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. When the PIR sensor detects motion, it triggers the camera to wake up.

Therefore, the issue may be one of the following:

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

To troubleshoot the issue, first check if the camera can detect motion while viewing the live feed.

If motion detection works during live view, proceed to Part 1. If it doesn’t, go to Part 2.

When viewing the camera’s live feed, the camera remains in a continuously active state without relying on the PIR motion sensor for wake-up triggers. In this state, if any movement appears in the camera's view, the image detection algorithm will activate. Therefore, if motion detection works fine during live view but not in other situations, it’s likely that the PIR sensor is not detecting movement. In this case, please follow the steps outlined in Part 1 for troubleshooting.

Part 1. The PIR motion sensor cannot trigger or wake up the camera.

This issue suggests that the Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor is not detecting motion properly, which prevents the camera from being activated when movement occurs. The problem could be related to sensor sensitivity or environmental factors affecting its performance.

The PIR sensor's detection area is limited compared to the camera's field of view, with a detection range of up to 8-9 meters. You could test the detection range referring to the relevant FAQ: How to test the detection range of Tapo battery camera | TP-Link

Here are also some methods to improve the sensitivity of the pir sensor.

1. Adjust PIR Sensor Sensitivity:

Go to Camera Settings > Detection > Wake-up Sensitivity to modify the sensitivity level.

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

2. Optimize Mounting position:

The mounting location greatly affects detection range.

• 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.

Part 2. Motion detection cannot be triggered when the camera is awake

In this case, the camera’s image-based detection algorithm is not identifying movement in the video feed. This could be due to issues with the detection settings, lighting conditions, or other visual factors affecting the camera's ability to detect motion accurately.

1. Check firmware:

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

2. 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.

3. Verify detection types and Active Zone

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

4. Modify sensitivity

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