How to Set up Continuous Recording on SD card, Reolink NVR and Home Hub

Continuous recording allows your cameras to keep recording during the specific times you set, ensuring that nothing is missed within that timeframe. This article will guide you through setting up continuous recording for Reolink devices across different platforms.

Applies to: Which Reolink Cameras Support Continuous Recording

This article will be introduced to you in four parts:

1. Understanding the Continuous Recording Schedule and Supported Reolink Devices

2. Before You Start Setting Up

3. Step-By-Step Instructions for Setting up Recording Schedule

4. Storage Management

1. Understanding the Continuous Recording Schedule and Supported Reolink Devices

Continuous Recording (also called Timer Recording on some Reolink platforms) records video 24/7 instead of only when motion is detected. It is ideal for locations where uninterrupted recording is required, such as stores, warehouses, or entrances. Then, you can replay the footage directly on the Reolink software without needing to rely on other software.

Continuous Recording is supported on most Reolink PoE and plug-in cameras, as well as some battery-powered cameras. If Continuous Recording is not available on your camera, your camera may not support continuous recording. For detailed compatibility information about Continuous Recording, refer to Introduction to Alarm Recording and Timer Recording.

2. Before You Start Setting Up

Before configuring a recording schedule, read the following notes:

1. To set up the recording schedule smoothly, make sure the microSD card or HDD is installed inside the Reolink camera, NVR, or Home Hub, and that it has sufficient available storage space.

2. If your camera is added to Reolink NVR or Home Hub, click the camera settings that you need to set up camera recording.

3. Regardless of your settings, the Reolink platforms will always show the alarm recording schedule first when you enter the Schedule page. This does not affect your schedule settings. An alarm recording schedule records only when triggered by motion, while a Continuous schedule records continuously.

4. If your camera does not support smart detection, the Continuous option is available only when a microSD card is installed. If you don't see this option, install a microSD card and check the settings again.

3. Step-By-Step Instructions for Setting up Recording Schedule

Follow the steps below to set up continuous recording for your camera via different platforms. Click the links below to jump to the relevant section.

Via Reolink App

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

Step 2. Enable Camera Recording and then set the Continuous recording schedule. This step will be divided into 2 parts — For cameras with smart detection and For cameras without smart detection. Select one part that matches your camera.

Part 1. For cameras with smart detection:

▶ The following are the same whether your camera is used as a standalone device or added to an NVR or Home Hub.

❶ Set Continuous Recording Schedule: Tap Continuous Recording Schedule and then tap the 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 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.
❷ (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.
❸ Click Save if you finish setting up.

Part 2. For cameras without smart detection:

▶ If your camera is running as a standalone or added to the Reolink NVR,
❶ Tap the icon in the lower-left corner, and then tap Continuous Recording. Tap and drag across the timetable to select the recording period (One grid is for an hour). If you want to remove a scheduled period, tap icon and then swipe the schedule grids. Orange grids indicate the selected continuous recording period. White grids indicate recording is disabled for the selected time period.
❷ (Optional) Select All / Erase All: Tap Select All to fill the entire schedule with the continuous recording. This means the camera will record continuously at all times. Alternatively, click Erase All to remove all scheduled recordings and prevent the camera from recording continuously.
❸ Tap Save if you finish setting up.

▶ If you add your camera to the Home Hub series, it won't support continuous recording, and you can only set an Event Triggered Recording schedule.
Via Reolink Client

Step 1. Launch Reolink Client, log in to your camera, and go to Camera Settings > Surveillance > Record page. Then enable Record first.

Step 2. Click Schedule to enter the recording schedule(s) page.

Step 3. Set the Continuous recording schedule and Time based on your needs. This step will be divided into 2 parts — For cameras with smart detection and For cameras without smart detection. Select one part that matches your camera.

Part 1. For cameras with smart detection:

▶ If your camera is running as a standalone or added to Reolink Home Hub,
❶ Click Continuous (Within Schedule).
❷ 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.
❸ (Optional) Click Select All to fill the entire schedule with the selected continuous recording. This means the camera will record continuously at all times. Alternatively, tap Erase All to remove all scheduled recordings and prevent the camera from recording continuously.
❹ Click Save if you finish setting up.

▶ If your camera is added to Reolink NVR,
❶ Click Enable Record for this camera. (If it is enabled, you can disregard it.)
❷ Click Continuous (Within Schedule). And 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.
❸ (Optional) Click Enable All to fill the entire schedule with the selected continuous recording. This means the camera will record continuously at all times. Alternatively, click Disable All to remove all scheduled recordings and prevent the camera from recording continuously.
❹ (Optional) Click Apply to Other Cameras to share the same recording schedule.
❺ Click Save if you finish setting up.

Part 2. For cameras without smart detection:

▶ If your camera is running as a standalone,
❶ Click Continuous, then click and drag across the timetable to select the recording period (One grid is for an hour). Orange grids indicate the selected continuous recording period. Gray grids indicate recording is disabled.
❷ Click Save if you finish setting up.

▶ If your camera is added to Reolink NVR,
❶ Click Enable Record for this camera.
❷ Click Continuous (Within Schedule). And then select Enable/Disable, 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.
❸ (Optional) Click Enable All to fill the entire schedule with the selected continuous recording. This means the camera will record continuously at all times. Alternatively, click Disable All to remove all scheduled recordings and prevent the camera from recording continuously.
❹ (Optional) Click Apply to Other Cameras to share the same recording schedule.
❺ Click Save if you finish setting up.

