This study uses activity need to analyze the activity fulfillment of switching from out-of-home to in-home activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Activity need is a measure to assess activity demand by determining how frequently people wish to engage in it. A panel time-use activity diary is used to collect daily activity in the Surakarta agglomeration area. Four-day activity diary was collected over one weekend day and three weekdays. This study analyzes the data from 402 residents using descriptive and inferential statistics. Exploratory factor analysis is used to identify the significant indicators of the built-environment variables. The activity attributes, sociodemographic characteristics, and the built environment are determined as the variables influencing activity needs. As a part of activity attributes, the activity types analyzed are working/studying, leisure, sports, and shopping. The activity needs that are unfulfilled by in-home activities include working/studying, sports, and leisure. The only activity need fulfilled by in-home activities is shopping. When analyzing sociodemographic variables, it was found that individuals with low income and older than 55 years have a greater risk of having unmet activity needs than those with the other indicators. Regarding the built environment, individuals living further away from the city center, administration office, junior/high school, hospital, and modern market have a higher level of unmet activity needs than those living in other residential environments. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.