Do Security Cameras Record During an Internet Outage?
Some do, some do not. The deciding factor is where the recording destination lives.
| Storage method | During an internet outage |
|---|---|
| microSD | Usually keeps recording if the camera stays powered |
| NVR | Usually keeps recording if the LAN stays powered |
| Local hub | Often continues, model-dependent |
| Cloud-only | New uploads stop |
Internet outage is not power outage
If broadband fails but cameras, router, switch and recorder still have electricity, a local system can keep working. If power fails too, the system needs battery power or a UPS.
What usually disappears first
Remote notifications, remote live view and cloud history are the first casualties. Local AI may continue; cloud-processed detection will not. Some apps also depend on vendor authentication even for local playback.
Test your own system
Keep power on, disconnect the WAN connection, create an event, then confirm after several minutes that the event exists locally. This simple test tells you more than vague “works offline” marketing.
Bottom line
For resilience, store footage locally and treat cloud connectivity as an additional communications layer. Related: cameras that work without internet.