Yi Camera Not Recording 24/7? Here’s Why.
A key feature many users look for in a security camera is the ability to record continuously, 24/7. This ensures that you have a complete timeline of events, with no gaps between motion-triggered clips. While Yi Home cameras are capable of this, the feature, often called Continuous Video Recording (CVR), isn't always enabled by default and has specific requirements. If you've discovered that your Yi camera is only saving short clips or not recording at all, this guide will explain why and show you how to set up 24/7 recording correctly.
Understanding Yi's Recording Methods
It's important to know that Yi cameras have two primary ways of storing video, and they work differently.
1. Motion-Triggered Alerts (Cloud/SD Card)
This is the default setting for most Yi cameras. The camera's sensor looks for motion. When it detects movement, it records a short video clip (typically 6 seconds to a few minutes long) and sends you a notification. These clips can be saved to the Yi Cloud (if you have a subscription) or to a local microSD card. This method saves storage space and battery life but can miss events that happen before or after the main motion.
2. Continuous 24/7 Recording (SD Card Only)
This method records everything the camera sees, without interruption. The footage is saved directly to a microSD card installed in the camera. When the card is full, the camera automatically overwrites the oldest footage to make room for the new, a process known as loop recording. This is the only way to achieve true 24/7 recording.
Requirements for Enabling 24/7 Continuous Recording
If you have no 24/7 recording, it's almost certainly because one of these requirements has not been met.
A Compatible MicroSD Card is Essential
You must have a microSD card physically installed in the camera to enable continuous recording. The camera cannot record 24/7 footage to the cloud.
- Card Type: Use a high-quality, Class 10 microSD card.
- Capacity: A capacity of 32GB to 128GB is recommended. A 32GB card will typically hold 3-4 days of continuous footage before it begins to loop record.
- Formatting: The card must be formatted correctly, which can be done directly through the Yi Home app.
The Feature Must Be Enabled in the App
Simply inserting an SD card is not enough. You have to go into the camera's settings and explicitly tell it to record continuously.
How to Set Up and Enable 24/7 Recording
Follow these steps to get your camera recording around the clock.
Step 1: Insert and Format the MicroSD Card
- Power Off: Unplug your Yi camera before inserting or removing the SD card.
- Insert the Card: Locate the microSD card slot on your camera (the location varies by model) and gently push the card in until it clicks into place.
- Power On: Plug the camera back in and wait for it to boot up.
- Format the Card:
- Open the Yi Home app and select your camera.
- Go to Settings (the gear icon).
- Tap on 'Storage' or 'MicroSD Card'.
- You should see the card's capacity listed. Tap the 'Format SD Card' button. This will erase everything on the card and prepare it for use with the camera.
Step 2: Enable Continuous Recording
- Stay in Settings: After formatting, stay within the camera's settings menu.
- Find Recording Mode: Look for a setting called 'Recording Mode', 'Continuous Recording', or a simple toggle switch for '24/7 Recording'.
- Enable It: Select the continuous recording option.
Step 3: Viewing Your 24/7 Footage
Once enabled, you can view the continuous footage directly from the app.
- On the live view screen for your camera, you will see a timeline below the video feed.
- You can scroll back and forth along this timeline to review any point in the day. Motion events are often highlighted in a different colour (like orange) on the timeline for easy navigation.
By ensuring you have a properly formatted SD card and the correct setting enabled in the app, you can easily activate the 24/7 recording feature on your Yi camera and maintain a complete video history.