why does my nest doorbell keep telling me 'person spotted' when it's just a car's headlights at night?

— asked by Taylor

Quick answer: The infrared night vision is reflecting off shiny surfaces (like car windows, metal, or glass) and creating a blob the AI misreads as a person shape.

Diagnosis

The infrared night vision is reflecting off shiny surfaces (like car windows, metal, or glass) and creating a blob the AI misreads as a person shape.

How to Fix It

Refine your activity zones and disable person alerts for areas where lights trigger it.

  • In the Google Home app, go to Notifications > Activity zones.
  • Draw a zone that excludes the street or the area where car headlights sweep. Keep the zone tight to your porch and walkway.
  • Also, go to Notifications > People. You can try turning off 'Person alerts' temporarily at night under 'Quiet Time' settings to see if it stops.

If That Didn't Work

The angle might be the problem. If the doorbell is pointed slightly toward the street, even a good zone can't help. Adjust the wedge mount to angle the camera more squarely toward your door and away from the road.

Heads Up

This is a common AI limitation with IR reflection. You'll have to choose between getting alerts for actual porch visitors and getting false alerts from headlights. Tuning the zone is your best tool.

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