HomeKit Secure Video (HSV) is Apple’s recording and camera-analysis system inside the Home app. It adds encrypted event recording, motion filtering, activity zones, notifications, and face recognition to compatible cameras—but a camera appearing in Apple Home does not automatically mean that recording is available.
For HSV recording, you need a compatible camera, an iCloud+ plan, and a functioning home hub. Apple says the Home app provides up to 10 days of activity history, and recorded video does not count against your normal iCloud storage allowance. See Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video documentation for the current feature and plan details.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What you need before setting up a camera
Check these requirements first:
- Apple Home compatibility: The camera must work with Apple Home. For recordings and HSV analysis, it must specifically support HomeKit Secure Video.
- iCloud+: HSV recording requires an active iCloud+ subscription belonging to you or someone in your Family Sharing group.
- A home hub: Use a compatible HomePod or Apple TV for a current setup. Apple’s newer Home architecture does not support an iPad as a home hub, so do not assume that an old iPad can provide the required service.
- The same Apple Account: Sign in with the same account on the devices used to access your home.
- Home enabled in iCloud: Check your iCloud settings if the camera or recordings do not appear across devices.
- A reliable network: The camera, home hub, and router need stable connectivity.
- An iPhone or iPad for initial setup: Apple says a camera must be added from an iPhone or iPad. A Mac can view and share footage after setup, but cannot add the camera.
Update the camera firmware and Apple software before troubleshooting. Also verify the exact camera model: a brand or product family may include models with different Apple Home and HSV support.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteApple’s current setup requirements are listed in its iCloud HomeKit Secure Video guide.
#1 Best Overall
- 2K Clarity Day and Night: The G100 Wi-Fi Camera films in 2304×1296 (3MP) resolution with a 140°FOV and a wide-angle f/1.8 lens for superior image quality. It features two night vision modes: Spotlight Color Night Vision and IR Detection Mode. The spotlight provides illumination in dark, great for color recording outdoors at night. The G100 also includes 940 nm infrared lighting, ensuring covert illumination without alerting potential intruders. (Note: Both Spotlight and IR night vision modes must be manually enabled in the app and do not turn on automatically.)
- Indoor/Outdoor Ready IP65 Protection: With durable, weather-resistant IP65-rated housing, the G100 surveillance camera is both an indoor camera and outdoor security camera, offering reliable home surveillance for flexible indoor or outdoor mounting. Withstands rain, dust, and rugged environments.
- Local and Cloud AI Detection: The G100 surveillance cameras supports local motion and person detection, and the HomeGuardian Plan unlocks cloud-based recognition for pets, vehicles, packages, and faces, with AI event tagging. Integrated Events automatically can be triggered when paired with other Aqara devices (subscription required). It also supports Lens Obstruction Detection, custom audio files, and 2-way audio (Notes: Only in Aqara Home App).
- HomeKit Support & Wide Compatibility: The Aqara G100 Camera provides full support for HomeKit Secure Video (Note:Requires an active iCloud subscription and an Apple Home hub. HomeKit limits resolution to 1080p. When connected to both Apple and Aqara Home, the G100’s resolution in Aqara Home will also be limited to 1080p, but will return to 1296p if HomeKit is disconnected.) The G100 has some of the best third-party ecosystem support on the market, it can stream to Google, Alexa compatible smart displays, and even Home Assistant via the RTSP protocol, making it easier to interact with visitors or check in on loved ones.
- Flexible Storage Methods: Record 24/7 with a microSD (up to 512GB, not included) or NAS. Time-lapse mode compresses 24-hours of footage to 15-second clips (wired connection and microSD card required). Automatically store detected events with end-to-end encryption in the cloud with a HomeGuardian subscription, ensuring protection against data theft and guaranteeing your privacy at home.
Apple Home compatibility is not the same as HSV compatibility
An Apple Home-compatible camera can generally provide a live stream in the Home app and may support motion notifications. A HomeKit Secure Video-compatible camera adds Apple-managed event recording and analysis, including supported detection for people, animals, vehicles, and packages, activity zones, and face recognition.
Some features vary by camera model, firmware, region, and configuration. Confirm HSV support for the exact model on Apple’s current compatible-camera listings and the manufacturer’s product page. Do not treat a camera tile appearing in Home as proof that recordings are enabled.
How to add a camera to Apple Home
- Open the Home app on an iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the plus button or Add Accessory.
