Automation
Vacation Mode
One toggle. Increases sensitivity, sets longer cloud retention, sends daily digests, alerts your trusted neighbor list. Returns to normal when you tap it off.
What it is
Vacation mode is a single toggle that reconfigures multiple security settings simultaneously to fit how households operate when nobody's home for an extended period. Instead of manually adjusting sensitivity, retention, alert routing, and notifications individually, you tap one button and everything changes at once.
How it works
Step by step.
Toggle vacation mode in the app
Open the Halstead app, tap 'Vacation Mode' on the dashboard. Set your start and end dates (or leave open-ended). The system immediately reconfigures based on your saved preferences.
Sensitivity increases automatically
Motion sensitivity tightens across all cameras. Two-camera verification time windows shorten. AI motion classification subscriptions expand to include all categories (since any motion is more suspicious when you're not home).
Cloud retention extends
Video retention extends to capture more history during your trip. Useful if an incident occurs early in your trip but isn't noticed until later.
Daily digest emails kick in
Instead of getting a barrage of individual notifications, you receive a single daily digest email summarizing all activity at your home — visits, motion events, package deliveries, weather alerts. Less notification noise, more context.
Trusted neighbor list activates
If a high-priority alarm fires while you're away, your trusted neighbor list (configured during setup) gets notified in addition to you. Useful when you're in a different time zone or unable to respond quickly.
Returns to normal when toggled off
When you return home, tap 'Disable Vacation Mode' and all settings revert to your normal configuration. No need to manually undo six different things.
Why it matters
Most security systems force you to manually adjust dozens of settings before you leave on a trip and then remember to undo them when you return. Most people don't bother, which means their security stays in everyday-mode while they're away — the opposite of what they want. Halstead's vacation mode handles the reconfiguration automatically with one tap, which means people actually use it.
Common questions
Can I schedule vacation mode for future dates?+
Yes. Set start and end dates when you toggle vacation mode and the system will activate and deactivate automatically. Useful for planned trips where you might forget to toggle on the day you leave.
What's the trusted neighbor list?+
During setup, you can designate trusted neighbors or family members who get notified when vacation mode is active and a high-priority alarm fires. They receive the same alert you do, with a link to view the live camera and the option to call you, the police, or simply check on the property.
Will my pet trigger alarms in vacation mode?+
No. Halstead's AI motion classification distinguishes pets from people, and the classification preferences carry over into vacation mode. Pets walking around will be logged but won't trigger alerts.
Does vacation mode pause my regular routines?+
Visitor passes for cleaners and contractors continue working normally — they're scheduled separately. If you have routine deliveries or pet sitters, you can configure them to operate even during vacation mode.