What should I do if my battery-powered camera can't detect the motion?

To conserve power, battery-powered cameras typically remain in a low-power sleep state and can only detect motion when awake. The camera can be awakened by actions within the app, such as viewing the live feed, or by the PIR sensor. If you're experiencing issues with motion detection, consider the following possibilities:

• The PIR sensor cannot detect motion.
• The camera can wake up but is unable to trigger motion detection.

Here are some methods to enhance the detection Sensitivity.

1. Adjust PIR Sensor Sensitivity:

The detection range of the battery-powered camera is up to 8-9 meters.

Go to Camera Settings > Detection > Wake-up Sensitivity to modify the detection range.

What is the Wake-up Sensitivity of my battery camera/doorbell? | TP-Link

2. Optimize Mounting position:

The mounting location also greatly affects detection range. You could first test the detection range by referring to the relevant FAQ: How to test the detection range of Tapo battery camera | TP-Link

If the detection range is not ideal. Please try the following methods to improve it.

• Adjust the height and angle

Check the recommended mounting height and angle in the Tapo app: Device Settings > User Guide > Mounting Guide or the Quick Installation Guide.

Take C425/TC85 as an example: the recommended height is 2-3 meters, tilted down at an angle of 10°-15°.

• Avoid placing the camera behind glass

Situating the camera behind glass can prevent it from detecting movement outside, resulting in missed alerts.

• Keep the motion sensor lens level

Ensure the camera lens is horizontal. If tilted or inverted, the PIR sensor's detection range may be limited, leading to missed motion events.

• Don’t mount upside down

Ensure the camera is oriented correctly to maintain proper functionality.

• Mount the camera to the side

Avoid pointing the camera directly at the monitoring area. When someone approaches directly, the PIR sensor may not activate effectively. Position the camera to the side for better sensitivity.

Additionally, some animals may be difficult to detect because their heat signatures are smaller and less likely to trigger the sensor compared to humans.

3. Adjust the Clip Settings

• Navigate to Camera Settings > Storage & Recording > Clip Settings.
• Reduce the Retrigger Time, increase the Record Buffer, and extend the Maximum Clip Length.

4. Check firmware:

Ensure that the camera's firmware is up to date.

5. Verify detection types and Active Zone

Go to Camera Settings > Detection > Motion Detection or Active Zone to ensure they are configured as desired.

6. Modify sensitivity

Adjust the sensitivity of motion detection by going to Camera Settings > Detection >Motion Detection