At times, my Wyze camera motion detection zones simply do not work.
This small fault suddenly turns into a security hazard as all of a sudden you have turned a great IP outdoor camera into a dummy camera that doesn't record anything.
With this article, I shall attempt to put forward a feasible solution to this problem after running an in-depth search on all Wyze forums and subreddits.
If your Wyze cam detection zone is not working, update the Wyze app and camera firmware to the latest version. Check the Wyze app settings and check whether the camera model supports motion detection. Get a Cam Plus subscription for person detection. If nothing works, send video feedback to Wyze.
Update Wyze App
It is very important to keep the Wyze app always updated to its latest version as most smart features of Wyze are software-related and pushed directly onto the Wyze app.
The Detection zone feature is an option added for the Wyze App versions 2.19 and above. Make sure the app is properly updated.
To update the Wyze app, follow the following steps:
- Open the application store(Apple App Store or Google Play Store) on the phone or tablet, depending on the operating system(iOS or Android) it is running in.
- Search the following: Wyze App on the search bar on top of the store home page.
- Click on the first relevant result leading to the store page of the Wyze app.
- From the Wyze app store page, click on Update. If there is no option for an update, then the app is probably in the latest version.
If the store is not showing any new updates and the app version is still not 2.19 or above, chances are that the operating system is outdated with respect to your device.
Make sure the phone or tablet is also on the latest update with respect to its operating system. If it is still not supported, then your phone or tablet is not supported.
Check Wyze App Settings
The Wyze app settings can be a place many ignore either due to their general lack of interest in tech or if their device has been preset by the seller.
Although the motion detection feature comes pre-enabled, the motion detection sensitivity and other essential options should be configured manually.
This could be a potential reason why one might not get their detection zones working properly on their Wyze IP cameras.
Check whether the Wyze settings are properly configured. To toggle between enabling and disabling detection zones, simply follow the following steps:
- Make sure the Wyze camera is paired and connected to the Wyze app
- Open the Wyze app and select the camera and enter its live stream.
- Tap on the settings gear icon and choose the detection settings
- Select the Detection Zone option and from the resultant screen, toggle Detection Zone on
- Once enabled, the app will ask for selecting the zone area from the live stream coverage. Drag and select the required area for detection
To configure the detection sensitivity of a specific Wyze camera, simply follow the following steps:
- Make sure the Wyze camera is paired and connected to the Wyze app.
- Open the Wyze app and select the camera and enter its live stream.
- Tap on the settings gear icon and choose the detection settings.
- Adjust the sensitivity of the motion detection from the slider, from 1 to 100. Make sure the detection zone and detection toggle is enabled.
Check Camera Models and Support
Different camera models support different styles of motion detection. Not only does the motion sensor change but so does the feature set associated with the model.
One such feature that was added for Wyze cameras was person detection, which also added the option to fine-tune and set a preferred routine instead of the traditional blocks.
Some previous generation models actually could be a beneficial addition, as the older versions had motion detection that supported person detection for free.
The current generation of Wyze camera models, namely the v3 series and above have restricted the person detection feature to only users with cam plus subscriptions.
This is one of the reasons why some people prefer the v2 over the v3, even though the v3 is clearly superior in every other area.
The other models which have support for people detection without the cam plus subscription are the pan series of Wyze cameras.
This is mainly because they use the legacy version of people detection, which is quite inferior comparatively but for most users still works pretty well.
Get a Cam Plus Subscription
Those with newer Wyze camera models, with v3 or higher need to shell out a few bucks to get the extra features of people detection.
What people don't realize though is that computational image detection grows exponentially with each passing year and hence the people detection with Cam plus subscription is superior.
The outlines and contrast in shadows are much more well-defined and instantly detected, making it pretty great to use for people detection at night too.
A better image detection like this also inadvertently adds the security factor as it detects motion that sometimes the older legacy versions would not have.
Send Feedback To Wyze
Despite all the motion detection features Wyze cameras boast, they are pretty underwhelming when it comes to practical use.
The issue lies mostly with its software, as the AI is still not polished and useful enough to detect and recognize even the thing they are advertised to do.
The Wyze app is notorious for being terrible at pushing out motion detection zone figures onto the Wyze cameras.
The success rate of their motion detection, at least compared to competitor options from Blink and Ring is below par and has huge areas to improve upon.
But it still does have a lot to offer and expecting a $35 IP camera to stay on top of $200 cameras is not a fair assumption.
The company is also relatively small when compared to the competition with the likes of Ring and Blink, so there is a scope for improvement too.
The best thing for consumers to do right now is to give valuable feedback and diagnostics to Wyze, especially when it comes to the data for motion and person detection zones.
Do note that sending video feedback to Wyze can mean they have access and permission to do what they wish with the footage.
They also can take diagnostic data, which may contain sensitive user information.
If you are conscious of your privacy, it is best to first read the terms and conditions properly before sending video feedback.
To give video feedback to Wyze to improve their AI's detection for future products and app updates, simply follow the following steps:
- Make sure the Wyze camera is paired and connected to the Wyze app.
- Record video events with people and motion on the Wyze camera.
- Open the Wyze app and select the Event tab.
- Select the recorded video footage and scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Tap on the option that reads: Help us improve AI by sharing this one video with Wyze.
- Follow the resultant steps and specify the motion and people on the footage.
Although this is a step solely based on luck and hopes for Wyze to deal with the issue, it still motivates Wyze to detect its issues and push out updates faster for a seamless experience.
Final Thoughts
The motion detection zones are definitely bugged out when it comes to Wyze cameras in general. Although there are mild workarounds, not much can be fixed from the user end.
Some bugs, such as the preset motion detection zones changing when the camera alignment changes are annoying issues that need to be fixed as soon as possible.
This can be a real problem with the Vehicle detection feature on Wyze Cams.
The main issue lies with the software and AI recognition of motion, which can be good news as the hardware is not faulty and all it needs is a software fix to make it great again.
But for $35, they provide fantastic value and features for an IP camera and are still the recommended option for someone looking for a cheap outdoor IP camera.
I hope my article has been a good read and helped you fix the motion detection woes with Wyze cameras.
Have a good day!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the motion detection distance of a Wyze camera?
Although this varies with the model. a Wyze camera mounted at around 6 feet from the ground can detect motion between 2 feet to 20 feet.
Why was the person detection feature removed from the free version of Wyze cameras?
Wyze had to remove the free person detection feature from later Wyze models due to some unexpected agreement terminations with their AI provider.
The feature was temporarily removed from all Wyze products but made it back with their Cam Plus subscription later.
How far can a Wyze outdoor camera be from its base station?
If there are no obstacles such as walls in between, the Wyze base station can be up to 300 feet away from the Wyze camera.
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