Understanding Aqara and 24/7 Recording Capabilities
Aqara has become a popular choice for smart home enthusiasts, offering a range of reliable and affordable devices, including security cameras. A common question from new users is, "Why doesn't my Aqara camera support 24/7 recording?" It's a valid query, especially if you're used to traditional CCTV systems. The simple answer is that Aqara cameras are primarily designed for smart event recording, not continuous surveillance.
This guide will explain the reasoning behind this design, explore the symptoms you might notice, and discuss the powerful alternative solutions available, particularly through integration with platforms like Apple HomeKit Secure Video.
Symptoms: Recognising the Lack of 24/7 Recording
The "problem" of no 24/7 recording manifests in a few key ways. It's not a fault with your device, but rather its intended function.
Here’s what you will observe:
- Event-Based Timeline: Your recording history in the Aqara app consists of individual clips triggered by motion or sound, rather than a continuous, unbroken timeline of video.
- Gaps Between Recordings: There are noticeable gaps in your footage between detected events. You cannot scroll through video from periods where no motion was detected.
- No Option in Settings: When you explore the camera's settings in the Aqara app, you will not find any toggle or option to enable "24/7" or "continuous" recording.
- Short Clip Duration: Recordings are typically short, capturing just the motion event itself, and then stopping shortly after the motion ceases.
- Dependence on Triggers: The camera only saves footage when an automation or a motion/sound sensor is triggered.
Why Aqara Cameras Focus on Event-Based Recording
Understanding the "why" can help you leverage your camera's strengths. Aqara's design philosophy prioritises efficiency and smart home integration.
1. Power Conservation
Many popular Aqara cameras are battery-powered. Attempting to record video 24/7 would exhaust a battery in a matter of hours, making it completely impractical for a wireless device. Event-based recording allows these cameras to operate for months on a single charge by staying in a low-power state until an event occurs.
2. Data and Storage Management
Continuously recording high-definition video generates an enormous amount of data. Storing this data, whether locally on an SD card or in the cloud, would be costly and inefficient. It would require huge storage capacities and significant internet bandwidth for uploads. By only recording important events, Aqara makes storage management simple and affordable.
3. Smart Home Efficiency
The goal of a smart camera is not just to record everything, but to alert you to what matters. Aqara's system is built to provide you with actionable intelligence. You get a notification when a person is detected or a door opens, not when a leaf blows across your garden. This focus on relevant events prevents you from being overwhelmed with useless footage.
The Solution: HomeKit Secure Video for Enhanced Monitoring
While you cannot enable traditional 24/7 recording, you can get the next best thing by integrating your compatible Aqara camera with Apple HomeKit Secure Video (HSV).
What is HomeKit Secure Video?
HSV is a feature within Apple's smart home platform that enhances the capabilities of your camera. When you connect your Aqara camera to HomeKit, the video stream is privately analysed on your home hub (e.g., Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad).
How it Provides a Near-24/7 Experience:
- 10-Day Event History: HSV securely records motion events from the past 10 days and stores them in your iCloud account. This footage is end-to-end encrypted and does not count against your iCloud storage limit.
- Intelligent Detections: Your Home Hub intelligently determines if people, pets, or vehicles are present in the video, allowing you to receive highly specific notifications.
- Activity Timeline: Even though it's not a solid block of video, HSV provides a detailed timeline of all activity. You can scroll back through the day and see when motion was detected, even if it didn't trigger a full recording, giving you a much more complete picture of what happened.
To use this, you will need:
- A compatible Aqara camera (e.g., Camera Hub G3, G2H Pro).
- A HomeKit Hub.
- An iCloud+ plan with sufficient storage.
This integration transforms your event-based Aqara camera into a much more powerful monitoring tool, providing a smart, secure, and efficient way to keep an eye on your home.