- Scan the camera’s HomeKit setup code, or enter the code manually.
- Assign the camera to a room.
- Give it a descriptive name, such as Front Door, Driveway, or Workshop.
- Complete any manufacturer setup steps shown on screen.
- Confirm that the camera tile appears in Home.
- Open the tile and test the live stream.
After adding the camera, configure recording and notifications separately. Live video can work even when HSV recording is unavailable or disabled.
View live video and recorded clips
On iPhone or iPad
- Open Home.
- On the Home tab, tap the camera tile.
- Live video should start automatically.
- If recording is enabled, swipe through the timeline.
- Tap a clip to play it.
- Tap Live to return to the current stream.
When supported detection is enabled, the timeline can show activity markers for people, animals, vehicles, and packages.
On Mac
- Open the Home app.
- Click the camera tile.
- Click a clip or scrub through the timeline.
- Click Live to return to the current view.
The Mac can view and share HSV footage, but the camera must first be added from an iPhone or iPad. Apple’s Mac instructions are in the Home user guide.
Rank #2
- 2K Clarity Day and Night: The G100 Wi-Fi Camera films in 2304×1296 (3MP) resolution with a 140°FOV and a wide-angle f/1.8 lens for superior image quality. It features two night vision modes: Spotlight Color Night Vision and IR Detection Mode. The spotlight provides illumination in dark, great for color recording outdoors at night. The G100 also includes 940 nm infrared lighting, ensuring covert illumination without alerting potential intruders.
- Indoor/Outdoor Ready IP65 Protection: With durable, weather-resistant IP65-rated housing, the G100 surveillance camera is both an indoor camera and outdoor security camera, offering reliable home surveillance for flexible indoor or outdoor mounting. Withstands rain, dust, and rugged environments.
- Local and Cloud AI Detection: The G100 surveillance cameras supports local motion and person detection, and the HomeGuardian Plan unlocks cloud-based recognition for pets, vehicles, packages, and faces, with AI event tagging. Integrated Events automatically can be triggered when paired with other Aqara devices (subscription required). It also supports Lens Obstruction Detection, custom audio files, and 2-way audio (Notes: Only in Aqara Home App).
- HomeKit Support & Wide Compatibility: The Aqara G100 Camera provides full support for HomeKit Secure Video (Note:Requires an active iCloud subscription and an Apple Home hub. HomeKit limits resolution to 1080p. When connected to both Apple and Aqara Home, the G100’s resolution in Aqara Home will also be limited to 1080p, but will return to 1296p if HomeKit is disconnected.) The G100 has some of the best third-party ecosystem support on the market, it can stream to Google, Alexa compatible smart displays, and even Home Assistant via the RTSP protocol, making it easier to interact with visitors or check in on loved ones.
- Flexible Storage Methods: Record 24/7 with a microSD (up to 512GB, not included) or NAS. Time-lapse mode compresses 24-hours of footage to 15-second clips (wired connection and microSD card required). Automatically store detected events with end-to-end encryption in the cloud with a HomeGuardian subscription, ensuring protection against data theft and guaranteeing your privacy at home. The Aqara Camera G100 requires a power adapter with DC 5V/1A output which is not included in the box. Zigbee2MQTT and comparable third-party USB dongles are not officially supported by Aqara. Full product functionality may be limited or unavailable.
On Apple TV
Access camera footage through the HomeKit section of Control Center after signing in with the Apple Account associated with the home.
Choose when the camera streams and records
Open the camera tile, select its settings or options control, and open Recording Options. Apple Home normally provides separate behavior for When Home and When Away.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Occupancy is determined from the locations of household members’ devices. Typical arrangements include:
- Indoor privacy camera: Stop streaming and recording when someone is home.
- Outdoor camera: Continue recording when household members are home.
- Entry camera: Record when away, while limiting indoor recording when the house is occupied.
- Vacation setup: Record outdoor and entry areas while everyone is away.
Pay attention to the difference between Stream and Allow Recording. These are separate controls. A camera may be available for live viewing without retaining event clips. The exact choices can vary by model and software version.
Configure useful notifications
On iPhone or iPad, use this current path:
- Open Home.
- Tap More.
- Tap Home Settings.
- Tap Cameras & Doorbells.
- Select the camera.
- Turn on Activity Notifications.
