5 Ways to Use a Security Camera to Automate Your Smart Home

The best home security cameras can do more than just watch over your home. When paired with the best smart home devices, they can make your living space more comfortable and safer. They can tell your gadgets to take certain actions when they detect motion and provide a live view of your smart home in action. Beyond protection, this takes the functionality of your smart home to new heights.

In the guide below, I’ll cover five useful ways to use your camera as a trigger for different routines. From automating the best smart lights to controlling your climate, read on to learn how easy it is to connect your camera to your smart home platform of choice.

Connect the camera to your smart home app

First and foremost, you need to make sure the security camera you’re buying is compatible with your existing smart home devices. Ring cameras, for example, are popular, but their smart home functionality is tied to the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, while Nest cameras are locked to Google. Third-party ones like Arlo, Eufy, and Tapo work across all platforms. Simply place the camera, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, and pair it with your smart home to get started.

For the three major platforms (Alexa, HomeKit, and Google Home), it’s as simple as going to the “Devices” section, tapping the Add New button (represented by a plus sign), and searching for a camera on the same network. Alexa may ask you to find the camera company’s app in the “Skills” section to unlock expanded features like voice control. Once you see the camera in your list of smart home devices, you’ll be able to add it to your routine.

For smart homes Alexa

For Google smart homes

Create automated procedures with the camera

For Alexa and Google smart homes, you’ll need to go to the “Routines” section to create your project. Think of the automation creation process as a simple logic puzzle. So if something happens—in this case, the camera detects motion—what do you want to happen in response? With these building blocks, you can trigger actions from all sorts of other smart home devices.

HomeKit users have much of the same process, but just go to the “Automation” tab, create a new one, and choose when the sensor detects something as the trigger, then your action as the response to create an automation. Here are some ideas and steps to set them up.

A series of screenshots showing how to set up an Alexa routine with the Ring Mailbox sensor

(Photo source: Amazon/Tom’s Guide)

Detection of packages and people

Amazon packages at your door

(Photo source: Shutterstock)

Some cameras that support package detection let you use the feature as a smart home trigger. For example, I can use my Ring doorbell in my Alexa app to start a routine with an “when package is detected” option. It alerts you the moment a package lands on your footstool, so you can tell the smart speaker to play a sound, set the lights to a specific color, or get a basic notification on your phone. My friend Anthony did something similar (albeit without a camera) when he made his mailbox smart earlier this year.

With person detection, you can automate your smart speaker to announce when someone approaches your home from a specific camera, such as the front or back of your home. This way, you can predict where your guest is coming from.

Turn on the sprinkler to stop people from breaking in at night

Sprinkler system watering the lawn

(Photo source: Shutterstock)

You can create a routine that turns on nearby smart sprinklers when your outdoor camera detects motion after hours. If your sprinkler system doesn’t reach the area you want (or isn’t connected to the internet), you can simply pair a smart hose faucet like the Rachio Smart Hose Timer and a sprinkler head attachment with your existing hose to turn it into a defensive system.

I use Rachio on the faucet on the right side of my back door. Since the device relies on an Amazon skill, I had to create an automation in Alexa with a Custom Action button that tells the Rachio timer what to do when motion is detected after hours. If someone approaches my door between midnight and 7 a.m., the camera detects it and sends the command, “Alexa, ask Rachio to turn on zone one for three minutes.” During the day, you can take it even further by having the camera tell the smart blinds to close when someone approaches the window.

Turn on lights when motion is detected

Philips Hue Dymera smart lighting on an external wall

(Photo source: Signify)

Coming home late at night? No problem. You can set your smart outdoor or indoor lights to automatically turn on when you get home late. If movement is detected somewhere you shouldn’t be after hours, you can set your smart speaker to play a warning sound and send a notification to your phone. Of course, these are just the basics, and you can build out an entire DIY home security system.

Customize your climate controls

Ecobee Premium Smart Thermostat

(Photo source: Ecobee)

Use the camera to detect presence and adjust the temperature in your home based on when you’re home and when you’re not. For example, set your smart thermostat to energy-saving mode when no movement has been detected for a period of time. Then, when movement is detected, you can set it to go off automatically, rather than setting a schedule in advance.

Connect one of the best dehumidifiers or one of the best air purifiers to a smart plug, and your camera will be able to communicate with those devices as well. For example, you can have them turn on when you’re in a specific space and turn off when you leave. Some newer smart dehumidifiers and air purifiers that can connect directly to Alexa or Google Assistant even let you skip this step.

Control your smart plugs

You can turn your smart plugs on and off when the camera detects motion (or doesn’t for a set period of time). I use this with my Tapo smart plug and C120 camera to turn on my living room light and TV when I come in through my back door at night, only to be greeted by the relaxing sights of Roku City. This camera and smart plug combo can be especially helpful in places like the basement, where it’s easy to forget to turn off the lights, TV, and even the air conditioner.

View multiple security cameras simultaneously on Echo Show 15 in landscape mode

(Photo source: Tom’s Guide)

Integrating a security camera with other smart home devices can help create a more responsive and intelligent home. With companies like Google and Wyze supporting advanced features like facial recognition, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a future where AI takes action on specific household members. For example, it would be helpful if the camera recognized you or your family when you approached the door to automatically unlock a smart lock. Still, today’s automations are far from basic, with the ability to trigger useful tasks.