. Try reformatting the SD card through the Yi Home app. Warning: This will erase all existing footage on the card.
- Solution 2: Reset and Re-pair the Camera: This should be your last resort, as it requires you to set up the camera from scratch. Use a paperclip to press the reset button on the camera for a few seconds until you hear a prompt. Then, follow the instructions in the app to add the camera back to your account. This process will install the latest settings profile and can resolve persistent software issues.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to get your Yi camera's activity zones working reliably, ensuring you only get the alerts that truly matter.