Familiar Face Analytics
Notice: This feature is only available in the U.S.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the capture and storage of biometric data. In these areas, Familiar Face Analytics will not be available. Known jurisdictions that prohibit the capture and storage of biometric data:
States:
- Illinois
- Texas
Cities:
- Portland, OR
Video customers will have a clearer picture of who is coming and going with Familiar Face Analytics. This capability allows customers to teach their doorbell to recognize up to 5 familiar faces—like family, friends, or trusted visitors—and receive personalized alerts when they arrive.
Compatibility requirements
- The Premium Video service package
- Alarm.com Premium Video Doorbell Camera (ADC-VDB775) installed on the customer account
- The customer must accept the Familiar Face Terms of Use
- The customer account must be in a jurisdiction that allows for the capture and storage of biometric data
How it works
- Create a person detection rule and begin receiving alerts
- Choose to receive alerts when:
- A Familiar Face is detected
- Only when an unfamiliar person is detected
- When any person is detected
- Filter saved clips for specific Familiar Faces or unknown persons.
Additional information
- Identify a person with a single image to start training the system
- If needed, perform additional training from the notifications or by clicking the ellipses next to clips on the Saved Clips page
- When creating a new profile, it is recommended to select at least five enrollment images
- Tag up to five persons as "familiar"
- Familiar Face notifications can be configured for SMS, email, and push notifications
- Continue to configure and receive generic person detection notifications as well
Limitations
- Ensure the face is fully in view of the camera and not obstructed.
- Faces may not be recognized if they are angled away from the camera. Familiar Face Analytics works best when the camera can see both eyes.
- Persons approaching too quickly may not be recognized.
- Changes in lighting, weather, and night vision can have an impact on accuracy. Enroll images of Familiar Faces during the day, twilight, and at night in IR mode for best results.
- Detections will only occur on analytics clips where a person detection occurred. Event triggered clips or Other clips will not work.
- Familiar face detection is intended to work with subjects 5 feet or closer to the camera. Faces farther away will have less detail that can be distinguished and may lead to inaccurate detections.
Intended use:
Familiar Face Analytics is meant for monitoring and identifying people who approach the location where the camera is installed, whether that is a home, business, or other property.
Important: Familiar Face Analytics is not intended for monitoring passing foot traffic or busy walking areas.
Set up Familiar Face Analytics
Familiar Face profiles and notifications can be set up using the Alarm.com app or Alarm.com customer website. The user will need to enable the Familiar Face feature first, then they can add Familiar Face profiles and customize notifications based on familiar and unfamiliar faces.
Enable the Familiar Face feature
To enable the Familiar Face feature using the Alarm.com app:
- Log in to the Alarm.com app.
- Tap
.
- Tap
.
- Tap Familiar Face.
Note: If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Tap Face.
- Read through and accept the Familiar Face Terms of Use.
- In Camera Access, tap to select the desired cameras.
- Tap Save.
To enable the Familiar Face feature using the Alarm.com customer website:

- Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
- Click Video.
- Click Settings.
- Click Familiar Face.
Note:If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Click Face.
- Read through and accept the Familiar Face Terms of Use.
- In Camera Access, click to select the desired cameras.
- Click Save.
To disable Familiar Face Analytics
This feature can be disabled using the Alarm.com app or Alarm.com customer website.
Important: This process will not delete any video clips. Previous clips marked as Familiar Faces will remain marked as Familiar Faces.
To disable the Familiar Face feature using the Alarm.com app:
- Log in to the Alarm.com app.
- Tap
.
- Tap
.
- Tap Familiar Face.
Note: If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Tap Face.
- Tap Enable/Disable Feature.
- Tap Delete all data.
To disable the Familiar Face feature using the Alarm.com customer website:

- Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
- Click Video.
- Click Settings.
- Click Familiar Face.
Note:If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Click Face.
- Click Enable/Disable Feature.
- Click Delete all data.
- Click Save.
Add a Familiar Face profile
Familiar Face profiles can be added using the Alarm.com app or Alarm.com customer website. After the feature is enabled, any saved clips with a face detected will be added to Recent Photos.
Note: Faces are detected approximately 3-5 feet from the doorbell camera. There may be many Person clips where no faces were detected if the face was not fully in view or was too far away to be identified.
To add a Familiar Face profile using the Alarm.com app:
- Log in to the Alarm.com app.
- Tap
.
- Tap
.
- Tap Familiar Face.
Note: If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Tap Face.
To add a Familiar Face profile using the Alarm.com customer website:
- Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
- Click Video.
- Click Settings.
- Click Familiar Face.
Note:If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Click Face.
- Click Review Photos.