Depending on the camera and settings, you can receive alerts for:
Rank #3
- 𝟒𝐊 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝟐𝟒/𝟕 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 | Capture every detail, day or night, with crystal-clear 4K recording. Stay connected with family, baby, nanny and pets using the built-in two-way audio for real-time communication.
- 𝟑𝟔𝟎° 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰 | Easily navigate your home’s view with new app features like Quick Focus Tap and Panoramic View, allowing you to instantly switch focus by tapping the desired area on your screen.
- 𝐀𝐈-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 | Harness the power of advanced on-device AI to distinguish humans, pets, audio cues, and crying sounds. The camera automatically tracks movement when a person or pet is detected, providing a complete view of their activity.
- 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭-𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | The integrated spotlight allows seamless switching between color night vision and infrared night vision for crystal-clear nighttime surveillance. The spotlight also doubles as a deterrent.
- 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 | Works effortlessly with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant for enhanced home automation. (Note: HomeKit supports up to 1080P resolution.)
- Any motion
- People
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Package delivery
- Recorded clips
- Camera status changes
- The camera going offline
- Activity when someone is home or away
- Specific times of day
Specific-motion alerts are usually more useful than any-motion alerts. For example, selecting people rather than all motion can reduce notifications caused by leaves, shadows, or small animals. You can also combine detection with an activity zone and a schedule.
On Mac, click the camera tile, click the options button, choose Status and Notifications, and select when alerts should be delivered.
Create an activity zone
Activity Zones tell HSV where to concentrate detection within the camera’s view. They are useful for excluding a public sidewalk, a moving tree, a road, or reflective surfaces.
- Open the camera tile.
- Tap the settings button.
- Tap Select Activity Zones.
- Tap the video image to create a zone.
- Shape the zone around the relevant area.
- Use Invert Zone when you want detection outside the selected shape.
- Tap Done.
Activity Zones are available only when the camera is configured to record a specific motion type. They do not change motion-detection automations. To remove a zone, open Select Activity Zones, tap inside the zone, and tap Clear. On Mac, use Camera tile → Options → Select Activity Zones.
A zone reduces irrelevant detection; it cannot correct a poor camera angle, bad lighting, or an obstructed view.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #4
- 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐇𝐃 𝟒𝐊 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: Features true 4K UHD resolution to capture every detail around your home. It can even recognize license plates up to 33 ft (10m) away.
- 𝐀𝐈 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Built-in AI instantly detects and automatically tracks people, vehicles, or important events within view, minimizing false alarms and keeping your property secure.
- 𝟑𝟔𝟎° 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬: Enjoy comprehensive coverage with a wide viewing angle, minimizing blind spots and allowing you to monitor your front porch, yard, or even your driveway.
- 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧: Protect your home with a powerful, motion-activated strobe light that scares off unwanted visitors and gives you instant notifications about suspicious activity.
- 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬-𝐎𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝟐.𝟎 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲: Just 2 hours of direct sunlight daily keeps your camera fully charged for continuous, maintenance-free operation in any weather.
Understand person, animal, vehicle, and package detection
When supported, HSV analyzes video using the home hub to identify relevant activity. Apple describes this as private, on-device analysis. Detection quality still depends on the camera, lighting, distance, field of view, mounting angle, and obstructions.
- A camera can record a clip without successfully analyzing it.
- Package detection works best when the package remains visible after delivery.
- Specific-motion filtering can reduce noise, but it may miss events outside the selected category.
- If there are more cameras than capable home hubs can analyze, some clips may be marked Unanalyzed Video.
Adding more hubs should not be treated as a guaranteed performance improvement, but an available, supported hub is essential for analysis.
Enable Face Recognition
For a compatible camera or doorbell:
- Open the camera or doorbell tile.
- Open its options or settings.
- Select Face Recognition.
- Turn the feature on.
- Tag people in the Photos app or identify recent visitors when prompted.
Apple says Face Recognition can use people identified in your Photos library and recent visitors. Treat it as an assistive notification feature—not as reliable proof of identity or an access-control system. Do not use it as the sole reason to unlock a door or respond to an emergency.
Apple’s guidance is available at About Face Recognition in Home.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Share camera access safely
On iPhone or iPad:
- Open Home.
- Tap More.
- Tap Home Settings.
- Under People, select the person.
- Tap Cameras.
- Choose the appropriate access level.
Depending on the permissions available, you can control whether someone can view live streams, view recordings, stream remotely, or manage cameras. Give household members only the access they need. Avoid camera-management privileges for temporary guests, and remove access when a housemate moves out or a contractor’s work is complete.
