Security covers the devices that watch, lock and warn: video doorbells, security cameras, alarm systems, smart locks, garage door openers and safety sensors. The guides go from choosing a device to installing it, swapping its batteries and fixing it when it stops working. We give special attention to options that work without a monthly subscription and explain exactly what you give up, if anything, when you skip one. Thermostats, lighting and audio are covered in other categories.
The main sub-topics in Security
The articles in this category are grouped under the sub-topics below.
Video Doorbells
Video Doorbells is the largest group here. It covers Ring, Blink, Eufy, Arlo and other doorbells, comparisons between wired and battery models, and options for apartments and for homes without an existing doorbell. You’ll also find step-by-step guides for transformer wiring, charging problems, motion settings, resets and the flashing lights that signal trouble.
Security Cameras
Security Cameras covers indoor and outdoor cameras, including solar, PoE and cellular-free options, cameras for rural properties and cameras for checking on an older relative. The guides explain mounting, Wi-Fi setup, installation costs, motion detection problems and account issues such as a camera already registered to someone else.
Alarm Systems
Alarm Systems compares DIY security systems, explains what professional monitoring adds and covers systems with no required monthly fee. It also covers sensor batteries and simple project builds.
Smart Locks
Smart Locks covers Schlage, Kwikset, Yale and August locks, along with locks that support Apple Home Key. The guides walk through installation, programming user codes, battery changes, factory resets and what to do if you’re locked out.
Garage Openers
Garage Openers covers smart garage controllers and keypads, including myQ, Meross and models that work with Apple Home, Google Home and Home Assistant. It explains Wi-Fi setup, keypad programming, car integration and the limits of app-only solutions.
Safety Sensors
Safety Sensors covers smart smoke, carbon monoxide, water leak and motion sensors. It explains false alarms, chirping and battery warnings, offline sensors, installation costs and how to connect these sensors to Home Assistant.
Safety and legal notes worth reading first
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are life-safety devices. Smart sensors and phone alerts can add to the alarms your building code requires, but they don’t replace those alarms or professional monitoring. Garage door openers have safety reversal features, including photo-eye sensors, that must never be disabled or bypassed when you add a smart controller. Doorbell transformers are low voltage on the doorbell side but connect to household line voltage, so turn off the breaker before working on them. Laws on recording video and especially audio vary by state, and leases or HOA rules may limit where you can mount a camera. Check local rules before pointing a camera at a neighbor’s property or a shared hallway.
What no subscription really means
Skipping a subscription usually means storing video on the device, on a microSD card, on a home base station or on a network video recorder. That can work very well, but features such as cloud backup, extended history and smart alerts may be limited or missing. Our roundups spell out what each option includes for free so you can decide with the full picture.
Where to go next
For network and privacy basics that affect every camera and lock, see Getting Started. To tie security devices into routines, see Smart Hubs. For outdoor and motion-activated lighting, see Lighting.