Troubleshooting Why Your SimpliSafe Camera Isn't Recording
A SimpliSafe camera is a great tool for monitoring your home, but its value is diminished if it fails to record critical events. If you've found that your camera is only showing a live feed but not saving any video clips, this guide will help you identify and fix the problem. The cause is most often related to your subscription plan or a simple setting within the app.
Unlike some other brands, SimpliSafe's recording functionality is tied directly to a paid monitoring or recording plan. Without the correct plan, your camera will not store any video footage from motion events or alarms.
### Step 1: Verify Your Subscription Plan
This is the most important first step and the most common reason for a lack of recordings.
- Understand SimpliSafe Plans: SimpliSafe offers several tiers of service. The most basic plans (and the free, unmonitored option) do not include cloud storage for video recordings. They only allow you to live-stream footage from your camera.
- Check Your Current Plan: To see which plan you have, log in to your account on the official SimpliSafe website (not just the app). Navigate to the 'Monitoring' or 'Subscription' section.
- Confirm Recording is Included: Your plan details will show a list of included features. You must be on a plan that explicitly states it includes 'Unlimited Camera Recording' or a similar feature. If your plan does not include this, the camera will not record. You will need to upgrade your subscription to enable this feature.
## Step 2: Check the Camera's Hardware and Settings
Once you've confirmed you have the correct subscription, the next step is to check the settings for the specific camera that isn't recording.
### The Privacy Shutter
SimpliSafe indoor cameras are equipped with a physical privacy shutter that covers the lens and microphone. When this shutter is closed, the camera is physically unable to see or record anything.
- Check the Status: In the SimpliSafe app, go to the camera's settings. There will be an option to set the privacy shutter to 'Open' or 'Closed'.
- Listen for the Click: When you change the shutter's status in the app, you should hear an audible 'click' from the camera itself as the mechanical shutter moves.
- Set the Mode: You can configure the shutter to be open or closed based on the system's status (e.g., open in 'Away' mode, closed in 'Home' or 'Off' mode). Ensure it is set to 'Open' for the modes in which you want it to record.
### Motion Detection Settings
If the camera isn't detecting motion, it won't be triggered to record.
- Enable Motion Detection: In the app, navigate to
Cameras, tap the gear icon next to the camera in question, and selectMotion Detection. Make sure the feature is toggled on. - Adjust Sensitivity: You can set the sensitivity to 'Low', 'Medium', or 'High'. If no events are being recorded, the setting may be too low for the environment. Try setting it to 'Medium' or 'High' as a test.
- Check for Obstructions: Ensure there is nothing physically blocking the camera's view or its motion sensor.
## Step 3: General Troubleshooting
If your plan is correct and your settings seem right, here are a few final things to check.
- Wi-Fi Connection: While you may be able to live-stream on a weak connection, uploading a recorded clip requires a more stable one. In the camera settings, check the Wi-Fi signal strength. If it's poor, try moving the camera closer to your router.
- Reboot the Camera: A simple power cycle can often resolve temporary glitches. Unplug the camera from the power source, wait for 30 seconds, and then plug it back in.
- Update the App and Firmware: Make sure you have the latest version of the SimpliSafe app from your phone's app store. Camera firmware updates are typically pushed automatically, but ensuring your app is up-to-date is always good practice.
By checking your subscription first, then the camera's specific settings, you can easily solve the vast majority of recording issues with the SimpliSafe system.