- Click to select all images that show the face of the person for whom you want to create the Familiar Face profile.
- Click New Face.
- Read the compliance messaging, then enter a name for the new Familiar Face in the entry field.
- Click Save.
- Click to select whether or not to receive Familiar Face Notifications for the new Familiar Face profile.
Note: By default, Familiar Face Notifications are enabled for each Familiar Face. - Click Start if you have more images to add to the newly-created Familiar Face profile, or click Do Later if you do not have more images or do not want to add more images to the Familiar Face profile at this time.
Configure Familiar Face Notifications
Familiar Face Notifications for each Familiar Face can be enabled notifications for all rules or disable notifications for all rules using the Alarm.com app or Alarm.com customer website. This can also be done manually for each recording rule.
Note: By default, Familiar Face Notifications are enabled for each Familiar Face.
To configure Familiar Face Notifications using the Alarm.com app:
- Log in to the Alarm.com app.
- Tap
.
- Tap
.
- Tap Familiar Face.
Note: If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Tap Face.
- In Faces, tap to select the desired Familiar Face profile.
- Tap Notifications.
- To enable Familiar Face Notifications for the selected profile, tap Yes.
- To disable Familiar Face Notifications for the selected profile, tap No.
To configure Familiar Face Notifications using the Alarm.com customer website:
- Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
- Click Video.
- Click Settings.
- Click Familiar Face.
Note:If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Click Face.
- In Faces, click to select the desired Familiar Face profile.
- Click Notifications.
- To enable Familiar Face Notifications for the selected profile, click Yes.
- To disable Familiar Face Notifications for the selected profile, click No.
Improving Familiar Face Analytics on a customer account
Users can mark face photos as correct or incorrect, or move them to another Familiar Face profile, to improve Familiar Face detection consistency. When a face photo is marked as correct or is moved to a Familiar Face profile, that image will appear in the Familiar Face's profiles image list. Users can always review these images to verify that a Familiar Face profile only contains images of the person the profile is set up for.
It is possible to provide feedback on Video Analytics notifications, by reviewing saved clips, or by navigating to the Familiar Face section of the Alarm.com app and Alarm.com customer website.
Important: Only Saved Clips categorized as Unknown Face are eligible for providing feedback and adding to a Familiar Face profile.
Video Analytics notification
Action buttons on notifications with faces allow users to quickly provide feedback on incorrect Familiar Face detections.
To provide feedback on iOS notifications:
- Long press (tap and hold) the notification.
- Tap Incorrectly Identified.
To provide feedback on Android notifications:
- Tap
on the notification.
- Tap Incorrectly Identified.
Alarm.com app
Provide feedback via saved clips or the Familiar Face section of the Alarm.com app.
To provide feedback via saved clips:
- Log in to the Alarm.com app.
- Tap
.
- Tap Saved.
- Select the desired clip.
- Tap
.
Note: If the icon does not appear for the saved clip, verify the clip is classified as an Unknown Face.- To add the saved clip to a new or existing Familiar Face profile:
- Tap
.
- Tap
to create a new Familiar Face profile, or tap to select an existing profile.
- Tap
- If the saved clip does not include someone that will be added as a Familiar Face, tap
.
- To add the saved clip to a new or existing Familiar Face profile:
To provide feedback via the Familiar Face section:
- Log in to the Alarm.com app.
- Tap
.
- Tap
.
- Tap Familiar Face.
Note: If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Tap Face.
- Tap Review Photos to begin reviewing all Unknown Faces.
- In Review Faces, tap
or
to provide feedback on individual Unknown Faces images.
Alarm.com customer website
Provide feedback via saved clips or the Familiar Face section of the Alarm.com customer website.
To provide feedback via saved clips:
- Log in to the customer account.
- Click Video.
- Click Saved Video Clips.
- Hover over the desired clip, then click
.
- Click
.
Note: If the icon does not appear for the saved clip, verify the clip is classified as an Unknown Face.- To add the saved clip to a new or existing Familiar Face profile:
- Click
.
- Click
to create a new Familiar Face profile, or click to select an existing profile.
- Click
- If the saved clip does not include someone that will be added as a Familiar Face, click
.
- To add the saved clip to a new or existing Familiar Face profile:
To provide feedback via the Familiar Face section:
- Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
- Click Video.
- Click Settings.
- Click Familiar Face.
Note:If the account supports both Familiar Face Analytics and Familiar Vehicle Analytics, this option will list both. If it does not, the option will simply read Familiar Face. - Click Face.
- Click Review Photos to begin reviewing all Unknown Faces.
- In Review Faces, click
or
to provide feedback on individual Unknown Faces images.