One Smart Technology Step I Always Take Before Leaving Home on Vacation – It’s Going Viral in 2026

One reason to love smart home technology is that it helps both when you are at home and when you are hundreds of miles away, thanks to app control. This allows you to use techniques such as door lock control for nanny, adjustable thermostat while you’re on vacation and double-checking your security system.

But first of all I have to do one thing. This step is necessary before I begin outside the door on any vacationand this ensures that everything else works. You need to do this too—and all it takes is walking slowly around the house with your phone in your hand. That’s why it’s so important.

Read more: 9 Must-Have Safety Checks When You Go on a Vacation Rental

Open all your home apps to check connections and updates.

Sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many times I’ve checked an app remotely and discovered that the Wi-Fi connection no longer worked due to router or app updates, or that I needed to enable downloading new firmware before leaving – and that’s not always something you can do remotely.

So, somewhere between packing my bags and pulling out of the driveway, I quickly check all the home apps I’m currently using. Usually it is enough to open the application and check the Wi-Fi connection and firmware settings.

If I’m using a security camera or pet camera, I check the live image to make sure it’s working (usually this means everything else on the device is working too). If it’s something like a leak detector or motion sensor, it’s usually enough to go to the home page to check that the device status is active and that the report is sufficient. For smart thermostats, I check the accuracy of the temperature readings and the ability to adjust the temperature from my phone. For devices connected to a central platform like Apple Home, I go in and make sure all my device tiles are active and working.

This usually takes about a minute if everything is working. If an app is having trouble connecting or my Wi-Fi goes out and needs to be reset, I’m glad I checked. I spend a few more minutes reconnecting or updating as needed. Then it’s vacation time and I don’t have to worry about devices keeping me quiet.

Don’t forget to launch the application before leaving your smart home. And if you’re tired of managing so many apps, I have a handy little guide to reducing your home app usage that you might also appreciate. Have a nice trip!