Best answer: Yes. You can point an indoor security camera outside through a window, but it may not work as well as you're hoping.
Amazon: Nest Cam Outdoor ($179)
Why would you want to point an indoor security camera outside?
The benefits of pointing a security camera outside through a window are pretty simple. You don't have to worry about mounting cameras to the side of your home, along with worrying about wiring everything properly. Plus, you don't have to find a weather-resistant camera that'll short out at the first sign of inclement weather.
Although there may be some glare at certain times of the day, the indoor camera should still do its job of recording during the day. However, we emphasize "during the day" because your camera can run into some issues after the sun sets.
Potential issues with pointing an indoor security camera through a window
Now, before start thinking about setting up your security camera to look through a window, take a step back for a moment. The technology of these cameras have improved vastly over the years, but not everything will work as perfectly as a dedicated outdoor security camera.
The first problem comes when you have your camera set up for recording at night. Most of these cameras include an infrared camera, which will cause a reflection by the LED lights when pointed through the window. This will make your videos overexposed, or washed out completely.
This can be remedied by disabling the IR lights, along with any status lights that could cause videos to be less-than-stellar. Another remedy is to install some motion-activated lights outside which will help your camera properly see in the event of someone coming up to the house night.
Next, you will likely see a significant downgrade in the quality of your video recordings. This is because there is now an object (the window) in between your camera and the subject. If you are dead set on using your indoor camera pointed outside, you'll want to place the lens as close to the window as possible to get past any distortion issues.
You can also just get an outdoor security camera.
Top of the line
Instead of trying to deal with all of the downsides, you would be better off just picking up a traditional outdoor camera. The Nest Cam Outdoor is the perfect pick, as it works with your smart home products and does everything you need and more.
