Make it work

Security Cameras

Where to put the first camera, what indoor and outdoor models can actually see, and how to keep recordings without handing every clip to a monthly plan.

Person checking a porch camera view on a tablet
Start with the door you already watch from the kitchen.

Quick reference

First camera
The front door or the room that faces it is usually more useful than covering every window on day one.
Height
Mount high enough to stay out of easy reach, but tilt down so faces are not cut off at the chin.
Weather
Outdoor housings need rain, sun, and temperature ratings. An indoor camera on a porch will fail.
Storage
Cloud plans are convenient. A card or local hub keeps clips if you cancel the subscription.
Network
Live view is hungry. Put outdoor cameras on 2.4 GHz with a clear path to the router.
Person checking a porch camera view on a tablet
Pair the camera on a table, then mount it once the app can see it.

Start here

How to Set Up a Home Camera Without Getting Lost in the App

Start with one indoor camera, a 2.4 GHz network, and a mounting height that sees faces at the door.

Read the setup guide

Privacy

How to Keep a Home Camera from Becoming a Privacy Problem

  1. 1 Change the default password before the camera goes on the wall.
  2. 2 Turn off unused cloud sharing and two-way audio in rooms you live in.
  3. 3 Use a physical shutter or unplug indoor cameras when guests stay over.

Open the privacy guide

Phone showing a camera privacy cover setting
A camera you forget about is the one that keeps listening.