Are You Missing Critical Wyze Camera Recordings?
The primary purpose of a security camera is to capture important moments, so discovering that your Wyze camera has missed a recording is more than just an inconvenience—it's a failure of your security. Whether it's a delivery being dropped off or a more serious event, missing footage is a problem that needs to be solved.
This guide will help you diagnose why your Wyze camera is missing recordings and provide clear, step-by-step solutions to ensure it reliably captures the events you need to see.
Understanding Wyze Recording: Cloud vs. SD Card
It's crucial to know that Wyze uses two parallel recording systems, and the problem could lie with either one.
- Cloud Events: These are the short clips (or full-length videos with Cam Plus) that appear in the "Events" tab of the app. They are triggered by motion or sound.
- microSD Card Recording: This is continuous or event-only recording saved directly to the card in your camera. You access this by tapping the "Playback" button from the live stream view.
If you're missing footage in one place, always check the other to help narrow down the problem.
Troubleshooting Steps for Missed Recordings
Let's get your camera recording reliably again.
1. Check Your Event Recording and Detection Settings
Your camera needs to be told what to look for. Incorrect settings are a common cause of missed events.
- Enable Event Recording: Go to your camera's settings > "Event Recording." Ensure that "Detects Motion" is toggled on.
- Adjust Sensitivity: In settings > "Detection Settings," you'll find a sensitivity slider. If it's too low, the camera may ignore genuine motion. Try increasing it slightly.
- Define the Detection Zone: Use the "Detection Zone" feature to outline the specific area where you want to monitor for motion. Make sure it accurately covers the area of interest and isn't accidentally excluding it.
2. Address the Cooldown Period
For users without a Cam Plus subscription, Wyze cameras have a 5-minute cooldown period between cloud event recordings. This means if motion is detected at 10:00 AM, the camera will not record another cloud event until 10:05 AM, regardless of what happens in between.
- Solution 1: Use a microSD Card: Set the camera to record continuously to a microSD card. The cooldown period does not affect local recording, so the footage will be on the card.
- Solution 2: Subscribe to Cam Plus: Cam Plus eliminates the cooldown period and records the entire motion event to the cloud.
3. Troubleshoot Your microSD Card
A faulty, full, or incompatible microSD card is a primary suspect for issues with "Playback."
- Use a Reputable Card: Always use a high-endurance, Class 10 microSD card from a trusted brand (like SanDisk or Samsung) specifically designed for security cameras.
- Reformat the Card: In the Wyze app, go to the camera's "Advanced Settings" > "Local Storage" and select "Format." This will erase the card and resolve any file system errors.
- Test a Different Card: If formatting doesn't work, the card itself may have failed. Try a new or different card to see if the issue is resolved.
4. Ensure a Strong Wi-Fi Connection
A weak or intermittent Wi-Fi signal can prevent your camera from successfully uploading event clips to the cloud.
- Check Signal Strength: In the camera's "Device Info," check the Wi-Fi signal strength. If it's low (one or two bars), the camera may be struggling to stay connected.
- Move Your Router: If possible, move your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera, or consider a Wi-Fi extender to improve the signal in that area.
By methodically checking your settings, understanding the cooldown period, and ensuring your hardware is working correctly, you can fix the vast majority of missed recording issues with your Wyze camera.