Resolve August Home Video Doorbell 3 Motion Detection Misses Fast Pedestrians

If you own an August Home Video Doorbell 3, you know that its motion‑detection feature is meant to keep you informed about who’s at your door. Yet many users report that the device frequently misses fast pedestrians – a situation that can be frustrating and compromising for security. This guide explains why the problem occurs, what settings and conditions influence it, and how you can adjust your doorbell, environment, and app configuration to recover reliable motion alerts.

Why Motion Detection Can Fail with Fast Pedestrians

The August Home Video Doorbell 3 employs a low‑power camera that watches a defined field of view (FOV). When an object crosses that FOV, the doorbell’s software applies a sequence of image‑processing algorithms to determine whether the movement is significant enough to trigger an alert. Several factors can make the doorbell overlook quick pedestrians:

1. Low‑Resolution, Low‑Frame‑Rate Capture
   The doorbell’s camera runs at 640 × 360 pixels and 8 fps during motion‑detection mode. When someone runs, the object can cross several pixels in a single frame, leading to a sudden appearance that the algorithm misclassifies as a background change or noise.

2. Adaptive Thresholding
   To save battery and bandwidth, the device adjusts its sensitivity based on ambient light, temperature, and previous motion patterns. If it has recently detected a large, slow object (e.g., a parked car), the threshold can be raised, making it less likely to register a fast, small object.

3. Occlusion and Partial Visibility
   A quick pedestrian may only be visible for one or two frames, especially if a building corner or tree blocks part of the view. The detection engine may treat this as a short‑term event and discard it.

4. Signal Interference or Wi‑Fi Latency
   Even if motion is detected, delayed packet delivery can cause the notification to arrive after the event has passed, giving the impression that the alert was missed.

5. Firmware or Software Bugs
   Occasionally, a bug in the latest firmware can inadvertently raise the motion‑detection threshold or skip frames during high‑speed events.

Step‑by‑Step Guide to Recover Fast Pedestrian Alerts

The following steps focus on practical adjustments you can make at the device level, within the August app, and in your home network. Some methods require only the mobile app, while others involve physical repositioning or firmware updates.

1. Verify the Latest Firmware

1. Open the August app.
2. Navigate to My Devices and tap your Home Video Doorbell 3.
3. In the device details screen, look for Device Firmware.
4. If an update is available, tap Update and let the doorbell finish the process.
5. After updating, reboot the device by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in.

Why? Firmware updates often contain optimizations for motion‑detection algorithms and bug fixes that improve reliability.

2. Reset Motion‑Detection Sensitivity

1. In the device settings, locate Motion Settings.
2. Disable Smart Motion (which adapts sensitivity automatically).
3. Choose Manual Motion and set the sensitivity slider to the highest level.
4. Enable Motion Zones if your model supports it, and configure a large zone covering the full FOV.

Why? Manual settings prevent the doorbell from raising its threshold during busy periods and keep sensitivity consistent.

3. Adjust Camera Field of View

The August Home Video Doorbell 3 can tilt, pan, and rotate within a limited range. To improve coverage for fast pedestrians:

1. Tilt the doorbell upward slightly (15–20 degrees).
2. Pan to the side where the most frequent fast pedestrians appear.
3. If your model allows rotation, set it to face the most common direction of approach.

Why? A wider, more centered FOV increases the probability that a pedestrian is captured for multiple frames, giving the detection algorithm enough data to register the motion.

4. Optimize Lighting Conditions

Motion‑detection uses image contrast to differentiate foreground from background. Poor lighting can degrade this contrast.

1. Install supplemental lighting (e.g., motion‑activated LED panels) near the doorbell’s line of sight.
2. Ensure that shadows are minimized by positioning the lights to the side rather than directly in front of the camera.
3. If the doorbell is in direct sun, consider using a UV filter or moving it slightly away from the sunlit edge.

Why? Better lighting stabilizes the image, reducing false negatives caused by low contrast.

5. Disable Motion‑Detection During High‑Noise Periods

If your neighborhood has frequent construction noise or heavy traffic, the doorbell may raise its threshold automatically. To counteract this:

1. Turn off Smart Motion (as in step 2).
2. Disable Motion Alerts during known noisy periods via the Schedule feature.
3. Re‑enable alerts at times when pedestrian traffic is likely to be slower.

Why? By preventing adaptive thresholds from being influenced by irrelevant activity, you keep the system tuned for pedestrian detection.

6. Configure Alert Frequency

The August app allows you to limit how often you receive notifications for the same event. Adjust this setting so that each new motion event triggers an alert.

1. Go to My Devices → Your Doorbell → Settings → Notifications.
2. Set Alert Frequency to Every Event.
3. Ensure Motion Alerts are turned on.

Why? Some users inadvertently set a cooldown period that suppresses successive alerts, making fast pedestrians appear to be missed.

7. Check Network Stability

A stable Wi‑Fi connection is essential for real‑time alert delivery.

1. Place the doorbell’s Wi‑Fi repeater or extender near the doorbell.
2. Verify that the signal strength is at least 70 % in the device settings.
3. Use a wired Ethernet connection for the router if possible.

Why? Latency or packet loss can cause alerts to be delayed, leading you to believe the motion was missed.

8. Test with a Controlled Run

1. Ask a friend or family member to walk quickly past the doorbell.
2. Observe the device’s live feed for 30 seconds after the run.
3. Check whether a notification appears within a few seconds.

If the test fails, try repeating steps 1–7 while noting which adjustment had the most impact.

Advanced Tuning for High‑Performance Environments

If you have already applied all basic fixes and still experience missed alerts, consider the following advanced options:

9. Use Third‑Party Integration

Some users employ Home Assistant or IFTTT to create custom motion‑detection logic. By subscribing to the doorbell’s webhook events, you can write a filter that triggers when a movement event lasts less than a certain duration but exceeds a size threshold.

1. In the August app, enable Webhooks in Advanced Settings.
2. Connect the webhook to Home Assistant.
3. Create a script that triggers an additional alert if the event time is under 2 seconds.

Why? Custom logic can compensate for the doorbell’s built‑in limitations.

10. Increase Camera Frame Rate via Firmware Mod

While not officially supported, some communities have explored custom firmware that raises the camera’s frame rate from 8 fps to 15 fps. This is a high‑risk procedure that may void your warranty.

1. Download the custom firmware package from a reputable source.
2. Follow the flashing instructions carefully.
3. After flashing, test motion detection with fast pedestrians.

Why? More frames per second provide a finer temporal resolution, making it easier to capture short‑lived motion.

11. Add a Secondary Camera

If your doorbell’s detection is still unreliable, place a secondary motion‑sensing device (e.g., a smart plug‑in camera) adjacent to the doorbell. Many cameras support higher frame rates and can be configured to detect quick pedestrians.

1. Mount the secondary camera within the same FOV.
2. Use the August app to pair it with your existing system.
3. Adjust the secondary camera’s sensitivity independently.

Why? Redundant coverage ensures that at least one sensor captures fast movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Putting It All Together

By following the steps outlined above—updating firmware, fine‑tuning sensitivity, optimizing placement and lighting, and ensuring network stability—you can dramatically improve the likelihood that the August Home Video Doorbell 3 will detect fast pedestrians. While no motion‑detection system is perfect, especially with very high‑speed movement, the combination of device‑side adjustments and app configuration provides a robust solution that satisfies most homeowners’ needs.

Regularly review the device’s status in the August app, especially after seasonal changes (e.g., trees shedding leaves, snow accumulation). A proactive approach ensures that your doorbell remains a reliable guardian of your front entrance, giving you peace of mind no matter how quickly someone passes by.