Is Your Xiaomi Camera Failing to Record Continuously?
While event-based recording is useful, continuous 24/7 recording provides a complete, uninterrupted timeline of activity, ensuring you never miss a moment. If you've set up your Xiaomi camera for this purpose but find it's only saving short clips or not recording at all, it can be a major gap in your security coverage.
This troubleshooting guide is designed to help you identify and solve the common problems that prevent continuous video recording (CVR) on Xiaomi security cameras.
## Why Continuous Recording Might Not Be Working
The ability to record continuously is almost entirely dependent on having a reliable local storage solution. Here are the most common reasons the feature fails:
- No microSD Card: The camera has nowhere to save the continuous footage.
- Incompatible or Faulty microSD Card: The card may be too slow, corrupted, fake, or not formatted correctly.
- Incorrect App Settings: The camera may be set to only record when motion is detected.
- Insufficient Power: A weak or unstable power supply can cause the camera to reboot or fail to write to the SD card.
- Outdated Firmware: A software bug could be interfering with the recording process.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Enable 24/7 Recording
Follow these instructions to get your camera recording around the clock.
### 1. Install a Suitable microSD Card
This is the most critical requirement.
- Choose the Right Card: You must use a genuine microSD card from a reputable brand (like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston). For smooth video recording, it needs to be Class 10, U1, or U3. This speed rating is printed directly on the card.
- Check Capacity: A 32GB card will store a few days of continuous footage, while a 64GB or 128GB card will store significantly more. Check your camera model's maximum supported capacity.
- Insert Correctly: Power off your camera before inserting or removing the microSD card to prevent corruption. Ensure it clicks securely into place.
### 2. Format the microSD Card Using the Mi Home App
Once the card is inserted, it must be formatted by the camera itself. This ensures it's in the correct file format (FAT32) and is ready for use.
- Power on your camera and open the Mi Home app.
- Select your camera from the device list.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner to open Settings.
- Navigate to "Storage settings" or "Manage storage".
- You should see the microSD card's status and capacity.
- Select the "Format SD card" option. You will be warned that this will erase all data on the card. Proceed with the formatting.
### 3. Configure Recording Settings in the App
Now, you need to tell the camera to record continuously.
- In the camera's Settings, go to "Home surveillance settings" or a similar menu.
- Look for the recording mode. You will likely see two options:
- Record only when motion is detected.
- Record continuously.
- Ensure you have selected "Record continuously" or "24/7 recording".
- Save your settings.
### 4. Ensure a Stable Power Supply
Continuous recording is a demanding task.
- Always use the original power adapter and cable that came with your Xiaomi camera.
- Using a lower-amperage phone charger or a very long, thin USB cable may not provide enough stable power, leading to recording failures.
### 5. Check for Firmware Updates
A software glitch could be the culprit.
- In the camera's Settings, find the "Firmware update" option.
- If a new version is available, proceed with the update. This can often resolve unforeseen operational issues.
After following these steps, go to the camera's live view and open the playback timeline. You should now see a solid, unbroken bar indicating that the camera is recording continuously to your microSD card.