HomeKit Secure Video, while relatively new, offers many great features, including iCloud storage, local processing, and instant activity notifications. However, Apple's security-centric feature lacks a crucial feature from its debut, the areas of activity, which has caused some notification nightmares. Fortunately, this is changing in iOS / iPadOS 14 and macOS 11, which are set to be released later this year. If you're bold enough to run developer versions for the latest and greatest operating systems, you can test this great feature today. Here's how!

How to create a task area in the Home app in iOS 14

For this example, we will create a simple four-point activity area, such as a rectangle or a square in view of our room. You can create more complex models to better suit your needs; involves only additional steps to add zone points.

1. Launch The home app.
2. Tap ** Rooms * in the navigation bar at the bottom of the app.
3. Swipe to left or right to navigate to the room where the room is located.
4. Touch the button Thumbnail image of the camera.
5. Touch the button Settings icon located at the top of the application.
6. touch Select Activity Zones.
7. Touch anywhere on View the room to set the first activity area point.
8. Tap elsewhere on View the room to establish a second zone point.
   • After setting the second point, a line will appear connecting the points
9. Select a position on View the room to establish a third point.
10. Touch the button again View the room to establish a fourth point.
    • If you are creating a more complex area, keep adding points before moving on to the next step.
11. Touch the first task zone point you created to complete your zone.
    • All your points should now be connected in the form you created.
    • Repeat this process to create additional areas if necessary.
12. touch Done to save the area of ​​activity.
    • To set an area for the entire area outside the area you just created, tap Reverse zone at the bottom before touching Done.

How to delete an activity area from the Home app in iOS 14

1. Launch The home app.
2. Tap ** Rooms * in the navigation bar at the bottom of the app.
3. Swipe to left or right to navigate to the room where the room is located.
4. Touch the button Thumbnail image of the camera.
5. Touch the button Settings icon located at the top of the application.
6. touch Select Activity Zones.
7. Click on the existing one Area of ​​activity.
8. Select clear with a press to clear the area.
   • You are now free to create a new activity area as needed before continuing.
9. touch Done to save changes.

How to create an activity area in the Home app on iPadOS 14

For this example, we will create a simple four-point activity area, such as a rectangle or a square in view of our room. You can create more complex models to better suit your needs; involves only additional steps to add zone points.

1. Launch The home app.
2. Touch the button The room the name in the sidebar where your camera is located.
3. Touch the button Thumbnail image of the camera.
4. Touch the button Settings icon located at the top of the application.
5. Scroll down and tap Select Activity Zones.
6. Touch anywhere on View the room to set the first activity area point.
7. Tap elsewhere on View the room to establish a second zone point.
   • After setting the second point, a line will appear connecting the points
8. Select a position and touch the key View the room to establish a third point.
9. Touch the button again View the room to establish a fourth point.
   • If you are creating a more complex area, keep adding points before moving on to the next step.
10. Touch the first task zone point you created to complete your zone.
    • All your points should now be connected in the created form.
    • Repeat this process to create additional areas if necessary.
11. touch Done to save the area of ​​activity.
    • To set an area for the entire area outside the area you just created, tap Reverse zone at the bottom before touching Done.

How to delete an activity area from the Home app on iPadOS 14

1. Launch The home app.
2. Touch the button The room the name in the sidebar where your camera is located.
3. Touch the button Thumbnail image of the camera.
4. Touch the button Settings icon located at the top of the application.
5. touch Select Activity Zones.
6. Click on the existing one Area of ​​activity.
7. Select clear with a press to clear the area.
   • You are now free to create a new activity area as needed before continuing.
8. touch Done to save changes.

How to create an activity area in the Home application in macOS 11

For this example, we will create a simple four-point activity area, such as a rectangle or a square in view of our room. You can create more complex models to better suit your needs; involves only additional steps to add points in the area.

1. Launch The home app.
2. Click the button The room the name in the sidebar where your camera is located.
3. Click the button Thumbnail image of the camera.
4. Click the button Settings icon located at the top of the application.
5. Scroll down and click Select Activity Zones.
6. Click anywhere View the room to set the first activity area point.
7. Click another place on View the room to establish a second zone point.
   • After setting the second point, a line will appear connecting the points
8. Select a position and click the button View the room to establish a third point.
9. Click the button again View the room to establish a fourth point.
   • If you are creating a more complex area, keep adding points before moving on to the next step.
10. Click the first task area point you created to complete your area.
    • All your points should now be connected in the form you created.
    • Repeat this process to create additional areas if necessary.
11. Click Done to save the area of ​​activity.
    • To set an area for the entire area outside the area you just created, click Reverse zone at the bottom before clicking Done.

How to delete an activity area from the Home application in macOS 11

1. Launch The home app.
2. Click the button The room the name in the sidebar where your camera is located.
3. Click the button Thumbnail image of the camera.
4. Click the button Settings icon located at the top of the application.
5. Click Select Activity Zones.
6. Click on your existing site Area of ​​activity.
7. Select clear with one click to delete the area.
   • You are now free to create a new activity area as needed before continuing.
8. Click Done to save changes.

Once you've set an activity zone, you'll only receive notifications when a motion event is selected in your area. For even smarter notifications, you can combine activity zones with local Apple image processing to filter animals or vehicles in your vision. room. Another new HomeKit feature in iOS / iPadOS 14 and macOS 11 is face detection, which can determine the person's name and notify you of their presence upon arrival. It's just all kinds of great.

Our top equipment choose

Logitech Circle View is our built-in HomeKit favorite with a setup process that doesn't require you to download another application or create an account. Simply unplug your camera, open the Home app, and scan your HomeKit pairing code and you're up and running. Weather resistance allows this camera to work indoors and outdoors and features clear 1080p video images, 2-way audio and, of course, HomeKit Secure Video, which works with activity areas and stores video in iCloud.

Areas of activity everywhere

Of course, Logitech's camera isn't the only one around that supports HomeKit Secure Video. Several others, including eufyCam 2, and Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera also support the latest HomeKit features.

eufyCam 2
($ 300 on Amazon)

Eufy's fully wireless cameras not only work with HomeKit Secure Video, but can last up to a full year on a single integrated battery charge. Place this room anywhere around or outside the home for smart activity area notifications.