Tris Home App Setup Guide: Connect Your Bird Feeder Camera (and Fix Wi-Fi Problems)

Tris Home is the free app that runs a lot of solar bird feeder cameras, including Peeka. Setup takes about 15 minutes once you know the one thing that trips most people up: the camera only connects to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. This guide walks you through setup step by step, then fixes the most common problems people search for: the login loop, "device offline", missing alerts and clips you cannot find.

Menu names can vary slightly between app versions, but the steps are the same.

Before you start: 3 quick checks

• Charge the feeder. Plug it in with the USB cable until fully charged before first use. The solar roof keeps it topped up after that.
• Know your Wi-Fi name and password. Write them down. Passwords are case sensitive.
• Do the setup near your router, not in the garden. Pair it indoors first, then mount it outside.

Step 1: Download Tris Home and create an account

Search "Tris Home" in the Apple App Store or Google Play and install it. Open the app, sign up with your email, and confirm the verification code. Allow notifications when asked, or you will not get visitor alerts later.

Step 2: Make sure your phone is on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi

Most home routers broadcast two bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Your phone usually picks 5GHz, but the feeder camera can only use 2.4GHz, and the phone passes its network to the camera during pairing. If the two do not match, pairing fails.

Ways to fix it, from easiest to hardest:

1. Look for a separate network name. Many routers show two names, often ending in "-2.4G" and "-5G". Connect your phone to the 2.4G one.
2. Move away from the router. 2.4GHz reaches further, so phones often switch to it in a far room. Not guaranteed, but quick to try.
3. Turn off "Smart Connect" or "band steering" in your router settings (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, or in your provider's app). This splits the bands into two names. You can switch it back on once the camera is connected.
4. Use the guest network if your router lets you set the guest network to 2.4GHz only.

Using a mesh system (Eero, Google Nest Wifi, Deco)? Check the app for a "2.4GHz only" or "IoT network" option. These were made for devices just like this.

Step 3: Add the feeder camera

1. Switch the feeder on and give it a minute to start up.
2. In Tris Home, tap the + to add a device and choose the camera option.
3. Enter your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi name and password.
4. Follow the in-app pairing prompts. On most Tris Home cameras the app shows a QR code that you hold 15 to 20 cm in front of the lens until the camera confirms. The quick start card in your box shows the exact method for your model.
5. Name the device something easy, like "Garden feeder".

Live view should appear within a minute. If it does not, jump to troubleshooting below.

Step 4: Test the signal where you will mount it

Before you strap the feeder up, take it to the spot and open live view on your phone. If the picture loads and moves smoothly, you are good. If it stutters or drops, move the feeder closer to the house or add a Wi-Fi extender in a window facing the garden.

Placement tips that help both signal and birds:

• About 1.5 metres (5 feet) off the ground
• Within 3 to 5 metres of a bush or tree, so birds feel safe
• Roof facing the sun for most of the day (south facing in the northern hemisphere)
• Out of jumping reach of fences and branches if you have squirrels (see our squirrel guide)

Step 5: Set up storage and alerts

microSD card: power the camera off, insert a card (up to 128GB), power on, then format it from the device settings in the app. Formatting in the app, not on a computer, avoids most "no SD card" errors.

Alerts: in the device settings, turn on motion or bird detection alerts. On your phone, check that notifications are allowed for Tris Home. On Android, also turn off battery optimisation for the app so alerts are not delayed.

Step 6: Share the feeder with family

Open the device settings and look for the share option. The other person installs Tris Home, creates an account, and you share to their account or they scan your share code. This is the best part for gifts: you can set it up for a parent and watch their garden from yours.

Troubleshooting: the most common Tris Home problems

Pairing fails or times out

• Phone on 5GHz. Go back to Step 2.
• Wrong password. Retype it slowly; check capital letters.
• Special characters or emoji in the Wi-Fi name can cause trouble on some cameras. A plain name works best.
• Router set to WPA3 only. Switch to "WPA2/WPA3 mixed" or WPA2.
• Reset the camera with its reset button (the quick start card shows where it is), then try again.

Stuck on the login screen

Update the app to the latest version, check your email for the verification code (and the spam folder), then fully close and reopen the app. If it still loops, uninstall and reinstall. Your device stays linked to your account.

"Device offline" after mounting

Almost always signal. The camera worked indoors but the garden spot is too far. Test live view at the spot, move the feeder closer, or add an extender. Also check the battery level in the app after a run of grey days.

No visitor alerts

Check phone notification permissions, Do Not Disturb, and that alerts are switched on in the device settings. Bird detection needs a bird on the perch in front of the lens, so seed should be topped up.

Cannot find saved clips

Clips recorded to the microSD card are in the playback section for the device, not the main feed. If it says no card, format it in the app. Without a card, recordings depend on the cloud option.

Picture is black and white

That is infrared night vision, which switches on in low light. It is normal. Colour returns when it gets light.

Is Tris Home free?

The app is free to download. With Peeka, there is no monthly fee for live view, alerts or clips saved to a microSD card. Cloud storage is optional. Read more in our guide to bird feeder cameras without a subscription.

Still stuck?

If you own a Peeka, our support team is here day or night. Contact us and we will get your feeder online. If you are still deciding, Peeka comes with a 180-day guarantee, so you can try it with no risk.

Frequently asked questions

Why will my bird feeder camera not connect to Wi-Fi?

The most common reason is that your phone is on 5GHz Wi-Fi while the camera only supports 2.4GHz. Connect your phone to the 2.4GHz network during setup, or split your router's bands.

Does the Tris Home app work with 5GHz Wi-Fi?

The app works on any network, but the feeder cameras it runs connect over 2.4GHz only. Your phone can go back to 5GHz after setup.

How far from the router can a bird feeder camera be?

It depends on walls, glass and interference. Many gardens work fine at 10 to 15 metres from the router. Always test live view at the mounting spot before you strap it up.

Can more than one person use Tris Home for the same feeder?

Yes. You can share the device to other accounts so family members get live view on their own phones.

Keep reading: How long until birds find your new feeder · How to attract cardinals