Understanding Recording on Your Canary Camera: No 24/7 Option Explained
If you're a new Canary camera owner, you might be searching for the 24/7 recording option and wondering why you can't find it. This is a common point of confusion, and the answer lies in how Canary structures its services and subscription plans. Unlike some other security camera brands, Canary does not offer 24/7 Continuous Video Recording (CVR) on its free or basic plans.
Instead, the standard functionality is based on motion-activated recording. This guide will explain how Canary's recording system works, what the different subscription tiers offer, and what your options are if you require a constant video feed.
Motion-Activated Recording vs. 24/7 CVR
It's important to understand the fundamental difference between these two recording methods.
### Motion-Activated Recording (The Standard Canary Feature)
This is the default mode for all Canary cameras. In this mode, the camera is always "watching," but it only saves a video clip when its sensors detect motion.
- How it works: When movement is detected, the camera records a short video clip of the event.
- Video History: Your timeline in the Canary app is a series of these individual clips. There will be gaps in your timeline between these recorded events.
- Benefits: This method uses significantly less bandwidth and storage space. It also makes it easier to find important events without scrubbing through hours of empty footage.
- Dependence on Subscription: The length of the recorded clips and how long they are stored in the cloud (your video history) depends entirely on your subscription plan. Free plans may only offer 24 hours of history, while premium plans extend this to 30 days.
### 24/7 Continuous Video Recording (CVR) (A Premium Feature)
CVR means the camera is recording and saving video footage nonstop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- How it works: The camera constantly streams video to the cloud, so you have an uninterrupted record of everything that happened.
- Video History: Your timeline is a continuous, unbroken line that you can scroll back through at any time.
- Benefits: You can review footage from any moment, even if motion wasn't detected. This is useful for capturing events that might not have triggered an alert, or for seeing what happened just before or after a motion event.
- Requirement: On the Canary platform, 24/7 CVR is only available to users who subscribe to the Canary Premium Service.
How to Check Your Plan and Upgrade
If you want to have 24/7 recording, you will need to upgrade your subscription.
- Check Your Current Plan: Open the Canary app and navigate to the main menu. Look for an option related to your Subscription or Membership. This will show you your current service level and its included features.
- Explore Premium Features: In the same section, you should find an option to Upgrade or Compare Plans. This will provide details on the different tiers available, clearly stating which ones include 24/7 CVR.
- Subscribe: If you decide to proceed, you can upgrade your plan directly through the app or by logging into your account on the Canary website. Once your new plan is active, the 24/7 recording feature will be enabled for your compatible devices.
Is it worth it? The decision to upgrade depends on your security needs. For general monitoring, motion-activated clips are often sufficient. However, for business use, high-security areas, or simply for complete peace of mind, the uninterrupted timeline provided by 24/7 CVR can be invaluable.