Some Reolink cameras and NVRs support two primary recording schedule types: Alarm Recording and  Timer Recording. Understanding the differences between these modes will help you choose the right recording strategy for your surveillance needs and optimize your storage usage.

Table of Contents

1. What is Alarm Recording and Timer Recording on Reolink Cameras

2. What Reolink Models are Supported

3. How to Set Up Reolink Alarm Recording and Timer Recording

What is Alarm Recording and Timer Recording on Reolink Cameras

  Alarm Recording Timer Recording
Also known as
(on some Reolink platforms) 		Motion Recording or
Event Triggered Recording 		Continuous Recording
How it works Records only when motion or a smart detection event is detected. Records continuously without stopping.
Missed events May miss events outside detection range or tiny unrecognized movements. None — captures everything.
Storage consumption Low — only event-triggered clips are saved. High — fills storage quickly.
Best for Locations where event-based monitoring is sufficient. Areas requiring full documentation (entry points, cash registers, etc.).
Can combine with Alarm? Yes Yes

After choosing a recording schedule, recordings need to be saved to a storage device. Reolink devices support several storage methods, and this article focuses on the following local storage options:

  • microSD Card
  • Reolink NVR
  • Reolink Home Hub

What Reolink Models are Supported

The available recording schedule types vary depending on your camera type and supported features. Some cameras support both motion and continuous recording, while others support only motion recording. 

In the table below, refer to the Reolink Standalone Camera section if your camera is used independently. If your camera is connected to a Reolink NVR or Home Hub, refer to the corresponding Reolink NVR Series or Reolink Home Hub Series sections.

Device Model Continuous Recording Motion Record-ing Supported Detection Types Storage Path Configura-tion Method
Reolink Stand-alone Camera Battery-powered Cameras Argus MagiCam (Wired Power Mode Only),

Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) (Wired Power Mode Only),

Reolink Altas series,

TrackMix LTE Plus,
TrackMix LTE Plus 2 		Yes Other,
Person,
Vehicle,
Pet/Animal,
Visitor Message,
Ring,
Package 		MicroSD card Reolink App,
Reolnk Client
PoE& plug-in Cameras All cameras except cameras with hardware version IPC_3816 Any motion,
Person,
Vehicle,
Pet/Animal,
Visitor Message,
Ring,
Package 		Reolink App,
Reolink Client,
Reolink Web Browser
Reolink NVR Series Depends on camera Depends on camera HDD Reolink App,
Reolink Client,
Reolink NVRs,
Reolink Web Browser
Reolink Home Hub Series Depends on camera Depends on camera MicroSD card/
HDD 		Reolink App,
Reolink Client

Condition Explanations: 

  1.  For Motion Recording Schedule, cameras and NVRs that support smart detection allow you to customize the motion recording schedule for different detection types, depending on the cameras and NVRs, such as Person, Vehicle, Pet/Animal, and Package. Follow Which Camera Supports Smart Detection and Which NVR Supports Smart Detection to check the smart detection compatibility.
  • PoE & Plug-in cameras and NVRs without smart detection: You can still configure Motion Recording Schedule and Continuous Recording Schedule, but Detection Type settings are unavailable. 
  • Battery-powered cameras without smart detection: Recording schedules are not configurable. Simply enable Camera Recording to record motion-triggered events.
  1. In the Supported Detection Types section, if you choose Any Motion in Motion Recording Schedule, the camera will only detect general motions, and you won’t be able to see recordings of Persons, Vehicles, Pets/Animals, or other specific events during playback.

How to Set Up Reolink Alarm Recording and Timer Recording

If you would like to configure Alarm Recording or Timer Recording, refer to How to Set Up Record Schedule for Reolink Cameras. That article provides detailed setup instructions, while this guide focuses on explaining the differences, advantages, and recommended use cases of each recording mode.

Note: On NVRs and the Reolink Client, the schedule interface uses Alarm and Timer as tab names. On the Reolink App, you'll see Continuous Recording Schedule and Motion Recording Schedule instead. These refer to the same modes.
 

Timer Recording and Alarm Recording serve different purposes. For many users, combining continuous recording with event detection provides the best balance between comprehensive monitoring and efficient playback management. Choose Timer Recording when you need complete video coverage and do not want to miss any activity. Choose Alarm Recording when you want to save storage space and focus on important events.

Related Articles

Introduction to Pre-Motion Record

How to Set up Record Schedule for Reolink Battery-powered Cameras

Reolink NVR Not Recording

Reolink Camera Playback Not Working

SD Card Format Failed on Reolink Device

If you have any questions, click “Submit a request” below to contact the Reolink Support Team.