Camera & face recognition

Optional Pi Camera modules enable presence detection, face recognition, and future computer-vision addons.

Hardware install

Follow the dedicated Pi Camera installation guide for ribbon cable orientation and libcamera tests.

Enable in software

Open Settings → Camera.
Toggle Enable camera pipeline (name may vary).
Choose resolution — 720p often balances accuracy and CPU on Pi 4.
If face recognition is available, enrol faces one at a time under good lighting.

⚠️ Warning: Biometric data is sensitive. Disable camera features in Kids Mode and when guests expect privacy. Cover the lens when maintenance is not needed.

Privacy modes

Geofence — disable camera when phones leave home (if integrated).
Schedule — camera off during night hours.
On-device only — prefer processing that never uploads frames.

💡 Tip: Face models drift with beard/glasses changes — re-enrol seasonally for best accuracy.

Troubleshooting

Black preview
Cable loose; wrong camera stack (libcamera vs legacy); insufficient GPU mem — see Pi camera guide.

High CPU
Lower FPS, smaller ROI (region of interest), or move CV work to a Python service with queueing.