In this article, we will guide you through setting up a recording schedule for your battery-powered cameras. You'll learn how to configure both motion and continuous recording settings. This article is organized into the following sections:

1. Before You Start

2. How to Configure Recording Schedules for Battery-powered Cameras

1. Before You Start

Before configuring recordings, first determine whether your battery-powered camera supports Smart Detection, as the setup method differs between camera types.

Check Whether Your Camera Supports Smart Detection

Battery-powered cameras use different methods to configure recordings depending on whether they support Smart Detection. Follow Which Camera Supports Smart Detection to confirm if your camera supports Smart Detection.

Camera Types How to Configure Recordings Available Recording Types
Supports Smart Detection Configure a recording schedule for Motion Recording or Continuous Recording. Motion Recording
*Continuous Recording
Does Not Support Smart Detection Simply turn on Camera Recording to record motion-triggered events. No recording schedule is required. Camera Recording

Note: Continuous Recording is Only available for Altas Series, Argus MagiCam (Wired Power Mode Only), Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) (Wired Power Mode Only), and Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus Series.

If you're interested in the difference and compatibility between Motion Recording and Continuous Recording, refer to Introduction to Alarm Recording and Timer Recording to learn about it.

Prepare a microSD Card

Insert a compatible microSD card into the camera before configuring recordings. Recordings can only be saved after a microSD card is installed. Refer to How to Choose microSD Card for Reolink Device to choose an appropriate microSD card. 

If you haven't installed one yet, refer to How to Install a microSD Card for Reolink Cameras.

2. Configure Recording Schedules for Battery-powered Cameras

If your camera supports Smart Detection, configure the recording schedule based on the recording type you want to use. If your camera does not support Smart Detection, simply enable Camera Recording to start recording motion events.

Choose the section below that matches your camera.

  • Battery-powered Cameras with Smart Detection
  • Battery-powered Cameras without Smart Detection

Battery-powered Cameras with Smart Detection

These cameras support recording schedule settings, and you need to configure the appropriate recording schedule.

*Part 1: Motion Recording Settings

Please refer to the article below to ensure that you have set up motion detection correctly:

How to Set up Motion Detection for Reolink Battery-powered Cameras with Smart Detection

  • Via Reolink App

    Step 1. Log in to the camera and go to Device Setting > Camera Recording.

    Via Reolink App  Camera Recording

    Step 2. Enable Camera Recording and then tap Motion Recording Schedule.
    Step 2.

    Step 3. Tap Detection Type to select the detection types you want to enable. Tap Save to apply the settings.
    Note: Detection Type is different for some models. Please refer to the actual interface on your device, as it may vary.
    tap detection type   select detection type

    Step 4. Tap the icon icon to edit the times by swiping the schedule grid. If you want to remove a scheduled period, tap icon icon and then swipe the schedule grids. Blue grids indicate the periods when motion recording is enabled. White grids indicate recording is disabled for the selected time period.

    (Optional) Select All / Erase All: Tap Select All to fill the entire schedule with the selected recording mode. Tap Erase All to remove all scheduled recordings.

    Tap Save to apply the settings.
    paint/earase

  • Via Reolink Client

    Step 1. Log in to the camera and go to Device Settings > Surveillance > Record.

    Step 1

    Step 2. Make sure the Enable Record button is turned on, and then click Schedule.
    Step 2

    Step 3. Select the Detection Type you want the camera to record when motion is detected.
    Note: Detection Type is different for some models. Please refer to the actual interface on your device, as it may vary.
    Step 3

    Step 4. Select Enable/Disable and click and drag across the timetable to select the recording period (One grid is for an hour). Blue grids indicate periods when recording is enabled. Gray grids indicate periods when recording is disabled. 

    (Optional) Enable All / Disable All: Tap Select All to fill the entire schedule with the selected recording mode. Tap Erase All to remove all scheduled recordings.

    Click Save if you finish setting up.
    Step 4

  • Via Reolink NVR (New UI)

    Step 1. Click the gear icon to get to the Settings page. Go to Surveillance > Enable Record > Daily Schedule. Click Enable Record to activate the record function.
    Note: 
    1. Depending on the NVR version, the Settings button may be located at either the top or the bottom of the interface.
    2. This Record button controls all cameras connected to your NVR. If disabled (in grey), the cameras will stop recording, regardless of their schedule configurations.

    record daily schedule

    Step 2. Select the camera and enable its record button. Click Alarm and select the detection types you want to enable. Then, click Enable to choose the recording times on the timetable, or select Disable to set periods when you don’t want the camera to record.

