I Subscribed to the AI Plan but Bird Identification Is Still Not Working

Quick Answer

After subscribing, make sure you are logged in to the same BirdSnap account that is linked to your camera, that the subscription shows as active in the app, and that you are using the latest version of the BirdSnap app. In most cases, logging out and back in refreshes the subscription status and resolves the issue.

What's Happening

Bird identification requires the app to verify an active subscription against your account before processing clips. If the subscription was purchased on a different account, through a different platform, or if the app has cached outdated account data, it may not unlock identification even though payment went through.

Step-by-Step: Troubleshooting AI Identification After Subscribing

Step 1 — Confirm the subscription is active on the correct account.

Open the BirdSnap app and tap the profile icon → BirdSnap AI Plan. Check that the subscription shows an active status and an expiry date. If the subscription is shown as active, the account is correct.

If the subscription shows as inactive or expired, check whether the purchase was made on a different email address or device. Subscriptions purchased through the App Store or Google Play are tied to the Apple ID or Google account used at checkout — make sure you are logged in with the same one.

Step 2 — Log out and log back in.

Tap the profile icon → Personal Information → Log out. Then log back in with your BirdSnap credentials. This forces the app to re-check your subscription status from the server.

Step 3 — Update the app.

Visit the App Store or Google Play and check whether a newer version of BirdSnap is available. Outdated app versions can sometimes fail to activate subscription features correctly. Install any available update and re-open the app.

Step 4 — Test with a new clip.

Trigger a new motion event (wave your hand in front of the camera) and wait for the clip to appear in the Library. Tap the clip and look for the bird identification result. Existing clips recorded before the subscription was active may not be retroactively identified — the feature activates for new clips.

Step 5 — Check camera angle and lighting.

Even with a valid subscription, AI identification will not return a result if the confidence is below 40%. A bird photographed from directly behind, in poor lighting, or at the edge of the frame may still show "No bird found." This is not a subscription issue — see the related article on AI returning no results for guidance on positioning.

If You Purchased a Gift Code

Gift codes and promo codes must be redeemed inside the app before they activate the subscription. Purchasing or receiving a code alone does not activate the plan. Go to the profile section and look for a Redeem Code option to enter it manually.

When to Contact Support

If the subscription shows as active, the app is up to date, you have logged out and back in, and identification is still not appearing on new clips — contact support. Include your account email address, the date of purchase, and a screenshot of the subscription status screen.

• Email: support@birdsnap.com
• Phone: +1 573-514-4826
• Live chat: Available at BirdSnap.com
• In-app chat: Tap the chat icon in the BirdSnap app
• Facebook Messenger: Message us via our official Facebook page

Our support team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time.