Motion detection on an ADT doorbell camera watches the area in front of the door and sends an alert when someone approaches, and the alerts that are too many, too few or late have causes you can fix. Open the app's settings for the doorbell and check the motion sensitivity and the detection zone or range, if your model offers them: a high sensitivity with a wide view catches cars and trees, while a low one misses people.
The checks in more detail
Trunetto's guide on ADT video doorbells that miss alerts lists the usual causes: notifications switched off in the app, the phone's notification permission or Focus mode hiding alerts, a poor Wi-Fi link that stops events uploading, and a schedule that disables detection. Check the Wi-Fi at the door and improve it. Make sure the phone allows notifications for the app and that battery saving is not stopping them in the background.
Check that the doorbell is online, because an offline doorbell detects and sends nothing. The view matters: the doorbell sees best straight ahead at chest height, and people who walk across the view quickly or approach from the side may be missed. If the doorbell faces a street, parked cars and passers-by trigger alerts, so reduce the range or sensitivity. At night, insects and spiders drawn to the infrared glow cause false alerts. Rain, snow, shadows and swaying plants can look like movement.
Test by walking up to the door and checking the alert. A doorbell on a weak battery or transformer may wake slowly and miss the start of an event. If alerts arrive late, the Wi-Fi or the phone's background limits are the cause. If detection fails with settings, signal and notifications right, ask the installer to check it. Keep the firmware current and restart the doorbell by a power cycle if it seems stuck.
Differential
Likely causes of “ADT Doorbell Camera misses motion or records too many events”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Notifications off or hidden
What separates it No alerts reach the phone
How to confirm Allow notifications and turn off Focus
- 2
Sensitivity or range wrong
What separates it Too many or too few alerts
How to confirm Adjust sensitivity and range
- 3
A weak Wi-Fi link
What separates it Alerts are late or lost
How to confirm Improve the signal
- 4
A schedule disabling detection
What separates it No alerts at set times
How to confirm Review the schedule
- 5
A busy view
What separates it Cars and trees trigger alerts
How to confirm Reduce range and aim the doorbell
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The sensitivity and range
- The phone's notification settings
- The Wi-Fi at the door
- Whether the doorbell faces a street
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedAllow notifications
ReversibleOn the phone, and turn off Focus.
Check sensitivity and range
ReversibleIn the app.
Check the Wi-Fi at the door
ReversibleAnd improve it.
Review schedules
ReversibleFor disabled times.
Test by walking up to the door
ReversibleAnd check the alert.
Power cycle the doorbell
ReversibleIf it seems stuck.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Missing alerts
- Often a phone setting.
- Range
- A street view triggers many alerts.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If detection fails with correct settings and signal, ask the installer to check the doorbell
- !If alerts are excessive, reduce range
- !Report missed events with times
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my ADT doorbell miss visitors?+
Notifications, sensitivity or Wi-Fi.
Why do I get alerts for cars?+
The range is too wide.
Does Wi-Fi affect alerts?+
Yes.
Can insects trigger alerts?+
At night, yes.