Experiencing Limited Features on Your Wyze Camera? Here's What to Do.
Wyze cameras are renowned for offering a rich set of features at an affordable price. However, it can be confusing when you expect certain functionalities, like extended cloud recording or person detection, and they don't seem to be available. This guide, presented in British English, will help you understand why you might be seeing limited features and how to unlock the full potential of your Wyze camera.
Most issues with missing features are related to one of three things: your subscription status, the camera's firmware and settings, or the Wyze app itself.
## Part 1: Check Your Wyze Service Subscription
The most common reason for features being "locked" is the distinction between Wyze's free and paid service tiers.
- Wyze Free Service: This includes live streaming, basic motion and sound alerts, and the ability to save clips to a local microSD card (sold separately). It used to include 12-second cloud-stored event clips, but this has been transitioned to Cam Plus Lite for most users.
- Cam Plus Lite: This is a "name your price" tier (including £0) that allows you to continue saving 12-second clips to the cloud. You must opt-in and assign this service to your cameras.
- Cam Plus: This is the premium paid subscription. It unlocks the most sought-after features, including:
- Complete motion capture: The camera records for the entire duration of the motion, not just 12 seconds.
- AI Detections: Alerts for People, Packages, Pets, and Vehicles.
- No "cooldown" period between recordings.
How to Troubleshoot Subscription Issues:
- Verify Your Subscription: Open the Wyze app, tap on the Account tab, and then select Services. Here you will see your active subscriptions (e.g., Cam Plus).
- Assign the Service: This is the most critical step. Having a subscription isn't enough; you must assign it to a specific camera. In the Services menu, tap on Cam Plus and ensure your camera is selected from the list. If it's unassigned, the premium features will not be active on it.
- Check Billing: Ensure your subscription payment is up to date. A lapsed payment will revert your camera to the basic service tier.
## Part 2: Optimise Camera and App Settings
If your subscription is active and correctly assigned, the next place to look is within the settings.
- Update Firmware: An outdated firmware can cause features to disappear or malfunction. In the Wyze app, go to your camera's settings > Device Info > Firmware Version and check for an update.
- Enable Event Recording: Go to your camera's settings > Event Recording. Make sure the main toggle for Detects Motion is turned on. This is required for any cloud recording to function.
- Configure Smart Detection: Within the Event Recording menu, go to Smart Detection. Here, you can toggle on the specific AI alerts you want to receive (Person, Pet, etc.). If these are off, you won't get the enhanced notifications, even with Cam Plus.
- Check the microSD Card: If you are having trouble with "Playback" or continuous recording, ensure you have a compatible, healthy microSD card inserted into the camera. Go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Manage MicroSD Card to see if it's recognised and functioning.
## Part 3: Refresh the Wyze App
Sometimes, the app itself can have a temporary glitch, showing incorrect information.
- Force Close and Reopen: The simplest step is to fully close the Wyze app on your phone and then launch it again. This often forces a refresh of your account and device status.
- Clear the App Cache: If a simple restart doesn't work, try clearing the app's cache.
- On Android: Go to your phone's Settings > Apps > Wyze > Storage > Clear Cache.
- On iOS: The simplest way is to offload the app (Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Wyze > Offload App) and then reinstall it.
- Log Out and Log Back In: In the Wyze app, go to the Account tab and sign out, then sign back in. This will re-authenticate your session and may restore the correct feature set.
By methodically checking your service plan, ensuring your camera settings are correctly configured, and refreshing the app, you can resolve most cases of limited features on your Wyze camera and start enjoying its full capabilities.