5 Custom Actions You Should Try Today

A smart home makes life easier in many ways, from keeping you informed of what’s happening in your home, to automatically adjusting temperature, or allowing you to control your home from anywhere.

But that’s just scratching the surface. The products in a Vivint system are designed to work together to allow you to do more than can be done by patching together a bunch of separate smart devices. And because everything works together, you can use one app to create custom rules to get your smart home to perform certain actions when and how you want.

Get more out of your smart home with custom actions

This is done through custom actions, a feature found in the Vivint app. Think of them as rules you create to better customize your system to meet your needs, protect your home, and simplify your life.

Custom actions are easy to use and can be created in less than a minute. Keep reading to discover five of our customers’ favorite custom actions.

1. Automatically arm and disarm your home every day
2. Turn lights on when motion sensor detects movement
3. Video recording begins when a door is opened
4. Record a video clip when your car is disturbed
5. Automated home lighting adjustments at sunrise or sunset

NOTE: Custom actions can only be created or modified by a user with Admin access in the Vivint app.

1. Automatically arm and disarm your home every day

Example: I want my home to arm (staying) at 11 p.m. every day.

After a busy day and getting the kids to bed, it’s all too easy to forget to arm your smart home security system for the night. Make things easier on yourself by creating a custom action to automatically arm your system at a dedicated time each day. 

You can also create a custom action to disarm your system at a set time each day so you don’t accidentally set off the alarm while letting the dog out or rushing off to work.

What you need

• Vivint app
• Vivint security system (door/window sensors, motion sensor)

How to create a custom action to automatically arm your system

1. In the Vivint app, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner, and select the Custom Actions option.
2. On the Custom Actions screen, tap the + sign in the top-right corner to create a new rule.
3. Select the home to arm (staying) option.
4. Select the each day at option.
5. Select the time you would like your system to arm and tap the Next button.
6. Review your rule settings and tap the Done button.

How to create a custom action to automatically disarm your system

1. In the Vivint app, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner, and select the Custom Actions option.
2. On the Custom Actions screen, tap the + sign in the top-right corner to create a new rule.
3. Select the home to disarm option.
4. Select the each day at option.
5. Select the time you would like your system to arm and tap the Next button.
6. Review your rule settings and tap the Done button.

2. Turn lights on when motion sensor detects movement

Example: I want my living room lamp to turn on when motion is detected between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The humble motion detector is an essential part of a home security system. It largely operates in the background, sending important signals to the Vivint Smart Hub about unwanted motion that the system can then use to provide a response. But with custom actions, the motion detector can do more. 

When combined with an outlet module or smart lighting, the motion detector can be used as a trigger to automatically turn on lights when motion is detected. This can act as a valuable added security measure, or to light key areas of the home. Whether you're running to the bathroom in the middle of the night or headed to the kitchen for a snack, this rule turns a light on (and back off) right when you need it.

What you need

• Vivint app
• Motion sensor
• Outlet module

How to create a custom action to turn on lights when motion is detected

1. In the Vivint app, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner, and select the Custom Actions option.
2. On the Custom Actions screen, tap the + sign in the top-right corner to create a new rule.
3. Select the outlets to turn on option.
4. Select outlet(s) to turn on and press the Next button.
5. Select what dimming percentage you want your light to adjust to (example: 100%).
6. Select when motion is detected by motion sensors.
7. Select when the rule should run:
   1. If you want this rule to record any time, select the any time option.
   2. If you want this rule to record only during selected hours, select the between certain hours option and choose the start and stop times. Tap the Next button.
8. Select how long the light should stay on (example: stay on).
9. Review your rule settings and tap the Done button.

3. Video recording begins when a door is opened

Example: I want my Doorbell Camera Pro to record a clip when the front door is opened.

The Vivint system will send you a notification when a door is opened, which is helpful, but it doesn’t answer the question of who opened the door or why. Creating a custom action to have your doorbell camera record when the front door is opened will help you see who is coming and going. This is especially important for parents who want to know their kids got home safely from school.

