Apple’s soon-to-be-released HomeView smart home hub could also help protect your home by serving as a HomeKit Secure Video camera, according to settings strings discovered in the device’s software by code sleuth pdfu.
Apple HomeView could soon double as a HomeKit security camera.
The feature has concrete settings localization in HomeView Software 27.2, describing functionality and privacy protections.
Here are the exact localization strings:
Setup Page
Your HomeView can be used as a… pic.twitter.com/NsnknajWKd— pdfu (@itspdfu) October 31, 2026
As noted by MacRumors, the strings were found in the code of HomeView Software 27.2 and boasts four camera modes: Off, Detect Activity, Stream, and “Stream & Allow Recording,” as well as scheduling options that allow for users to be home, away, or asleep.
pdfu also says there’s also a HomeView-specific configuration for 1080p/30fps video and microphone input for HomeKit Secure Video sessions.
Even more clues: HomeView Software 27.2 ships with a J490/J491-specific AVConference config that declares local 1080p/30fps video and mic stream inputs.
For HomeKit Secure Video sessions, AVConference selects this config, then populates _hksvHasVideoStreamInput. https://t.co/rUZwjZlhsZ
— pdfu (@itspdfu) November 1, 2026
Other strings discovered in the code indicates that only home members will have access to view streams and recordings. The code also indicates that a green light appears and a sound plays when a stream is viewed or recording starts. In addition, users will receive a notification when camera settings change.
The code strings also suggest streaming and recording can only be enabled from the HomeView itself while people are home. Face recognition and activity zones are likely to be configured in the Home app on iPhone.
In other X posts, pdfu highlighted a related Home app string suggesting that when the Home app is open on a member’s device, the the HomeView may take photos to refresh its camera preview, a green light will notify the user when this haoppens.
There are additional related strings for J490 (HomeView) in the Home app:
“When the Home app is open on a home member’s personal device, this HomeAccessory may take photos to refresh the camera preview. A green light will appear when this happens.” https://t.co/rUZwjZlhsZ
— pdfu (@itspdfu) October 31, 2026
Apple has not announced a camera feature for HomeView, and simply because code strings appear in the device’s software, it doesn’t mean that the feature will be available to users at launch. The HomeView hits store shelves on Friday, November 13, starting at $299.
As we already know, Apple’s release of the HomeView smart home hub was significantly delayed, meaning it may have been sitting in warehouses for several months. That means that the device will initially ship with six-month-old HomeView software version 26.5, according to AppleDB. Users will be prompted to update to HomeView software version 27.2 when they set up the device.
