Halloween Tech Tips for a Smooth, Safe Night
On Halloween, your doorbell works harder than it does all year. Between costumes, porch lights, and motion alerts, a little prep goes a long way.
If you have a smart doorbell or camera, open the app earlier in the afternoon and take a quick look at the settings. I like to turn the motion alerts down a notch so your phone isn’t buzzing every thirty seconds, but keep the live view handy so you can peek outside between knocks. If you prefer the classic doorbell chime, most apps let you keep that on while you quiet the notifications.
Check your porch light too. A simple, well-lit entry makes the night easier for everyone. If you use a smart bulb, set it to turn on before dusk so you’re not flipping switches while juggling candy bowls. And if you don’t want late-night doorbell rings, set a “lights out” time and switch the porch light off when you’re done for the evening. That’s the universal signal you’re out of candy.
Your phone will probably do double duty as a flashlight and a camera. Give it a full charge before the first costume arrives, and put a little portable charger by the door if you have one. If grandkids are out trick-or-treating, turn on location sharing just for the evening so you can check in without constant texts—then turn it back off when everyone’s home.
One last thing: spooky pop-ups and “too good to be true” costume deals show up this week, and so do fake charity QR codes. If a message tries to rush you—“limited time!” “act now!”—that’s your cue to pause. Go to the real website yourself, not the link in a random email.
If you want help tuning the doorbell, light, or camera before the big night, I’m happy to do a quick checkup. It only takes a few minutes to make Halloween calmer for you and more fun for the kids.
