If your Wyze Video Doorbell has stopped recording video, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common issues users face, but fortunately, most cases can be resolved with some straightforward troubleshooting steps.
Table of Contents
Common Causes and Solutions
1. Check Your Cam Plus Subscription Status
Wyze doorbells require a Cam Plus subscription for continuous video recording and enhanced features. Without an active subscription, your doorbell will only capture 12-second event clips with a 5-minute cooldown period between recordings.
Solution: Open the Wyze app, navigate to Account > Services, and verify your Cam Plus subscription is active and assigned to your doorbell.
2. Verify Event Recording Settings
Sometimes recording settings get accidentally disabled or misconfigured.
Solution:
- Open the Wyze app and select your doorbell
- Tap the settings gear icon
- Go to Event Recording and ensure it’s turned ON
- Check that “Detects Motion” and “Detects Person” are enabled
- Verify your Detection Zone settings aren’t too restrictive
3. Check Your Internet Connection
Poor Wi-Fi connectivity is a leading cause of recording failures. Your doorbell needs a stable connection to upload video clips to the cloud.
Solution:
- Check your Wi-Fi signal strength in the doorbell settings
- Move your router closer or add a Wi-Fi extender if signal is weak
- Restart your router and modem
- Ensure your internet speed meets Wyze’s requirements (at least 1-2 Mbps upload speed)
4. Storage Issues
If you’re using an SD card for local storage, it may be full, corrupted, or improperly formatted.
Solution:
- Remove and reinsert the SD card
- Format the SD card through the Wyze app (this will erase all data)
- Try a different SD card (use a Class 10 card, 32GB maximum)
- Check cloud storage capacity if applicable
5. Power Problems
Insufficient power can cause recording issues, especially if your doorbell is wired to an existing chime.
Solution:
- Ensure your transformer provides 16-24V AC and at least 10VA of power
- Check all wiring connections are secure
- If battery-powered, charge the battery to 100%
- Consider upgrading your transformer if voltage is borderline
6. Firmware and App Updates
Outdated firmware or app versions can cause compatibility issues and bugs.
Solution:
- Open the Wyze app and check for doorbell firmware updates in Device Settings > Device Info
- Update the Wyze app to the latest version from your app store
- Allow updates to install completely before testing
7. Detection Sensitivity Settings
If sensitivity is set too low, your doorbell might not detect events to record.
Solution:
- Go to Event Recording settings
- Increase Motion Sensitivity (try setting it to 80-100)
- Adjust Person Detection sensitivity if available
- Test different settings to find the optimal balance
8. Cooldown Period Limitations
Without Cam Plus, there’s a mandatory 5-minute cooldown between recorded events.
Solution: Upgrade to Cam Plus for continuous recording without cooldown periods, or understand that this is a limitation of the free tier.
Advanced Troubleshooting
If basic solutions don’t work, try these additional steps:
Restart the Doorbell: Remove it from power for 10 seconds, then reconnect. For battery models, remove and reinsert the battery.
Delete and Re-add the Device: Remove the doorbell from your Wyze app and set it up again from scratch. This often resolves software glitches.
Check for Interference: Other wireless devices, metal surfaces, or thick walls can interfere with Wi-Fi signals.
Review Activity Zones: Ensure your detection zones actually cover the areas where motion occurs.
Factory Reset: As a last resort, perform a factory reset by holding the setup button for 10-20 seconds until you hear a voice prompt.
When to Contact Support
If you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and your doorbell still won’t record, you may have a hardware defect. Contact Wyze support through the app or at support.wyze.com. Be prepared to provide:
- Your doorbell’s MAC address
- Firmware version
- Detailed description of the issue
- Steps you’ve already taken
Prevention Tips
To minimize future recording issues:
- Keep firmware updated regularly
- Maintain strong Wi-Fi coverage in the doorbell area
- Clean the camera lens periodically
- Monitor your subscription status
- Use high-quality SD cards for local storage
Most Wyze Doorbell recording issues stem from connectivity, power, or configuration problems rather than hardware failures. By systematically working through these solutions, you should be able to restore your doorbell’s recording functionality and enjoy reliable home monitoring once again.