Running the Leap Motion Diagnostics

You can run the set of diagnostic tests to help troubleshoot any problems you encounter when using your Leap Motion Controller.

To run the tests, open the Leap Motion Control Panel using the *Settings command in the menu attached to the Leap Motion icon shown in the menu bar (Mac) or task bar (Windows). Go to the Troubleshooting tab.

Before running the diagnostic tests, please make sure the Leap Motion Controller is connected to a USB2 or USB3 port on your computer. Avoid USB hubs or connecting the Leap Motion device to your computer through another USB peripheral (such as a keyboard).

Orion Users

The diagnostic tests have been updated in the Orion software and are running in the background. The status of these tests can be found in the Leap Motion Control Panel under the Troubleshooting tab.

Hardware and Software tests

The hardware and software tests verify that your Leap Motion Controller and the Leap Motion software are working correctly. If these tests fail, try the following remedies before re-running the diagnostic tests:

• Check your USB connection. Ensure that you are not using a USB hub or connecting the Leap Motion device to your computer through another peripheral (such as a keyboard). We strongly recommend using the cable included with the Leap Motion Controller, if you are not already using it. Sometimes, connecting the controller to a different USB port can help.

• Unplug the Leap Motion Controller and plug it back in.

• Restart your computer.

Authentication

The Authentication test verifies that your Leap Motion Controller is genuine. The test can also fail if the firmware (the information stored on the device itself) has a problem. If this test fails, contact Leap Motion support.

Device Connectivity

The Device test verifies that the Leap Motion Controller can communicate with the Leap Motion software. If this test fails, check your USB connection. Unplug your Leap Motion Controller and then plug it back in. If the test still fails, try restarting your computer.

USB Bandwidth

The USB Bandwidth test verifies that your USB connection can transmit information fast enough. If this test fails, make sure that your are connecting the Leap Motion Controller directly to your computer with a quality cable. Try connecting to a different USB port on your computer. Disconnect other high-bandwidth USB or Bluetooth devices from your computer.

If the test still fails, turn on "Low Resource Mode" on the Troubleshooting tab of the Leap Motion Control Panel to reduce the USB bandwidth consumed by the Leap Motion Controller.

If you are connecting your Leap Motion Controller to a USB hub, please try directly connecting your controller to the computer as some hubs may cause issues with connectivity and performance.

Device Sensors

The Check Sensor test verifies that the signal quality of the Leap Motion sensor is adequate. If this test fails, please try the test again in a darker environment. If the test still fails, contact Leap Motion support.

Software

The Software test verifies that the Leap Motion software can properly analyze the scene in its field of view. If this test fails, make sure that you hold your hand over the device while running the test. If the test still fails, try restarting your computer.

Environmental Tests

The environmental tests look for external issues that may degrade performance of your Leap Motion Controller.

Window Smudge

The smudge test detects oil, grease or other foreign substance on the Leap Motion Controller sensor window. If this test fails, clean the sensor window with a clean, soft cloth such as you would use to clean eyeglasses.

Lighting Condition

The lighting check looks for overly bright infrared light sources in the Leap Motion Controller field of view.

The Leap Motion Controller achieves its best performance in an environment without any external infrared light sources. Because infrared light is invisible to the human eye, the source of the problem may not be immediately obvious.

If this test fails, try lowering window blinds or curtains, if daytime. Turn off or relocate halogen or nearby incandescent lights. (Energy efficient lights such as florescent bulbs should not cause interference.)

Note that the Leap Motion device will still work adequately under most poor lighting conditions. However, the tracking smoothness, range, and accuracy may suffer.

Calibration Test

The Calibration test verifies that the Leap Motion Controller is properly calibrated. Poor calibration can result in jumpy, erratic behavior in Leap-enabled applications. If this test fails, perform the calibration procedure using the Recalibrate Device button on the Troubleshooting tab of the Leap Motion Control Panel.