Is Your Xiaomi Camera Not Recording 24/7?
One of the most important features of a security camera is its ability to record footage continuously, ensuring that you have a complete timeline of events. If your Xiaomi or Mi Home camera has stopped its 24/7 recording, it can create a serious gap in your security coverage. This issue is often related to storage settings or the microSD card itself.
Don't worry, this problem is usually easy to fix. This guide will help you diagnose why your Xiaomi camera isn't recording continuously and provide clear, step-by-step instructions to re-enable 24/7 recording.
Common Symptoms of Recording Failure
If your camera's 24/7 recording isn't working, you'll likely notice one of the following issues:
- The camera is only saving short, motion-triggered clips to the SD card, not a continuous stream.
- When you view the playback timeline in the Mi Home app, there are significant gaps in the recording, or the timeline is completely empty.
- The 24/7 or continuous recording option is greyed out or seems to be missing from the camera's storage settings.
- The camera appears to record for a short while (perhaps a few hours) and then stops recording for no apparent reason, even though the SD card has plenty of free space.
- You are receiving frequent 'SD card error' or 'SD card status abnormal' notifications in the app.
- The 'Home surveillance' or 'NAS storage' feature is configured but is not saving any footage.
How to Fix Xiaomi 24/7 Recording Issues
Let's get your camera recording around the clock again. Follow these troubleshooting methods.
1. Check Your Recording Settings
The most common reason for a lack of 24/7 recording is simply that the wrong setting is selected in the app.
- Open the Mi Home App: Select the camera you want to configure.
- Go to Settings: Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and go to 'Storage settings' or 'Manage storage'.
- Select Recording Mode: You will likely see two options: 'Record only when motion is detected' and 'Continuous recording'.
- Enable Continuous Recording: Make sure 'Continuous recording' is selected. If it was on the motion-only option, this will immediately solve your problem.
2. Manage Your SD Card
The microSD card is the heart of your camera's local storage. Problems with the card are a leading cause of recording failures.
- Use a High-Quality SD Card: For continuous HD video recording, you need a reliable, high-endurance microSD card. Use a Class 10, U3, or V30 card from a reputable brand like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston. Cheap, unbranded cards are prone to failure.
- Check SD Card Status: In the 'Storage settings' menu of the app, check the status of the SD card. If it says 'Abnormal' or 'Error', the card may be corrupted, incompatible, or faulty.
- Format the SD Card: The best troubleshooting step for card-related issues is to format it using the camera itself. In the 'Storage settings', you will find a 'Format SD card' option. This will erase everything on the card and set it up with the correct file system for the camera. Remember to back up any important footage before formatting.
- Test or Replace the Card: If formatting doesn't work, remove the SD card and test it in a computer or another device. If it still doesn't work, the card has likely failed and needs to be replaced.
3. Ensure the Camera Has Power and is Updated
- Stable Power Supply: Ensure the camera is connected to a reliable power source using the original power adapter and cable. Power interruptions will, of course, stop the recording.
- Update Firmware: In the camera's settings, go to 'General settings' and check for a 'Firmware update'. Manufacturers release updates to fix bugs that can sometimes affect recording performance. Install any available updates.
4. Check Network Attached Storage (NAS) Settings
If you are trying to record 24/7 to a network storage device, the configuration is different.
- Verify NAS Connection: In the 'Manage storage' settings, go to the NAS section and ensure the camera is still properly connected to your network drive.
- Check NAS Permissions: Make sure the camera has the necessary read/write permissions for the folder it's trying to record to on your NAS.
- Restart NAS Device: A simple reboot of your NAS device can sometimes resolve connectivity issues.
By carefully checking your settings and ensuring you have a healthy SD card, you can resolve almost all 24/7 recording issues with your Xiaomi security camera.