Have you ever wondered how to use your Echo Show as a security camera? Echo Show is a versatile device from Amazon known for more than just playing music, answering questions, and controlling smart home devices. Today, we explore an often-overlooked feature – using your Echo Show as a security camera. This practical guide will walk you through the steps and help you turn your device into a reliable home security system with the Home Monitoring feature.
Understanding Home Monitoring
Home Monitoring is a feature on Echo Show that allows you to use the device as a basic security camera. With Home Monitoring, you can access a live video feed from your Echo Show’s screen from anywhere on your smartphone or tablet through the Alexa app. This feature is handy for keeping an eye on your home while you’re away or checking in on pets or kids from another room.
When Home Monitoring is activated on your Echo Show, you will be able to check the live video feed at any time through the Alexa app by following these steps, after you have enabled Home Monitoring on your Echo Show:
- Open the Alexa App: Launch the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Go to Devices: Tap on ‘Devices’ at the bottom right of the screen.
- Select Cameras: Under ‘All Devices,’ tap on ‘Cameras.’
- Choose Your Echo Show: You will see a list of all the devices with enabled camera access. Select your Echo Show to view the live feed.
Remember that Home Monitoring does not record or store any footage and cannot detect motion or send alerts. It merely provides a live view of your Echo Show’s camera feed. However, when combined with the Alexa Guard feature, it can provide your home with an extra layer of security. First, let’s set up Home Monitoring on your Echo Show.
Steps to Enable Home Monitoring on Echo Show
Once you’ve met the prerequisites, follow these steps to turn your Echo Show into a security camera:
- Access Setting on Echo Show: Swipe down from the top of your Echo Show screen, and select ‘Settings.’
- Scroll down and select ‘Camera.’
- Tap on “Enable remote access to this device’s camera stream.” Note that you will have to type in your Amazon account credentials.
- Scroll down and tap on ‘Home Monitoring.’ Switch it on.
Done! Now you can see your Echo Show’s live feed from the Alexa App.
Exploring Alexa Guard
Alexa Guard is an additional feature that can supplement your Echo Show’s home monitoring capabilities. This feature doesn’t turn your Echo Show into a full-fledged security system but provides an added layer of protection by monitoring for specific sounds when you’re not at home.
When you set up Alexa Guard, your Echo Show will listen for sounds like breaking glass or smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If Alexa detects these sounds, you will receive a Smart Alert on your mobile device notifying you of the potential issue.
To use Alexa Guard, follow these steps:
- Set Alexa to Away Mode: Before leaving your home, say, “Alexa, I’m leaving.” This will activate Alexa Guard. You can also set Guard to Away mode manually in the Alexa app.
- Alexa Listens for Alarms and Breaking Glass: Alexa will start listening for smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and breaking glass sounds.
- Get Smart Alerts: If Alexa detects an unusual sound, it sends an alert to your phone.
Remember that Alexa Guard is not a replacement for an alarm system or life safety device and cannot contact emergency services as a professionally monitored system might. It’s a feature that provides convenience and can work with your existing security setup.
Additionally, Alexa Guard Plus provides expanded features such as detecting potential intruders’ footsteps or doors closing, and it can play a siren sound on your Echo devices if a potential security issue is detected.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Echo Show as a Security Camera?
You can use your Echo Show as a security camera by enabling the “Home Monitoring” feature in the device settings through the Alexa app.
Does Echo Show Record All the Time?
No, Echo Show does not continuously record. It streams live video when you check in through the Alexa app. Learn more.
Can Echo Show Work in the Dark?
Echo Show lacks infrared night vision, so it performs best in well-lit conditions.
Is it Legal to Use Echo Show as a Security Camera?
While using Echo Show as a security camera is legal, you must respect privacy laws. Avoid using it in personal spaces such as bedrooms or bathrooms where people expect privacy.
Summary
In this guide, we’ve explored how to transform your Echo Show into a security camera. We began by laying out the essential prerequisites, which include having an Echo Show device, a stable internet connection, and the latest version of the Alexa app. The guide then detailed the steps to enable the Home Monitoring feature, which provides live video feed access from your Echo Show. We further discussed utilizing Alexa Guard to boost your home’s security.
As discussed in the corresponding section, it’s essential to be aware of certain limitations of using Echo Show as a security camera. It may not replace a full-fledged security system, but it can certainly supplement it. The article wrapped up with valuable tips for optimizing your Echo Show as a security camera and frequently asked questions for additional clarity. This guide is a comprehensive resource to understand how to use Echo Show as a security camera.
Find more tips in the Alexa Archive.