▶ If you add your camera to the Home Hub series, it won't support continuous recording, and you can only set an Event Triggered Recording schedule.
Via Reolink Web browser

Applies to: All Reolink cameras with a microSD card slot (excluding battery-powered cameras, Reolink Lumus, Reolink E1, and Reolink E1 Pro).

Step 1. Log in to the camera via a web browser. Click the gear icon on the top right to get to the device settings page. Click Surveillance > Record. Turn on Enable Record.
Note: The Reolink Web Browser currently does not support the setup of the Reolink Home Hub; it only allows for live viewing and playback. It is recommended to use the Reolink App or Reolink Client for setup.

Step 2. Set the Continuous recording schedule. This step will be divided into 2 parts — For cameras with smart detection and For cameras without smart detection. Select one part that matches your camera.

Part 1. For cameras with smart detection

▶ If your camera is running as a standalone,
❶ Click Timer. Then select Enable/Disable, 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.
❷ (Optional) Click icon to Enable All — fill the entire schedule with the selected continuous recording. This means the camera will record continuously at all times. Alternatively, click icon to Disable All — remove all scheduled recordings and prevent the camera from recording continuously.
❸ Click Save if you finish setting up.

▶ If your camera is added to Reolink NVR,
❶ Select the camera you want to set up and then click Enable Record to activate the recording function of this camera.
❷ Click Timer and select Enable/Disable, then 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.
❸ (Optional) Click icon to Enable All — fill the entire schedule with the selected continuous recording. This means the camera will record continuously at all times. Alternatively, click icon to Disable All — remove all scheduled recordings and prevent the camera from recording continuously.
❹ (Optional) Click Apply to Other Cameras to share the same recording schedule.
❺ Click Save if you finish setting up.

Part 2. For cameras without smart detection

▶ If your camera is running as a standalone,
❶ Turn on Enable Record and click Timer.
❷ Click and drag across the timetable to select the recording period (One grid is for an hour). Orange grids indicate the selected continuous recording period. Gray grids indicate recording is disabled.
❸ Click the Save button in the bottom right corner if you finish setting up.

▶ If your camera is added to Reolink NVR,
❶ Select the camera you want to set up and then click Enable Record to activate the recording function of this camera.
❷ Click Timer and select Enable/Disable, then 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.
❸ (Optional) Click icon to Enable All — fill the entire schedule with the selected continuous recording. This means the camera will record continuously at all times. Alternatively, click icon to Disable All — remove all scheduled recordings and prevent the camera from recording continuously.
❹ (Optional) Click Apply to Other Cameras to share the same recording schedule.
❺ Click Save if you finish setting up.
Via Reolink NVR (New UI)

Applies to: RLN8-410 (hardware version H3MB18/N2MB02/N3MB01/N7MB01/NVR_NNT3NA78P), RLN16-410 (hardware version H3MB18/N6MB01/NVR_NNT4NA716P), RLN36, RLN12W, NVS8, NVS12W, NVS16, NVS36, RP-PN8, RP-PN16.

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.

Step 2. Select the camera you want to set and click Enable Record for this camera. Click Timer. Then, 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.

Step 3. (Optional) Tap Apply to Other Cameras to share the same recording schedule.
Via Reolink NVR (Old UI)

Applies to: RLN4-410, RLN8-410 (hardware version H3MB02/H3MB16), and RLN16-410 (hardware version H3MB02/H3MB06).

Step 1. Log in to your Reolink NVR on a monitor and click the Menu icon to enter the main menu page.Step 2. Go to Recording > Schedule. Select a camera channel, tick Enable, then click Normal. Click and drag to select grids to customize the time frame you want for continuous recording. Click Apply to save your settings.

For example, the settings in the picture below mean that the camera will record continuously from 20:00 to 12:00 the next day, every day of the week, and only record motion events from 12:00 to 20:00 each day.

You may also click on Copy To to save the schedule settings for other cameras.

After setting the schedule, you can check whether the camera has started recording on the Playback page, as configured. Select a date and tap on a time on the timeline to view the recording. Please wait a moment after configuration, as it takes a while for the camera to package the recordings. You may not see the recording immediately after configuration. Refer to How to Playback Recordings Saved to NVR HDD to playback the recordings correctly and Introduction to Packing Time of microSD card/HDD recordings to learn more about the packaging strategy.

4. Storage Management

After setting continuous recording, there are also some considerations. Since it continuously consumes storage space, the microSD card or HDD may fill up quickly. Therefore, if you wish to extend the number of days they can store recordings, you can consider the following options:

1. Adjust the camera bitrate: How to Set up the Quality Settings via Reolink App to reduce the file size of the recordings, which can help extend the storage duration. Refer to the article below for information on the storage duration for microSD cards/HDDs:

2. Upgrade to a larger capacity microSD card or HDD to provide more storage space.

How to Set up Motion Recording Schedule for Reolink Cameras

What is Continuous Recording and Where to Save it

SD Card Can Not Detected on Reolink Device

Reolink Camera Not Recording to SD Card

Reolink Camera Not Recording to Cloud Storage

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