    Altas Alarm schedule

    Step 3. (Optional) Tap Apply to Other Cameras to share the same recording schedule.
    Apply to Other Cameras


 

*Part 2: Continuous Recording Settings

For cameras that support continuous recording, the interface may be slightly different. Please click the software you use for further instructions.

  • Via Reolink App

    Step 1. Launch your Reolink App and log in to your camera, then go to Device settings > Camera Recording.

    Via Reolink App  Altas settings page

    Step 2. Enable Camera Recording and then tap Continuous  Recording Schedule.
    Step 2 Continuous

    Step 3. Tap the icon icon in the bottom-left corner to swipe over the time slots (One grid is for an hour) you want to schedule. If you want to remove a scheduled period, tap icon icon and then swipe the schedule grids. Blue grids indicate the periods when motion recording is enabled. White grids indicate recording is disabled for the selected time period.

    (Optional) Select All / Erase All: Tap Select All to fill the entire schedule with the selected recording mode. Tap Erase All to remove all scheduled recordings.

    Click Save if you finish setting up.
    camera recording time schedule   timer schedule on

  • Via Reolink Client

    Step 1. Log in to the camera and go to Device Settings > Surveillance > Record.
    Via Reolink Client

    Step 2. Make sure the Enable Record button is turned on, and then click Schedule.
    Enable Record

    Step 3. Click Continuous, then select Enable/Disable and click and drag across the timetable to select the recording period (One grid is for an hour). Blue grids indicate periods when recording is enabled. Gray grids indicate periods when recording is disabled.
    (Optional) Select All / Erase All: Tap Select All to fill the entire schedule with the selected recording mode. Tap Erase All to remove all scheduled recordings.
    Click Save if you finish setting up.
    Continuous

    Step 4. (Optional) Smart Battery Mode: When Smart Battery Mode is enabled, the camera automatically adjusts Continuous Recording based on the current battery level to extend battery life. Smart Battery Mode divides the battery level into three ranges. As the battery level decreases, the camera automatically switches Continuous Recording from Full Frame Rate to Low Frame Rate, and finally Disable. You can adjust the battery level thresholds based on your recording and battery life requirements.

    Smart Battery Mode

  • Via Reolink NVR (New UI)

    Step 1. Click the gear icon to get to the Settings page. Go to Surveillance > Enable Record > Daily Schedule. Click Enable Record to activate the record function.
    Note: 
    1. Depending on the NVR version, the Settings button may be located at either the top or the bottom of the interface.
    2. This Record button controls all cameras connected to your NVR. If disabled (in grey), the cameras will stop recording, regardless of their schedule configurations.

    record daily schedule

    Step 2. Select the camera and enable its record button. Click Timer, then click Enable to choose the recording times on the timetable, or select Disable to set periods when you don’t want the camera to record.
    Altas Timer schedule

    Step 3. (Optional) Tap Apply to Other Cameras to share the same recording schedule.
    Apply to Other Cameras

Battery-powered Cameras without Smart Detection

Please refer to the article below to ensure that you have set up PIR detection correctly:

How to Set up the PIR Settings for Reolink Battery-powered Cameras.

Note: These cameras do not have a record schedule setting. Simply enable the Record button and ensure that the PIR settings are correctly configured.

  • Via Reolink App

    Step 1. Launch your Reolink App, and go to Device settings page of your camera.

    Via Reolink App

    Step 2. Tap Camera Recording and then toggle Camera Recording button to turn it on (blue).

    ARGUS CAMERA RECORDING  Camera Recording

  • Via Reolink Client

    Step 1. Launch your Reolink Client and go to Device Settings > Surveillance > Record page, and then toggle Enable Record button to turn it on (blue).

    Argus second record

After setting the recording schedule, recordings will be saved to the camera's microSD card or the HDD in the NVR/Home Hub Pro. Recordings may not be available immediately. Wait until the camera has recorded according to the configured schedule—for example, after a motion or smart detection event for Motion Recording, or after a short recording period for Continuous Recording. Then go to the Playback page on different Reolink platforms, select the date, and click the timeline to verify and play back the recordings. Refer to How to Playback Recordings via Reolink Client (New Client).

3. Related Articles

Reolink NVR Not Recording

Reolink Camera Not Recording to SD Card

Reolink Camera Playback Not Working

SD Card Format Failed on Reolink Device

How to Set up Post-Motion Recording for Reolink Cameras

How to Enable or Disable microSD Card/HDD Overwrite on Reolink Devices

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