Help

Troubleshooting

Fixes for connection errors, black or slow live video, recordings that won't play, missing notifications, and first-launch warnings.

Find the symptom below. If nothing here helps, open an issue and include the text from server menu → About → Copy version info.

#Can't reach Frigate

Chismoso turns network errors into plain sentences. Here's what each one means and what to try.

#Certificate messages

• "This server uses its own certificate" is normal for Frigate on port 8971. Choose Trust and connect. See Frigate's own certificate.
• "Warning: this server's certificate changed" means it's not the certificate you trusted before. If you reinstalled Frigate or renewed its certificate, choose Trust the new certificate. If you didn't, don't: someone may be intercepting the connection.

#Live video

#The badge says MSE on Windows or macOS, not WebRTC

WebRTC couldn't connect, so Chismoso fell back to MSE. It still works, with a little more delay. To get WebRTC, port 8555 (TCP and UDP) must be reachable from your computer, and go2rtc must know the Frigate host's LAN address in go2rtc.webrtc.candidates. See Setting up WebRTC.

#Linux never uses WebRTC

That's expected. WebKitGTK, the web view on Linux, has no WebRTC support, so Chismoso uses MSE, which needs no setup. See Why Linux uses MSE.

#A camera only shows snapshots (1 fps)

Both WebRTC and MSE failed for that camera. Check that the camera works live in Frigate's own web page. If it does there but not here, check go2rtc has a stream for the camera with the same name, and that nothing between you and Frigate blocks WebSockets.

#The grid shows still pictures

That's the default. Tick Live grid in the toolbar. See Snapshots or live video.

#Live video stopped after I minimized the window

On purpose: streams close 30 seconds after the window is hidden, to spare your server, and reopen when you come back.

#Recordings

#Clicking the timeline doesn't play anything

Recordings playback needs Frigate 0.17 or newer. Check your version in server menu (it's in the header) or under Settings → System.

#Recordings are black on Linux

The web view needs GStreamer plugins to play video. The .deb and .rpm packages install them; with the AppImage, install them yourself. See Linux.

#Playback is choppy or uses a lot of CPU on Linux

Without a hardware plugin, GStreamer decodes video on the processor. The Load screen says which you have and what to install. Reverse playback of a large grid can also stutter on Linux; one camera at a time works best.

#Only four cameras play in the grid

By design. Each playing camera pulls a full-resolution recording. The others show a still every few seconds; click one to make it play.

#There's a gap in the bar

Dark gaps are times with no footage on Frigate: the camera was off, recording was disabled, or footage has been deleted by your retention settings.

#Clips and timelapses

#The timelapse looks jumpy

You're probably using Fast below 60×. Switch to Smooth. See Fast or Smooth.

#Only 25× is available

Your Frigate is older than 0.17, which only supports 25× timelapses.

#Exports wait a long time before rendering

Frigate renders record.export.max_concurrent exports at once (3 by default). The rest wait in the queue, and the progress list says so. Raise the limit if your server can take it.

#"Saved, but couldn't delete the server copy"

The video downloaded fine, but Frigate refused to delete its copy (often a viewer account, or Frigate restarting). Delete it from On the server later.

#Notifications

#No notifications appear

1. Check Settings → Notifications → Notify me about new alerts is ticked, and the cameras you care about are picked (none picked means all).
2. Press Send a test notification.
3. If the test doesn't appear, your system is blocking them: on macOS, System Settings → Notifications → Chismoso; on Windows, Settings → System → Notifications and Focus; on Linux, your desktop's notification settings.
4. Notifications only arrive while Chismoso is running.

#Too many notifications

Raise the cooldown (At most one per camera every…), untick Also detections, or pick fewer cameras.

#Windows notifications say "Windows PowerShell"

Start Chismoso normally once (not from a script); it registers its name and icon for notifications at startup.

#Installing and starting

#macOS: "can't be opened" or "is damaged"

The Mac builds aren't notarized yet. Right-click → Open, or run xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Chismoso.app". See macOS.

#Windows: "Windows protected your PC"

SmartScreen doesn't recognize unsigned installers. More info → Run anyway.

#Settings

#The switches or config editor are greyed out

They need an admin account. The server menu shows which role you're signed in with.

#Saving the config fails

Frigate checks the file before saving and refuses one it can't load. The message says what's wrong; fix it and save again, or press Reload to start over.

#Reporting a bug

Open an issue with:

• what you did, what you expected and what happened,
• the text from server menu → About → Copy version info,
• your Frigate version (in the server menu header),
• for live video problems, the badge text (Live · WebRTC, Live · MSE, Snapshots).