Answers · guide reviewed 2026-09-29 · updated 2026-10-04
Do security cameras work without internet?
Some keep recording. Of the 8 camera configurations we reviewed against official documentation, 6 (TP-Link Tapo and Reolink models) can keep recording to their microSD card while the internet is down, with conditions; none of them sends phone alerts or allows remote viewing until the connection returns. Wyze's documents don't establish ordinary recording offline. Cameras that store video only in the cloud save nothing new without internet: Ring and Google Nest have no card you can record to. Reviewed 2026-09-29.
By the How Many Cameras editorial team · Manufacturer specifications and planning estimates; not hands-on product tests.
Internet down: what each reviewed camera still does
| Camera | New recording | Playback on home Wi-Fi | Remote view | Phone alerts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tapo C120 (US) | Yes, with conditions | Yes, with conditions | No | No |
| Tapo C425 KIT (US) | Yes, with conditions | Yes, with conditions | No | No |
| Tapo C120 (CA) | Yes, with conditions | Yes, with conditions | No | No |
| Argus 4 Pro (US) | Yes, with conditions | Yes, with conditions | No | No |
| Altas PT Ultra (US) | Yes, with conditions | Yes, with conditions | No | No |
| E1 Outdoor Pro (US) | Yes, with conditions | Yes, with conditions | No | No |
| Wyze Cam v4 (US) | Not verified | Not verified | No | No |
| Battery Cam Pro (US) | Not verified | Not verified | No | No |
"With conditions" means the maker documents local recording to the camera's card while the home network stays up; the conditions are listed in each camera's details below. This is a review of official documentation, not an outage test.
Compare cameras that record locallyWired and PoE cameras
What needs the internet, and what doesn't
- Saving video: a camera with a microSD card, a hub or a recorder can record without internet; a cloud-only camera can't.
- Watching saved clips at home: usually works over your home Wi-Fi while the router is on.
- Remote viewing and phone alerts: need the internet connection, whatever the storage.
- Setup: Wi-Fi cameras need the network and the maker's app to set up; plan for that before an outage.
Recording and access during an outage
Internet loss, a disconnected router and loss of mains power are different failures. The matrix below covers 8 exact regional configurations. It separates official guidance from dependency inferences; it is not a hardware outage test or a battery-runtime promise.
Tapo C120 and the reviewed Reolink camera-card routes can retain local recording with internet down; local App playback also needs the home network. Wyze's cited offline procedure describes scheduled timelapse, so ordinary event or continuous footage remains unverified here. A subscription cannot by itself restore a missing network or power path.
Tapo C120 · plug-in · US
Regional Tapo FAQ explicitly lists Tapo C120. Camera-card route only.
- Complete setup and enable the intended microSD recording mode before the outage. Use a working compatible card; check the exact firmware and settings.
- These are documentation reviews and labelled dependency inferences, not outage tests. Power cycling, recovery timing, saved-clip corruption and deferred alert delivery are not established.
Internet down · Wi-Fi stays on
The camera and router stay powered and connected locally; the home internet connection is down. No cellular failover.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Conditional.The phone and camera must remain on the same functioning home network. Previously configured microSD footage is available through local playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Wi-Fi/router down · camera powered
The camera stays powered, but has no local network connection. No direct-access or alternate network is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Household power out · no backup
Mains-powered cameras and the router lose power. Battery cameras have charge remaining. No UPS, generator or backup internet is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
Reviewed 2026-09-29. Sources: Installation Q10; Other Questions Q6 (without Internet); monitoring power requirement; Applies to list. Exact model power supply and local storage specification.
Tapo C425 KIT · solar-kit · US
Regional Tapo FAQ explicitly lists Tapo C425 KIT. Camera-card route only.
- Complete setup and enable the intended microSD recording mode before the outage. Use a working compatible card; check the exact firmware and settings.
- These are documentation reviews and labelled dependency inferences, not outage tests. Power cycling, recovery timing, saved-clip corruption and deferred alert delivery are not established.
- Remaining battery charge is assumed; no backup runtime or sustained solar output is promised. Recording mode remains model-specific, not automatically 24/7 video.
Internet down · Wi-Fi stays on
The camera and router stay powered and connected locally; the home internet connection is down. No cellular failover.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Conditional.The phone and camera must remain on the same functioning home network. Previously configured microSD footage is available through local playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Wi-Fi/router down · camera powered
The camera stays powered, but has no local network connection. No direct-access or alternate network is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Household power out · no backup
Mains-powered cameras and the router lose power. Battery cameras have charge remaining. No UPS, generator or backup internet is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Remaining battery power plus the documented no-network microSD route can preserve configured recording. Runtime and restart behavior are not verified.Dependency inference.Official sourceOfficial source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Reviewed 2026-09-29. Sources: Installation Q10; Other Questions Q6 (without Internet); monitoring power requirement; Applies to list. Exact model power supply and local storage specification.
Tapo C120 · plug-in · CA
Regional Tapo FAQ explicitly lists Tapo C120. Camera-card route only.
