If your Tuya or Smart Life lights don't turn on when you arrive home, or don't turn off when you leave, the issue isn't usually the app—it's your phone's operating system. Modern Android and iOS updates aggressively block apps from checking your GPS in the background to save battery. To make geofencing work reliably, you must manually override these "battery saver" settings and grant the app permanent location access.
Keywords: Tuya geofencing not working, Smart Life location automation fix, home automation leave arrive trigger, Tuya location permissions android ios
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Essential Fix 1: Set Location Access to "Always Allow"
By default, most phones only allow an app to check your GPS "While Using the App." This renders geofencing useless because the app cannot see that you have entered the home zone while your phone is locked in your pocket.
For Android Users:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Smart Life (or Tuya Smart).
- Tap on Permissions.
- Tap on Location.
- Select "Allow all the time". If this option is missing, you may need to enable "Precise Location" first.
For iOS (iPhone) Users:
- Go to Settings > Scroll down to Smart Life / Tuya.
- Tap Location.
- Change the setting from "While Using" to "Always".
- Ensure the Precise Location toggle is turned ON.
Essential Fix 2: Disable Battery Optimization (The Silent Killer)
Even with location permissions granted, Android will put the app to "sleep" if you haven't opened it in a while, preventing it from firing the automation trigger.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Smart Life.
- Tap on Battery or App Battery Usage.
- Change the setting from "Optimized" or "Restricted" to "Unrestricted" (on Samsung) or "No restrictions" (on Pixel/OnePlus).
- This allows the app to wake up instantly when the GPS detects a location change.
Essential Fix 3: Lock App in Background (Android Only)
To prevent the OS from closing the app entirely to free up RAM, you should "lock" it in your recent apps list.
- Open the Smart Life App.
- Swipe up (or press the square button) to view Recent Apps.
- Tap the App Icon at the top of the card or long-press the window.
- Select "Keep open" or "Lock this app". A small padlock icon should appear, ensuring the app never fully closes.
Troubleshooting: Check "Effective Period" and Radius
If permissions are correct but the automation still fails, check the logic within the Smart Life automation itself.
- Expand the Radius: In the automation setup, increase the geofence radius to at least 200 meters (650 feet). Small radiuses (100m) are often missed if you drive through the zone quickly.
- Check Effective Period: Ensure the automation is set to run "All Day" or "24 Hours." If you accidentally set it to "Night," it won't trigger during the day.
- Google Maps Accuracy: Open Google Maps to ensure your phone currently has a GPS lock. If Google Maps drifts, Tuya will also fail.