Many smart camera owners have experienced it — a flood of notifications, only to find it was just the wind moving tree branches or a burst of warm air from the AC. These false alerts can be frustrating and may even cause you to miss important ones.
Understanding the Trigger Mechanism
For battery cameras: Uses a PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor to detect motion. It doesn’t “see” objects move like a human would—it detects changes in infrared energy (heat) in the environment.
For plug-in camera: It detects any visual change in the camera’s view, such as a person walking by or shifting light and shadows.
It can be triggered by:
- Actual movement (people, pets, vehicles)
- Sudden light changes
- Temperature shifts (hot/cold air from vents)
- Moving objects like trees or curtains
Because PIR sensors detect heat and motion, environmental changes can sometimes trigger false notifications.
How to Reduce False Notifications
Here are some adjustments you can make to improve accuracy:
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Reposition the Camera
- Avoid placing the camera near air conditioning vents, heaters, or in direct line with trees or plants.
- Aim the camera so it focuses on your primary security area.
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Adjust Motion Detection Sensitivity
- In the App: Camera Settings > Motion Detection > Detection Sensitivity
- Set it to Low or Medium to reduce the PIR detection range and filter out small, irrelevant motions.
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Enable “Do Not Disturb”
- Tap the bell icon on the top of the App’s Home page.
- Choose 30 minutes, 2 hours, or 12 hours to temporarily pause motion notifications (recordings will still be saved).
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Use Sleep Mode
- In the App: Camera Settings > Motion Detection > Sleep Settings
- Set the camera to sleep immediately or schedule sleep periods when motion detection is not needed.
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Upgrade to the Awareness Service
- Get smarter notifications — receive alerts only for:
- Recognized people, vehicles, pets, or packages
- Set Activity Zones so you’re notified only about motion in specific areas.
- This service filters unwanted notifications without affecting recordings.
- Get smarter notifications — receive alerts only for: