How to Fix a Yi Home Camera That Is Not Recording
Your Yi Home Camera is designed to capture important moments, whether for security or memories. When it fails to record, it can be a major cause for concern. This problem can usually be traced back to either local storage (the microSD card) or cloud storage settings.
This troubleshooting guide will walk you through all the potential causes and provide clear solutions to get your Yi camera recording reliably again.
## Understanding Why Your Yi Camera Isn't Recording
There are two primary ways a Yi camera records footage: onto a local microSD card or to the Kami Cloud service. The problem will almost certainly lie with one of these.
Common causes include:
- MicroSD Card Issues: The card could be full, corrupted, unformatted, or incompatible.
- Cloud Subscription Problems: Your subscription may have expired, or it might not be correctly configured for the camera.
- Incorrect Settings: Motion detection settings may be turned off, sensitivity might be too low, or a recording schedule could be preventing it from activating.
- Camera Status: The camera might be powered off or in a 'sleep' mode.
Step-by-Step Guide to Resolve Yi Recording Failures
Let's start with the most common issues related to the microSD card.
### Step 1: Troubleshoot the MicroSD Card
For most users, local storage is the primary recording method.
- Check SD Card Status: Open the Yi Home app, select your camera, and go to Settings > Storage Settings. The app should show the status of the SD card, including its total capacity and remaining space. If it says "No SD Card" or shows an error, there's a physical issue.
- Re-insert the Card: Power off your camera, carefully eject the microSD card, and then re-insert it firmly. Power the camera back on and check the status again. This can fix a poor connection.
- Format the SD Card: This is a crucial step. Formatting erases the card and sets it up specifically for the camera, which can resolve file corruption. In the Storage Settings menu, tap Format SD Card. Warning: This will delete all existing footage on the card.
- Verify Card Compatibility: Yi cameras require a Class 10 microSD card (the speed rating). Ensure your card is from a reputable brand like SanDisk or Samsung. Low-quality or counterfeit cards are a major cause of recording failures.
### Step 2: Verify Your Kami Cloud Subscription
If you rely on cloud recording, check your account status.
- Log into Your Account: Go to the Yi Home app or website and check your subscription status. Ensure it hasn't expired.
- Assign Camera to Plan: Make sure your cloud plan is correctly assigned to the specific camera you're having trouble with. Sometimes a plan can be active on your account but not linked to any device.
- Check Cloud Recording Settings: In the camera's settings, ensure that the toggle for recording to the cloud is enabled.
### Step 3: Review Motion Detection and Recording Settings
Your camera will only record if it's told to do so.
- Check Camera Power: In the app, ensure the main toggle switch for the camera is turned On. If it's off, the camera is in sleep mode and will not record.
- Motion Detection: Go to Settings > Smart Detection. Make sure "Motion Detection" is enabled.
- Sensitivity Level: If the sensitivity is set to "Low," the camera may not pick up subtle movements. Try increasing it to "Medium" or "High" as a test.
- Activity Zone: If you have configured an activity zone, ensure it covers the area where you expect to see motion. Any movement outside this zone will be ignored.
- Recording Schedule: Check if you have set up a schedule that turns the camera or notifications off during certain times of the day.
### Step 4: Update and Restart
Finally, ensure everything is up-to-date.
- Update Firmware: In the camera's settings, check for a "Firmware Update" option. Keeping the camera's software current can fix known bugs.
- Update the App: Go to your phone's app store and make sure you have the latest version of the Yi Home app.
- Restart the Camera: A simple unplug and replug of the camera can often resolve temporary glitches.
By methodically checking your storage, settings, and software, you can quickly diagnose why your Yi camera is not recording and restore its functionality.