Recordings don’t have to be limited to the doorbell camera either. This custom action can be created for all Vivint security cameras including the Vivint Indoor Camera (our indoor camera) and the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro. For instance, if you have a indoor camera camera in your entryway, pointed at the front door, you can see what happens once people cross the threshold into your home.

What you need

• Vivint app
• Vivint camera (indoor, outdoor, or doorbell)
• Door sensor

How to create a custom action to record video clips when a door is opened

1. In the Vivint app, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner, and select the Custom Actions option.
2. On the Custom Actions screen, tap the + sign in the top-right corner to create a new rule.
3. Select the cameras to record option.
4. Select which cameras you want to use to record a clip (doorbell camera, indoor camera, or outdoor camera) and press the Next button.
5. Select the when my doors are opened option.
6. Select which door to use and tap the Next button.
7. Select when you want the camera to record a clip:
   1. If you want this rule to record any time, select the any time option.
   2. If you want this rule to record only during selected hours, select the between certain hours and and choose the start and stop times. Tap the Next button.
8. Review your rule settings and tap the Done button.

There are easy variations of this custom action as well. Have your surveillance cameras record clips when:

• Windows are opened (all windows or only specific windows).
• An alarm is triggered.
• Your garage door is opened.
   

4. Record a video clip when your car is disturbed

Example: I want my Outdoor Camera Pro to record a clip when my car is disturbed in my driveway.

Disturbances will trigger the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro to start recording so you can catch the whole thing on high-definition video. This footage can be shared with law enforcement or neighbors to help keep your home and neighborhood safe.

What you need

• Vivint app
• Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro

How to create a custom action to record video clips when your car is disturbed

1. In the Vivint app, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner, and select the Custom Actions option.
2. On the Custom Actions screen, tap the + sign in the top-right corner to create a new rule.
3. Select the cameras to record option.
4. Select which cameras you want to record a clip.
5. Select when car (car name) is disturbed option.
6. Select a location (example: Home).
7. Select either any time or between certain hours options.
8. Review your rule settings and tap the Done button.

5. Automated home lighting adjustments at sunrise or sunset

Example: I want my bedroom lamp to turn on every day at sunrise and turn back off at sunset.

Home automation can simplify your daily routine without you having to lift a finger. Let’s face it, mornings can sometimes be tough. Make waking up easier on yourself by having your lights automatically turn on at a certain time each morning. Automated home lighting allows your body to more naturally awaken rather than being jarred awake by an alarm clock.

What you need

• Vivint app
• Vivint Smart Plug (with a lamp plugged into it)

How to create a custom action to automate home lighting

1. In the Vivint app, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner, and select the Custom Actions option.
2. On the Custom Actions screen, tap the + sign in the top-right corner to create a new rule.
3. Select the outlets to turn on option.
4. Select the outlet(s) to turn on and press the Next button.
5. Select what dimming percentage you want your light to adjust to (example: 100%).
6. Select what time you want the light to turn on (example: each day at sunrise).
7. Select how long you want the light to stay on (example: turn back off at sunset).
8. Review your rule settings and tap the Done button.

There are other easy variations of this custom action:

• Turn on multiple lamps at the same time.
• Have a coffee maker plugged into an outlet and turn on at a specified time.
• Turn off your lamp after a set amount of time.

Set custom notifications

These are just a few of the hundreds of possible custom actions possible with a Vivint system. Within the custom actions section of the Vivint app you can also set custom notifications for certain events, such as if:

• A door is left open for 10 minutes
• Smart Sentry is triggered
• Your car has low fuel (with Car Guard)

How to edit or delete a custom action

Once a custom action has been created it can’t be edited. You can turn off an action by tapping the on/off toggle switch for a rule in the custom actions screen or delete the rule. To delete a custom action, swipe left and tap the trash icon.

If you’re a current Vivint customer, you can get started with custom actions today. Give it a try and see how you can extend the power and functionality of your system. To add new equipment, give us a call.

If you’re looking to get started with a Vivint system, we’d love to give you a free quote and help customize a system to meet your needs. Give us a call today at 800.646.1469.