How to Set Up Modes in Swann Security App
Modes are customizable security profiles that control how your cameras respond in different situations. Choose between Home Mode, Night Mode, and Away Mode.
Each Mode can have its own settings for:
- Motion sensitivity
- Push notifications
- Lights and sirens
This allows you to automate your security preferences without manually changing settings every time your routine changes.
On accounts that only have standalone cameras, you will also see Pause which lets you temporarily disable motion detection; useful when there is an event or happening that you don't want the cameras to record.
Learn about Pause Mode in this article
Common Questions About Swann Security Modes
- How do I configure Modes in the Swann app? →
- What settings can I customize in Modes? →
- Can Swann Modes switch automatically? →
- Why are my Modes not updating? →
Things to Prepare Before Setting Up Modes
- The latest version of the Swann Security app installed
- Your cameras already added to the app
- Live streaming works to confirm online status
- Choose Your Phone Type
How to Set Up Modes in Swann Security App
- Open the Swann Security app, go to then tap the pencil icon to edit Modes.
- For multiple units, choose a device you want to configure
- Choose a Mode that you want to configure (then pick a channel if this is a recorder), then adjust its settings based on your needs
- Go back or tap back to save and exit
Modes Settings Explained
Recording Type (for select recorders)
For select recorders (i.e EliteX™ NVR), you can choose to enable Continuous Recording on a specific camera to have a separate continuous recording clip; or leave it disabled so it only records when there's motion.
To have motion recordings, only record when a movement is detected, Modes must NOT be disabled.
Each selected detection mode has its own sensitivity slider.
In this example, AI is selected hence it shows AI Sensitivity slider.
Motion Sensitivity Settings
Sensitivity controls how easily your camera detects motion or sound.
- Higher sensitivity = more detection events
- Lower sensitivity = fewer detection events
If sensitivity is set to OFF or 0, automated deterrent features like lights and sirens will not activate.
For MaxRanger4K™ Power Hub (Model: NVW-MR4K), sensitivity in Modes only syncs if the Hub is set to PIR + Motion (which is not, by default).
Change the camera's sensitivity from the Hub's Menu insteadFor AdvancedX™ system, sensitivity in Modes only syncs if the Hub is set to Motion (which is not, by default).
Change the camera's sensitivity from the recorder's Menu instead
Push Notification Settings
Modes let you control which alerts you receive.
Put a check (on Android) or Enable (on iOS) the notification of a detection type to turn it on.
In the sample below, notification is enabled for car detection. When a car is detected, it will send you a notification.
- Motion alerts
- Sound detection alerts
- Visitor alerts (for doorbells)
- Person detection
- Car detection
- Pet detection
- Package detection
- SwannShield: Notify Me When
Some alerts require a subscription and/or supported device. Learn more about push notifications in this article
Lights and Siren Deterrent Features
Supported cameras can automatically:
- Flash spotlights
- Trigger sirens
- Activate both during motion events
This feature helps discourage unwanted activity and improves active security monitoring.
Few things to keep in mind, depending on the device that you have:
- For supported devices that can display duration settings, you can choose how long the lights will be on or when the siren will sound an alarm.
- For MaxRanger4K™ Base Station (NVW-MR4KSTN), there is no duration and the lights or siren will only activate for 10 seconds.
- For other recorders that have a camera with lights or siren, but don't see this in the app, you need to configure it from the recorder itself by following this article
- For SWIFI-XTRCM, you can configure siren duration by:
- Going to then select your camera
- Tap
- Adjust the siren duration
Automatic Mode Scheduling
You can automate Mode switching using schedules in the app. For example:
- Home Mode during the day
- Away Mode while at work
- Night Mode overnight
Schedules apply to all online devices connected to the same account.
See also: How to Set Up Schedules for Modes in Swann Security App
Why Swann Modes Matter
Modes help simplify everyday security management by automatically adapting your cameras to your lifestyle. Instead of manually changing notification and detection settings throughout the day, you can create customized security profiles that improve convenience while reducing unnecessary alerts.
This makes your security system smarter, easier to manage, and better suited for real-world use.
FAQs & Troubleshooting
Why are my Mode changes not updating immediately?
Battery-powered cameras may take longer to receive updates because they use power-saving sleep cycles. Scheduled changes may also experience slight delays due to cloud communication.
Can I create different schedules for each device?
No. Mode schedules apply to all devices connected to the same Swann account.
Why are lights or sirens not activating?
Check the following:
- Motion sensitivity is not OFF
- Light or siren duration is not set to 0
- Your camera supports deterrent features
- The app is updated to the latest version
Can Modes switch automatically?
Yes. You can create schedules to automatically switch between Home, Away, and Night Modes.
Learn how to set a schedule for Modes here
Related Questions
- How do I schedule Modes in the Swann Security app?
- How do Swann push notifications work?
- Why is my Swann camera detecting too much motion?
- Which Swann cameras support lights and sirens?
Summary & Next Steps
Modes in the Swann Security app help you customize your security settings for different situations using motion sensitivity, notifications, and deterrent features. With scheduling support, your system can automatically adapt throughout the day for smarter protection.