How to Fix an Abode Camera That's Not Recording
An Abode security camera is a powerful tool for monitoring your home, but its value is significantly diminished if it fails to record crucial events. If you're getting motion alerts but find no corresponding video clips, or if nothing is being recorded at all, this guide will help you troubleshoot the problem within the Abode ecosystem.
Abode's system relies on a combination of your subscription plan, camera settings, and CUE automations. A misstep in any of these areas can lead to a failure to record.
Step 1: Verify Your Abode Subscription Plan
This is the most fundamental step. Abode's recording features are tied to its paid subscription plans.
- Log in to your Abode account on the web portal or in the app.
- Navigate to your Account or Billing section.
- Check the status of your plan. You must have an active Standard Plan or Pro Plan to store recorded video clips. The free, self-monitored plan only provides live streaming and does not save recordings.
- If your plan has lapsed or is incorrect, you will need to subscribe to the appropriate tier to enable recording.
Step 2: Check Your CUE Automations
CUE automations are the brain of the Abode system, telling your devices how to react to triggers. For a camera to record, it almost always needs a CUE automation telling it to do so.
### Review Existing Automations
- In the Abode app or web portal, go to the CUE tab.
- Look for an automation that involves your camera. A typical automation would be:
- Trigger (WHEN): Motion is detected by 'Your Camera Name'.
- Action (THEN): Record a video clip with 'Your Camera Name' for a set duration.
- Ensure the automation is enabled. If it's disabled, it won't run.
### Create a New Automation
If you don't have a recording automation, you'll need to create one.
- Click to add a new automation.
- For the Trigger, select your camera and choose 'Motion Detected'.
- For the Action, select the same camera and choose the 'Record Video' action. You can also set the clip length.
- Save and enable the new automation.
Step 3: Check the Camera's Device Settings
Even with the correct plan and automation, the camera's individual settings can prevent it from working correctly.
- In the Abode app, go to the Devices list.
- Select the camera that is not recording.
- Go into its Device Settings.
- Find the toggle for 'Motion Detection'. This must be turned on. If this is off, the camera's sensor will not detect motion, and the CUE automation will never be triggered.
- You may also find settings for motion sensitivity. If you're not getting recordings, try increasing the sensitivity.
Step 4: Test Your Wi-Fi Connection
Video recording requires a much more stable and robust Wi-Fi connection than live streaming. A weak signal can cause the recording upload to fail.
- In the camera's settings, check for a signal strength indicator. If it's low, the camera may be too far from your router.
- Symptoms of a poor connection include pixelated live video, buffering, or frequent disconnections.
- Try moving the camera closer to your router temporarily to see if recording starts to work. If it does, you may need to improve the Wi-Fi coverage in the camera's permanent location, perhaps with a Wi-Fi extender.
By systematically checking your Abode plan, CUE automations, individual camera settings, and network health, you can pinpoint why your camera isn't recording and restore this vital security feature.