Wyze cameras provide an incredibly affordable yet full-featured home security camera option. Their cameras include capabilities like motion tagging, color night vision, and free 14-day cloud storage of event clips. However, one question that often arises is whether Wyze cameras can record video continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Unfortunately, out of the box, standard Wyze cameras do not support continuous nonstop recording. They are designed around motion-triggered recording to conserve bandwidth and storage costs.
However, some workarounds use additional software and hardware add-ons to achieve continuous recording with Wyze cameras. Let’s take an in-depth look at both the limitations and solutions for enabling 24/7 continuous recording using these popular budget-friendly security cameras.
Why Continuous Recording Isn’t Supported in Wyze Cams?
There are a few technical and financial reasons why current Wyze camera models only record video when motion is detected rather than recording continuously:
- Cloud storage costs – Storing continuous 24/7 footage would require massive amounts of cloud server storage, which is much more expensive than storing only motion event clips. Wyze’s free plan provides 12-second motion clips to minimize storage needs.
- Bandwidth limitations – Streaming high-definition video 24/7 generates enormous amounts of data. Most standard home internet plans can’t support more than 1-2 continuous HD video streams without performance issues. Keep in mind that recording a single Wyze camera in HD at 15 frames per second uses approximately 4-5 Mbps of upload bandwidth per camera.
- Power consumption – Recording nonstop consumes significantly more power, requiring the cameras to be plugged in constantly rather than operating wirelessly on battery power.
- Product design philosophy – Wyze aims to provide an easy-to-use monitoring solution at ultra-low cost with no monthly fees. Continuous recording doesn’t fit well with that goal and budget-conscious approach.
The limitations largely come down to the technical and financial challenges of handling the massive storage, bandwidth, and power demands of continuous recording at scale across millions of users.
Workaround Solutions for 24/7 Recording on Wyze Cam
While nonstop recording isn’t built into Wyze cameras, users who are technically inclined have found some DIY solutions using third-party software and hardware add-ons:
Using a Network Video Recorder (NVR)
A dedicated NVR device can continuously record the RTSP stream from Wyze cameras like a DVR. Many NVR systems like Blue Iris, ZoneMinder, and Shinobi support ingesting feeds from Wyze cams.
What’s the best NVR software for Wyze?
Blue Iris and ZoneMinder have good reputations in the Wyze community for supporting continuous recording. There are also standalone NVR devices that work with Wyze.
Using an External MicroSD Card
Some users have modified Wyze cameras to bypass onboard recording limits and enable continuous recording directly to a large external microSD card inserted into the camera’s USB port. This requires opening the camera housing.
Can I record continuously to the microSD card in the Wyze camera?
No, standard Wyze cameras limit onboard microSD recording to motion events only, not continuous. You would have to modify the camera physically to override this.
Using Recording Software
Home security camera software like Xeoma, SecuritySpy, and iSpy can continuously capture and record Wyze camera RTSP streams like a webcam feed. This works when a desktop computer is on and running the recording software.
Building a Custom Raspberry Pi Recording Solution
For a more advanced DIY approach, some users leverage Raspberry Pi mini-computers and custom Linux scripts to record Wyze feeds. This requires networking and Linux expertise.
As you can see, continuous 24/7 recording with Wyze cams is possible with the right additional software and equipment. But it involves some technical know-how and effort.
Tips for Reliable 24/7 Wyze Recording
If you want to pursue one of the continuous recording solutions above, keep these tips in mind for reliable performance:
- Verify your home internet plan provides enough upstream bandwidth to support 1-2 continuous HD video streams. For 1-2 HD Wyze camera streams, you’ll want an upload speed of at least 15-20 Mbps consistently to avoid issues or buffering.
- Use wired PoE Wyze cameras rather than WiFi models for continuous recording for best results. This provides the most robust connectivity.
- Carefully adjust motion detection zones and sensitivity settings to reduce bogus motion triggers that generate useless footage.
- Use high-capacity, high-endurance SD cards or hard drives to store the recorded 24/7 video footage locally long-term.
- Periodically review and archive any important footage, then delete older footage so your local storage doesn’t fill up.
- Understand the initial equipment costs, setup steps, and ongoing monthly fees associated with third-party recording tools.
- Be prepared to troubleshoot inevitable technical issues with complex DIY recording solutions.
Recording 24/7 with Wyze cams takes effort but can certainly be achieved with the right gear and software!
Can I record continuous 1440p or 4K video with Wyze?
No, only 1080p HD resolution is supported currently. Higher resolutions require much more bandwidth and local storage capacity.
Conclusion
Wyze cameras are intentionally designed for motion-triggered recording to keep costs low. Technically inclined users can achieve continuous 24/7 recording through additional software tools and hardware like NVRs, external SD storage, and Raspberry Pis. Just know that continuous operation requires much more bandwidth, storage, setup complexity, and troubleshooting than normal Wyze camera usage. But, the options are there for users who want 24/7 surveillance with these affordable cameras.
