In today’s world, CCTV surveillance systems have become an essential tool for ensuring security in homes, businesses, and public spaces. Apps like GCMOB, iVMS, and similar mobile surveillance software make it easy to monitor live video, review recordings, and control your camera settings — all from your smartphone.

But what if you could go beyond the standard menus and unlock advanced, hidden settings in your CCTV app?

With Activity Launcher, that’s exactly what you can do. This powerful Android tool allows you to open hidden activities and menus in apps, giving you access to features that developers haven’t placed in the main user interface. For CCTV apps, this can mean advanced recording configurations, deeper motion detection control, and fine-tuning your video stream quality.

Why Are Some CCTV App Features Hidden?

Before diving into how to unlock them, it’s important to understand why these hidden menus exist in the first place.

Developers often hide certain features because:

  • They’re meant for technical support staff or installers only.

  • The settings may be too advanced for the average user, leading to accidental misconfiguration.

  • They’re incomplete or experimental features not intended for public release.

  • They could be incompatible with some devices, so developers don’t display them for everyone.

The result? Even though your CCTV app might have powerful capabilities, they remain locked away behind unlisted “activities” inside the app package.

That’s where Activity Launcher comes in.

What is Activity Launcher?

Activity Launcher is an Android utility app that lets you open specific activities within other apps.

An “activity” in Android terms is a single screen or function in an app. Not every activity is linked to the app’s main menu — some are hidden unless triggered internally.

For example:

  • Your CCTV app might have a “Settings” menu with only a few basic options.

  • But there might be another activity called AdvancedSettingsActivity that has dozens of extra controls — it’s just never shown to you.

With Activity Launcher, you can search through all the activities inside an app and launch them directly, even if they’re not normally accessible.

Download Activity Launcher here

How Activity Launcher Works with CCTV Apps (Like GCMOB)

Let’s take GCMOB — a popular CCTV mobile app — as an example.

When you install GCMOB on your phone, the main interface gives you the ability to:

  • View live camera feeds

  • Play back recorded video

  • Adjust basic settings (passwords, camera list, etc.)

However, GCMOB actually contains additional configuration activities that aren’t visible in its default menus. Using Activity Launcher, you can discover and open these.

Step-by-Step: Unlocking Hidden CCTV Settings

  1. Install Activity Launcher
    Download and install the app.

  2. Open Activity Launcher
    Launch it and allow it to scan all installed apps on your device.

  3. Search for Your CCTV App
    In the list, find GCMOB (or your specific CCTV app).

  4. View All Activities
    Tap the app name to reveal all the internal activities available in its APK file.

  5. Identify Advanced Menus
    Look for activities with names like:

    • AdvancedSettingsActivity

    • MotionConfigActivity

    • StreamQualityActivity

    • ScheduleRecordingActivity

  6. Launch and Explore
    Tap on these activities one by one to see what hidden settings appear.

Examples of Hidden CCTV Features You Can Unlock

Here are some powerful settings you may find when using Activity Launcher with a CCTV app:

1. Advanced Recording Options

Most CCTV apps only allow simple recording configurations in their main menus — such as “record continuously” or “record on motion.”
In hidden menus, you might find:

  • Bitrate control: Adjust the recording bitrate for better video quality or smaller file sizes.

  • Frame rate settings: Set higher FPS for smoother playback or lower FPS for saving storage.

  • Custom recording schedules: Create multiple recording windows per day with different modes.

  • Pre-record & post-record buffers: Capture video a few seconds before and after motion is detected.

Why it’s useful: These options give you fine control over how recordings are stored, which can help you save storage space or improve evidence quality.

2. Motion Detection Sensitivity & Zones

Some CCTV apps only let you toggle motion detection on or off.
Hidden menus can unlock:

  • Sensitivity sliders: Control how easily motion is triggered.

  • Detection zones: Select specific areas of the frame to monitor (e.g., ignore moving trees but capture door movements).

  • Trigger delay: Prevent multiple alerts from being triggered within seconds.

  • Night/day mode adjustments: Separate motion sensitivity for daytime and nighttime.

Why it’s useful: Reduces false alerts and ensures you only get notified when something important happens.

3. Video Stream Quality & Encoding

In most apps, video stream settings are simplified — maybe just “high,” “medium,” and “low” quality.
Hidden stream settings may allow:

  • Exact resolution control (e.g., 1080p, 720p, 480p)

  • Codec selection (H.264, H.265, etc.)

  • Stream bandwidth limits (useful for mobile data connections)

  • Multi-stream configuration (set different qualities for remote and local viewing)

Why it’s useful: You can optimize streams for your internet connection, ensuring smooth playback even on slow networks.

4. Advanced Alarm & Alert Settings

In certain CCTV apps, hidden menus let you:

  • Configure push notification types in detail.

  • Set different alerts for different cameras.

  • Adjust alert sounds and vibration patterns.

  • Enable email alerts with snapshots.

Why it’s useful: Tailors your alert system so you’re never overwhelmed by unnecessary notifications.

5. Developer & Debug Menus

For tech-savvy users, Activity Launcher can open debug screens inside CCTV apps.
These might show:

  • Camera firmware details

  • Network stream logs

  • Connection statistics

  • Diagnostic tests

Why it’s useful: Perfect for troubleshooting connectivity or performance issues.

Safety Tips When Accessing Hidden Menus

While unlocking hidden features can be powerful, it’s important to use them responsibly:

  • Make note of default settings before making changes.

  • Avoid experimental options unless you understand their function.

  • Some settings may affect system stability — test them before relying on them for security.

  • If something goes wrong, uninstall and reinstall the CCTV app to reset its configuration.

Advantages of Using Activity Launcher for CCTV Management

  1. Full Control Over Your Devices
    Access settings that were previously installer-only.

  2. Better Video Quality
    Fine-tune your bitrate, resolution, and codec.

  3. Custom Security Behavior
    Create motion detection and alert settings that perfectly match your environment.

  4. Storage Optimization
    Adjust recording parameters to balance quality and storage usage.

  5. No Root Required
    Activity Launcher works on standard Android devices — no advanced rooting needed.

Real-World Use Case: Improving a Shop’s CCTV Setup

Imagine you own a small retail shop. You use GCMOB to monitor your security cameras.
By default, the app records in medium quality, has high motion sensitivity (triggering every time someone passes outside), and saves recordings continuously — filling up storage fast.

Using Activity Launcher:

  1. You access StreamQualityActivity and set the resolution to 1080p with H.265 compression — now your footage is sharper and uses less space.

  2. You open MotionConfigActivity and draw custom detection zones — ignoring the street view but monitoring the shop entrance.

  3. You configure ScheduleRecordingActivity to record only during opening hours, saving storage and making playback easier.

The result?
A more efficient, customized CCTV system — without buying new hardware or software.

How to Get Started

If you’re ready to explore the full potential of your CCTV app, here’s how to begin:

  • Download Activity Launcher.

  • Install it and scan for your CCTV app.

  • Carefully test hidden menus and note the changes.

  • Enjoy a more powerful surveillance setup.

Final Thoughts

CCTV apps like GCMOB are already powerful tools, but their true potential is often hidden behind unlisted menus and activities.
With Activity Launcher, you can access these advanced features — unlocking better video quality, more precise motion detection, and smarter recording schedules.

Whether you’re securing your home, your office, or your shop, these hidden controls can make a huge difference in performance and efficiency.

Disclaimer: Accessing hidden menus may alter your CCTV app’s behavior. Proceed with caution and always back up important settings before making changes.