Finding and Fixing the Cause of Aqara Missed Recordings
The core function of a security camera is to record important events. When you discover your Aqara camera has failed to record something you know happened, it can seriously undermine your confidence in your security setup. Whether it's a person walking up your driveway or a pet's antics in the living room, missed recordings are a problem that needs to be addressed quickly.
This guide will help you troubleshoot the common reasons why an Aqara camera might miss recordings. By systematically checking your settings and hardware, you can resolve this issue and ensure your camera captures everything it's supposed to.
Common Symptoms of Recording Failures
Before we dive into solutions, let's clarify the problem. You might be experiencing one of the following:
- Gaps in the Timeline: You can see recorded events, but there are obvious gaps where activity should have been captured.
- No Recording for Specific Events: A delivery driver drops off a package, but no video of the event is saved.
- Inconsistent Recording: The camera records some motion events but seems to ignore others for no apparent reason.
- Notifications Without Recordings: You might receive a motion alert on your phone, but when you go to view the clip, it doesn't exist.
Step-by-Step Guide to Troubleshooting Missed Recordings
Let's work through the potential causes, from the simplest settings checks to hardware considerations.
1. Check Your Camera's Arming Status and Mode
Aqara cameras often operate in different modes (e.g., Home, Away, Disarmed). Recording rules can be different for each mode. This is the most common reason for missed recordings.
- Open the Aqara app and check the current status of your security system or camera.
- If the system is in a "Home" or "Disarmed" state, motion detection and recording might be intentionally turned off for privacy.
- Ensure your camera is in an "Away" or other armed mode where recording is configured to be active. Check the automation rules you've set up for each mode to confirm what the camera is supposed to be doing.
2. Review Motion Detection Settings
If the camera doesn't detect the motion in the first place, it won't trigger a recording.
- Sensitivity: In the camera's settings within the Aqara app, find the Motion Detection Settings. If the sensitivity is set too low, the camera may ignore subtle or distant movements. Try increasing the sensitivity one level at a time.
- Activity Zones: Activity zones are great for reducing false alarms, but an incorrectly drawn zone can cause missed events. Review your activity zones to ensure you haven't accidentally excluded the area where the motion occurred. Make sure the zone covers the entire area of interest.
3. Verify Your Storage Solution
Whether you're recording to an SD card or the cloud, it needs to be working correctly.
- SD Card:
- Check Status: In the app, go to Storage Settings and check the status of your SD card. It will tell you if the card is recognised, its capacity, and whether it's full.
- Formatting: If you suspect an issue, use the Format SD Card option within the app. This will erase all footage but can resolve file system errors.
- Overwrite Setting: Ensure that "Loop Recording" or a similar overwrite feature is enabled. If it's off, the camera will stop recording when the card is full.
- Cloud Storage:
- Subscription Status: If you use Aqara's cloud service, ensure your subscription is active and has not expired.
- Upload Issues: A poor Wi-Fi connection can prevent clips from being successfully uploaded to the cloud.
4. Ensure a Stable Wi-Fi Connection
An unstable Wi-Fi connection is a frequent cause of missed recordings. The camera might detect an event, but if its connection drops before it can save or upload the clip, the recording is lost.
- In the Aqara app, find the camera's settings and check its Wi-Fi signal strength.
- If the signal is weak, try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera or vice versa.
- A Wi-Fi extender or mesh network can provide a more stable connection for cameras that are located far from the router.
By methodically checking your system's mode, detection settings, storage health, and network stability, you can pinpoint the reason for missed recordings and restore your Aqara camera's reliability.