October is here, which means it's time for trick-or-treaters to descend upon your doorstep. If you have a video doorbell, you can use it to enhance your Halloween experience and keep your home safe. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to prepare your video doorbell for the ghosties and ghoulies that will be visiting this month. We'll be using a Ring doorbell as an example, but these tips can also be adapted for other video doorbell brands.
Spooktacular Surveillance: How to Prep Your Ring Doorbell for Halloween
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image: Imgorthand
Step 1: Adjust motion and notification settings
The first thing you'll want to do is fine-tune your motion and notification settings. If you're expecting a lot of trick-or-treaters, you want to avoid being bombarded with notifications throughout the night. Here's how to do it:
- Open your video doorbell app and navigate to the settings.
- Look for the motion sensitivity option. Lower the sensitivity to reduce the number of false alarms triggered by passing cars or rustling leaves.
- Consider using smart alerts if your video doorbell supports them. Smart alerts allow you to choose what events trigger notifications, such as people at the door or specific types of motion.
- Many video doorbells, including Ring, offer a scheduling feature. Use this to turn off and on notifications during specific times, like Halloween night. You can silence notifications during the hours when you don't want to be disturbed.
Check out our quick video tutorial that walks you through all the steps in this guide.
Step 2: Charge battery-powered doorbells
If your video doorbell is battery-powered, checking the battery settings is essential. You don't want your doorbell dying on you in the middle of the trick-or-treating rush. Here's what to do:
- Go to the battery settings in your video doorbell app.
- Check the battery level. If it's low, be sure to charge it up fully before Halloween night.
- Consider keeping a spare battery on hand just in case the festivities drain your doorbell's power faster than expected.
Image: Ring
Step 3: Get festive with faceplates and smart responses
Take advantage of festive faceplates and smart responses to add a touch of Halloween spirit to your video doorbell. Ring offers cute and spooky faceplate options for fall, and you can even customize your own. Here's how to do it:
- Check if your video doorbell brand offers seasonal faceplates.
- Swap out your regular faceplate for a Halloween-themed one to add some spooky charm to your front door.
- Explore the smart response options. You can set up your doorbell to greet trick-or-treaters with a festive message like "Happy Halloween" or a howling greeting from a holiday werewolf.
Following these simple steps, you can ensure your video doorbell is ready for the trick-or-treaters visiting your home this Halloween. Adjusting your motion and notification settings, taking care of your battery-powered doorbell, and adding festive touches will enhance your security and the overall Halloween experience. So, get ready to welcome the little ghosts and goblins with your video doorbell as your trusted Halloween companion. Happy Halloween!