@scoop64 

Hi,

Battery-powered cameras rely on the PIR sensor to activate. This means the camera’s installation position and angle are critical for reliable motion detection. If you’re experiencing issues such as poor sensitivity or missed detections, please refer to the troubleshooting guide below: 

    1. Increase wake-up sensitivity under Camera Settings > Detection.

    2. Avoid placing the camera facing glass surfaces. Keep the motion sensor lens level and mount the camera to the side.

    3. Optimize the camera mounting position and angle by referring to Camera Settings > User Guide > Mounting Guide or the Quick Installation Guide in the Tapo app.

    - Take Tapo C425/TC85 as an example: the recommended height is 2-3 meters, tilted downward at 10-15 degrees, and the maximum detection distance is about 8 meters (in sensitivity 10).

    - For Tapo battery Pan & Tilt cameras, the PIR sensor moves with the camera. Keep the PIR sensor level and tilt the lens downward by about 20 degrees.

    4. Test the detection range using this guide: How to test the detection range of the Tapo battery camera.

Motion outside the detection range will not be captured. If the camera does not respond during the test at any distance for Tapo C410/C402/C403/TC82 V2 models, press and hold both the Reset and Power buttons for 5 seconds. Release the Power button first, then the Reset button, to reboot the PIR sensor, and test again.

    5. Reduce the retrigger time, increase the record buffer, and extend the maximum clip length on Camera Settings > Storage & Recording > Clip Settings page.

    6. If supported, enable 24/7 Capture to extend the detection range: How can I enable the 24/7 Capture on Battery Camera?

    For more details, refer to "What should I do if my battery-powered camera can't detect the motion?"

If the problem persists, contact our customer service team and provide the results of the troubleshooting steps above.

Best Regards,

  @Hilbert-TP Detection still not good ,,

Detection only when you are very close to camera or won't detect  at all, have to be by camera and wave at it , tried sensitivity to 10, moved camera angles, reboot. 

  @scoop64 

scoop64 wrote

  @Hilbert-TP Detection still not good ,,

Detection only when you are very close to camera or won't detect  at all, have to be by camera and wave at it , tried sensitivity to 10, moved camera angles, reboot. 

Hi，

Thank you for your continued feedback and testing.

Based on the installation photos you shared earlier, the detection issue is very likely related to the camera’s current mounting angle and height.

As explained in our FAQ (refer to the diagram in this article: How to test the detection range of Tapo battery camera, the PIR sensor in this type of camera is optimized to detect movement most effectively in the center-to-lower portion of its field of view. In your current setup, the areas you want to monitor (like the doorway or parking spot) are positioned at the very top edge of the frame. This positioning places them outside the sensor’s ideal activation zone, which explains why detection is unreliable unless someone is extremely close.

Our recommendation is to adjust the setup as follows:

1. Move the camera closer to the target monitoring area.
2. Lower the mounting height to approximately 2-3 meters (6.5-10 feet).

This adjustment will help bring the key detection zones into the camera’s optimal PIR range.

Best Regards,

  @Hilbert-TP 

I have measured the height of the camera from the ground it is well in the specification of the recommend height,  also the distance between camera i my front door where I would like camera to tricker is also within detection distance. 

Nigel Feeley 

  @scoop64 

I would like to.add the other camera is at the back ( i purchased the 2 pack) with same height and settings , this camera works,picks up detection.