Nest Camera Missed Recordings? Here’s How to Fix It

Why Is My Nest Camera Missing Recordings? A Troubleshooting Guide

One of the most critical features of a Nest camera is its ability to record events, providing you with a reliable history of what's happened at your property. It can be incredibly concerning and frustrating when you discover your Nest camera has missed recordings, leaving you with gaps in your security timeline precisely when you need it most.

This guide is designed to help you diagnose the root cause of these missing events and provide actionable solutions to ensure your camera captures everything it's supposed to.

## Common Causes for Gaps in Your Nest Timeline

Missed recordings are rarely due to a fault in the camera itself. More often, the issue lies with the connection, settings, or your subscription plan.

• Wi-Fi Disconnections: The most common culprit. If your camera briefly loses its connection to your Wi-Fi network, it cannot upload footage to the cloud, resulting in a gap in your timeline.
• Power Outages: Even a momentary power cut will cause the camera to turn off and stop recording until power is restored and it reconnects.
• Subscription Issues: A lapsed Nest Aware subscription or a problem with your payment can revert your camera to only showing event snapshots, not full video clips.
• Incorrect Motion Detection Settings: If motion sensitivity is too low or your Activity Zones are not configured correctly, the camera may not be triggered by events you consider important.
• Camera Downtime for Updates: Occasionally, your camera may briefly go offline to perform an automatic firmware update.

## Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Missed Recordings

Let's work through the troubleshooting process to pinpoint and fix the problem.

### 1. Check Your Nest Aware Subscription

First, confirm that your subscription is active and provides the level of history you expect.

• Verify Subscription Status: Go to the Google Store or Nest website and log into your account. Check your subscriptions to ensure your Nest Aware plan is active and associated with the correct home/camera.
• Understand Your Plan: Remember that without a Nest Aware subscription, you only get event snapshots for the last 3 hours. A Nest Aware subscription provides 30 days of event video history, while Nest Aware Plus offers 60 days of event history and 10 days of 24/7 video history. Ensure your expectations match your plan's features.

### 2. Analyse and Improve Your Wi-Fi Network

A stable connection is paramount for continuous recording.

• Check Signal Strength: In the Google Home or Nest app, go to your camera's settings and look for the Device information or Technical info section. Here you can usually see the Wi-Fi signal strength. If it's weak, the camera is likely to disconnect.
• Move Your Router: Try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera, or vice versa. Even a few feet can make a significant difference.
• Invest in a Wi-Fi Extender: If moving the router isn't feasible, a Wi-Fi mesh system or a simple Wi-Fi extender can boost the signal in the area where your camera is located.
• Restart Your Network: Unplug your router and modem for 60 seconds, then plug them back in. This can resolve many underlying connectivity issues.

### 3. Review and Optimise Camera Settings

Your camera's settings determine what it records.

• Adjust Motion Sensitivity: In the camera's settings, find the Events or Motion detection section. If you're missing events, try increasing the sensitivity.
• Refine Activity Zones: Ensure your Activity Zones cover all areas of interest. If a person walks outside a defined zone, the camera may not record it (unless you have notifications for all motion turned on). Check that you haven't accidentally excluded a critical area like a pathway or gate.
• Check Camera Power Settings: For battery-powered cameras, ensure the power-saving settings aren't too aggressive, as this can delay the start of a recording.

### 4. Inspect for Power Issues

• Check Power Source: For wired cameras, ensure the power adapter is securely plugged in at both ends and the outlet is working.
• Charge Batteries: For battery-powered models (like the Nest Cam Battery), make sure the battery is sufficiently charged. A critically low battery will stop the camera from recording.

By thoroughly checking your subscription, strengthening your Wi-Fi, and fine-tuning your camera's settings, you can eliminate the frustrating gaps in your timeline and restore your confidence in your Nest security system.