Honeywell Camera Not Recording 24/7? Let's Fix It
One of the most powerful features of a Honeywell security camera is its ability to provide Continuous Video Recording (CVR), giving you an uninterrupted record of events. When this feature stops working, you're left with gaps in your timeline, which can compromise your security.
If your camera is only saving motion-triggered clips instead of recording around the clock, this guide will help you diagnose and solve the problem. The cause is usually related to your subscription plan, SD card, or a simple settings misconfiguration.
Signs Your 24/7 Recording Isn't Working
You can identify the issue by observing the following symptoms:
- Your video history timeline in the Honeywell Home app has obvious gaps between motion events.
- The option to enable 24/7 recording is greyed out or missing from the camera's settings.
- Despite being plugged in, the camera only saves short clips, similar to a battery-powered device.
- You receive a notification that the SD card has an error or that CVR is disabled.
How to Enable and Troubleshoot Honeywell 24/7 CVR
Follow these steps to ensure your camera is set up correctly for continuous recording.
1. Verify Your Subscription Plan
This is the most common reason for CVR not being available. Honeywell often ties this premium feature to specific subscription tiers.
- Log In Online: Open a web browser and log in to your Honeywell Home account.
- Check Your Plan: Navigate to the 'My Account' or 'Billing' section. Carefully review the features included in your current plan. Look for terms like "Continuous Video Recording," "24/7 Recording," or "CVR."
- Upgrade if Necessary: If your plan only mentions event-based recording or cloud clips, you will need to upgrade to a higher tier to unlock the 24/7 recording feature.
2. Check the Local Storage (SD Card)
CVR relies on a local MicroSD card to store the continuous stream of footage.
- Ensure Card is Installed: Physically check that a MicroSD card is properly inserted into your Honeywell camera.
- Use the Right Type of Card: For continuous recording, a high-endurance MicroSD card is critical. These cards are specifically designed to handle constant writing. A standard SD card will fail quickly. Look for cards rated Class 10 or with a V30 symbol.
- Format the SD Card: Errors on the card can stop the recording process. In the Honeywell Home app, go to your camera's settings, find the storage or SD card menu, and use the 'Format' or 'Erase' option. This will delete all footage but can resolve underlying file system issues.
3. Configure Settings in the Honeywell Home App
Once you've confirmed your subscription and SD card are correct, you need to enable the feature in the app.
- Open the Honeywell Home app and select the camera you want to configure.
- Tap the gear icon to enter the camera's settings.
- Look for a menu named 'Recording' or 'Video Management'.
- Inside this menu, you should see an option to choose between 'Events Only' and 'Continuous 24/7'.
- Select 'Continuous 24/7' and save your changes.
If this option is visible but you can't select it, it points back to a problem with your subscription plan or the SD card.
4. Power Cycle and Update
If the settings appear correct but CVR is still not working, try these final steps.
- Reboot the Camera: Unplug the camera from its power source. Wait for 60 seconds before plugging it back in. This simple reboot can clear temporary software glitches.
- Check for Firmware Updates: In the camera's settings menu, look for an 'About' or 'Device Info' section. Check if a firmware update is available and install it to ensure your camera is running the latest, most stable software.
By methodically checking these four areas, you can almost always resolve issues with Honeywell's 24/7 recording feature and restore your complete video history.