Best Value
- 【𝟒𝐊 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝟐𝟒/𝟕 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠】 Capture every detail, day or night, with crystal-clear 4K recording. Stay connected with family, baby, nanny and pets using the built-in two-way audio for real-time communication.
- 【𝟑𝟔𝟎° 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰】 Easily navigate your home’s view with new app features like Quick Focus Tap and Panoramic View, allowing you to instantly switch focus by tapping the desired area on your screen.
- 【𝐀𝐈-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠】 Harness the power of advanced on-device AI to distinguish humans, pets, audio cues, and crying sounds. The camera automatically tracks movement when a person or pet is detected, providing a complete view of their activity.
- 【𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭-𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭】 The integrated spotlight allows seamless switching between color night vision and infrared night vision for crystal-clear nighttime surveillance. The spotlight also doubles as a deterrent.
- 【𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲】Works effortlessly with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant for enhanced home automation. (Note: HomeKit supports up to 1080P resolution.)
Remember that sharing Home access may expose more than cameras, depending on the permissions assigned.
iCloud+ camera limits and storage
| iCloud+ plan | HSV camera limit |
|---|---|
| 50 GB | One camera |
| 200 GB | Up to five cameras |
| 2 TB or higher | Unlimited cameras |
Apple says HSV keeps up to the last 10 days of activity in the Home app, and recorded video does not count against your normal iCloud storage quota. Current supported tiers include 50 GB, 200 GB, 2 TB, 6 TB, and 12 TB, although availability and pricing vary by country and can change. Check Apple’s current iCloud+ page before subscribing.
Privacy and security
Apple says HSV video is analyzed on the home hub, end-to-end encrypted, and uploaded to iCloud so that the user and people authorized to access the home can view it. These protections do not mean that every camera feature is identical, nor should they be treated as a claim that no related metadata exists.
Recommended Free Tools
Review who has access to the home, use strong account security, and avoid placing cameras where recording would create an unreasonable privacy risk for household members, visitors, or neighbors.
Troubleshoot common problems
| Problem | First checks |
|---|---|
| Camera appears in Home but does not record | Confirm iCloud+, HSV compatibility, Recording Options, occupancy mode, home-hub status, and network connectivity. |
| Activity Zones is missing | Enable specific-motion recording under Recording Options for When Home or When Away, then check the camera options again. |
| Clips are marked Unanalyzed Video | Check that the home hub is powered on and connected. Review the number of cameras and whether the hub is available for analysis. |
| Too many notifications | Use people, animals, vehicles, or package detection; add a zone; limit alerts by time or occupancy; and reposition the camera. |
| Camera is unavailable | Check power, Wi-Fi, router status, camera placement, hub connectivity, firmware, and whether the camera was reset or moved to another home. |
| A shared user cannot see clips | Review that person’s camera permissions, recording access, and remote-streaming settings. |
| Mac cannot add the camera | Add it from an iPhone or iPad first. The Mac can then view and share footage. |
If basic checks fail, restart the camera and home hub, update all software, and test live video. Remove and re-add the camera only as a last resort, since doing so may require reconfiguring rooms, names, recording modes, zones, notifications, and sharing.
Choosing a camera for Apple Home
Before buying, confirm native support for HomeKit Secure Video, not merely Apple Home compatibility. Then evaluate:
- Wired power versus battery operation
- Indoor or outdoor suitability, weather resistance, and night vision
- Field of view and mounting position
- Wi-Fi reliability at the installation location
- Whether you need pan/tilt, local storage, higher resolution, or manufacturer-specific AI features
- Whether your home hub can support the number of cameras you plan to use
Native HSV is the simplest Apple-supported path. Alternatives include the manufacturer’s cloud service, microSD recording, a network video recorder or NAS, or a bridge such as Homebridge or Scrypted. Those alternatives may offer different features, but add compatibility, maintenance, privacy, and reliability considerations and are not equivalent to native HSV.
Quick Recap
Final setup checklist
- The exact camera model supports HSV.
- The camera appears in Home and live video works.
- iCloud+ is active.
- A supported home hub is online.
- Recording is enabled for the desired When Home and When Away modes.
- Notifications are limited to useful motion types.
- Activity Zones exclude irrelevant areas.
- Face Recognition is treated as an aid, not an identity guarantee.
- Shared users have only the permissions they need.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
