As far as I know, there are two main types of motion sensors in security cameras. The first triggers motion detection by measuring changes in pixels and relying on motion algorithms; this is known as an optical motion sensor. Examples include the movement of people, animals, and vehicles. The second type triggers motion alerts by detecting body heat and infrared energy, known as PIR motion sensors. Examples include detecting fires and engine heat.
In this article, I’ll explain how to fix motion detection on your security camera if it’s not working.
What Is Motion Detection on Security Cameras? Is This Feature Important?
Fitur deteksi gerak semakin populer pada kamera keamanan pintar.
Nowadays, there isn’t a single smart camera on the market—even among the most affordable models—that lacks motion detection capabilities. The applications of motion detection in smart cameras are highly varied. Fundamentally, motion detection serves as a trigger to activate other features—such as commanding the camera to track movement regardless of direction, configuring it to record only when motion is detected, turning on the camera’s light, triggering an alarm, and much more.
Therefore, the motion detection feature is very important in security cameras. This feature can also trigger a message to be sent to a cell phone.
How Can I Fix the Motion Detection Feature on My Security Camera That Isn’t Working?
Based on my experience so far, motion detection not working on security cameras is not caused by a malfunction of the feature itself, but rather by user errors in installing and configuring the camera.
By default, the camera’s motion detection feature is turned off.
Therefore, security camera users who want to use the motion detection feature must enable it manually; for smart security cameras, motion detection settings can generally be configured directly through the app. So before assuming the camera is broken or that the motion detection feature isn’t working, check the settings first.
For example, I’m going to enable the motion detection feature on the EZVIZ security camera I installed in my garden.
Enabling the Motion Detection Feature on a Security Camera
I opened the EZVIZ app on my phone.
Then I opened the camera settings. As you can see in the image below, I haven’t enabled any motion detection features on my EZVIZ camera. Therefore, motion detection on the camera isn’t working.
I need to select and enable one of the motion detection features.
The EZVIZ H8c camera I’m using offers three motion detection features that I can enable at any time, namely:
- Human Shape Detection – to detect human movement
- Vehicle Detection – detect passing vehicles
- Image Change Detection – zoom in on the moving image in front of the camera
Since no vehicles pass through my yard, I only need to enable the “Human Shape Detection” feature.
Set Up Notifications When Motion Is Detected by the Security Camera
As mentioned earlier, motion detection triggers other camera features, such as sending notifications to your phone. This feature generally needs to be enabled manually through the camera app—in this guide, the EZVIZ app.
As you can see in the image below, the notification feature is not yet enabled.
To configure notifications, open the EZVIZ camera settings and select the “Message Notification” menu.
Once the notification feature is enabled, you can adjust several settings, such as how long after the camera detects motion the phone will receive a notification, and then set a schedule—whether the notification feature runs continuously or only at specific times.
Enabling the Motion Detection Feature on NVRs and DVRs
Unlike detection features on smart cameras, which must be enabled manually, motion detection features on NVRs and DVRs are typically enabled by default once the device is turned on. However, if the motion detection feature isn’t working, you can enable it manually.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to enable motion detection on a Dahua XVR.
Enabling Motion Detection on the Dahua XVR
Since I’m currently away from home, I’ll try to enable motion detection on the Dahua XVR remotely using DMSS. As it happens, the Dahua XVR is already connected to the DMSS app on my phone.
I opened the DMSS app.
Then I tapped the three-dot menu on the Dahua XVR to configure its motion detection and selected “Device Details.”
On the Device Details page, scroll down until you find the Remote Configuration menu.
To check whether motion detection is enabled, on the Remote Configuration page I selected the Video Detection > Motion Detection > Channel 1 menu. As you can see in the image below, it turns out I haven’t enabled motion detection yet. I need to enable it first so that the motion detection feature works on my Dahua XVR.
Motion detection is enabled.
I also made a few additional adjustments by enabling Advanced Configuration. These settings allow you to schedule when motion detection should be active—for example, instructing the XVR to record only when the camera detects motion.
Enabling Motion Detection Notifications on the Dahua XVR
You can also enable notifications on your phone if the Dahua XVR detects motion. You can do this directly from the DMSS app as well.
Go to Device Details.
Then, in the Alarm Settings section, select Multi-Channel Alarm Subscription.
Turn on the alarm by sliding the button.
A list of settings will then appear. At this stage, you can choose which camera channel will send notifications. Here are the settings I configured as an example. I’ll set camera channel 2 to send notifications to my phone if it detects motion.
- Period Settings: Set the time at which the camera sends notifications to your phone
- Motion Detection: Channel 2
- Scene Changing: Channel 2
- People Alarm: Channel 2
You can adjust the other settings as needed. Once you’re done, click the Save button to save your settings.
And here’s the result. When the camera on Channel 2 detects motion, a notification is sent to my phone. I can see it right away.
To configure motion detection on NVRs and DVRs from other brands, you can follow the guide above. The setup process is nearly the same.
I’ve Followed the Guide, But Motion Detection Still Isn’t Working
Update the firmware on your security camera.
Actually, when I made the adjustments described above, motion detection on the camera, NVR, and DVR worked fine right away—I didn’t need to update the devices’ firmware. However, if motion detection on the devices still isn’t working, you can try updating the firmware.
To update the smart camera’s firmware, you can do so from the app.
Specifically for firmware updates on NVRs and DVRs, you can do this by accessing the settings via the monitor screen. Generally, most of the NVR and DVR settings menus available in the app are not very comprehensive.
Final Thoughts
So if the motion detection on your security camera isn’t working, the problem isn’t necessarily with the camera itself—it might simply be because you haven’t enabled the feature yet. The method I described above has proven effective in fixing motion detection issues on security cameras. By following this guide, you won’t need to contact a security camera technician—you can do it yourself and save money.
I hope this guide is helpful. If anything in this guide is unclear, feel free to ask questions in the comments section below.