- Complete setup and enable the intended microSD recording mode before the outage. Use a working compatible card; check the exact firmware and settings.
- These are documentation reviews and labelled dependency inferences, not outage tests. Power cycling, recovery timing, saved-clip corruption and deferred alert delivery are not established.
Internet down · Wi-Fi stays on
The camera and router stay powered and connected locally; the home internet connection is down. No cellular failover.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Conditional.The phone and camera must remain on the same functioning home network. Previously configured microSD footage is available through local playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Wi-Fi/router down · camera powered
The camera stays powered, but has no local network connection. No direct-access or alternate network is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Household power out · no backup
Mains-powered cameras and the router lose power. Battery cameras have charge remaining. No UPS, generator or backup internet is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
Reviewed 2026-09-29. Sources: Installation Q10; Other Questions Q6 (without Internet); monitoring power requirement; Applies to list. Exact model power supply and local storage specification.
Argus 4 Pro · solar-kit · US
Reolink category-level support guidance applied to this battery-powered Wi-Fi model. Camera-card route only; no hub or NVR assumption.
- Complete setup and enable the intended microSD recording mode before the outage. Use a working compatible card; check the exact firmware and settings.
- These are documentation reviews and labelled dependency inferences, not outage tests. Power cycling, recovery timing, saved-clip corruption and deferred alert delivery are not established.
- Remaining battery charge is assumed; no backup runtime or sustained solar output is promised. Recording mode remains model-specific, not automatically 24/7 video.
Internet down · Wi-Fi stays on
The camera and router stay powered and connected locally; the home internet connection is down. No cellular failover.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Conditional.The phone and camera must remain on the same functioning home network. Previously configured microSD footage is available through local playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Wi-Fi/router down · camera powered
The camera stays powered, but has no local network connection. No direct-access or alternate network is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Household power out · no backup
Mains-powered cameras and the router lose power. Battery cameras have charge remaining. No UPS, generator or backup internet is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Remaining battery power plus the documented no-network microSD route can preserve configured recording. Runtime and restart behavior are not verified.Dependency inference.Official sourceOfficial source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Reviewed 2026-09-29. Sources: Battery-powered WiFi camera function table and initial activation note. Exact model power supply and local storage specification.
Altas PT Ultra · battery · US
Reolink category-level support guidance applied to this battery-powered Wi-Fi model. Camera-card route only; no hub or NVR assumption.
- Complete setup and enable the intended microSD recording mode before the outage. Use a working compatible card; check the exact firmware and settings.
- These are documentation reviews and labelled dependency inferences, not outage tests. Power cycling, recovery timing, saved-clip corruption and deferred alert delivery are not established.
- Remaining battery charge is assumed; no backup runtime or sustained solar output is promised. Recording mode remains model-specific, not automatically 24/7 video.
Internet down · Wi-Fi stays on
The camera and router stay powered and connected locally; the home internet connection is down. No cellular failover.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Conditional.The phone and camera must remain on the same functioning home network. Previously configured microSD footage is available through local playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Wi-Fi/router down · camera powered
The camera stays powered, but has no local network connection. No direct-access or alternate network is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Household power out · no backup
Mains-powered cameras and the router lose power. Battery cameras have charge remaining. No UPS, generator or backup internet is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Remaining battery power plus the documented no-network microSD route can preserve configured recording. Runtime and restart behavior are not verified.Dependency inference.Official sourceOfficial source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Reviewed 2026-09-29. Sources: Battery-powered WiFi camera function table and initial activation note. Exact model power supply and local storage specification.
E1 Outdoor Pro · plug-in · US
Reolink category-level support guidance applied to this powered Wi-Fi model. Camera-card route only; no hub or NVR assumption.
- Complete setup and enable the intended microSD recording mode before the outage. Use a working compatible card; check the exact firmware and settings.
- These are documentation reviews and labelled dependency inferences, not outage tests. Power cycling, recovery timing, saved-clip corruption and deferred alert delivery are not established.
Internet down · Wi-Fi stays on
The camera and router stay powered and connected locally; the home internet connection is down. No cellular failover.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Conditional.The phone and camera must remain on the same functioning home network. Previously configured microSD footage is available through local playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Wi-Fi/router down · camera powered
The camera stays powered, but has no local network connection. No direct-access or alternate network is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Conditional.Previously configured microSD recording can continue while the camera stays powered. This does not add a recording mode the model does not support.Official documentation.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Official documentation.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Official documentation.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Official documentation.Official source |
Household power out · no backup
Mains-powered cameras and the router lose power. Battery cameras have charge remaining. No UPS, generator or backup internet is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
Reviewed 2026-09-29. Sources: Non-battery WiFi camera function table; applicability excludes battery models. Exact model power supply and local storage specification.
Wyze Cam v4 · plug-in · US
Wyze lists this model for offline scheduled recording, but the linked procedure describes timelapse. Ordinary event/continuous outage recording is not established here.
- Complete setup and enable the intended microSD recording mode before the outage. Use a working compatible card; check the exact firmware and settings.
- These are documentation reviews and labelled dependency inferences, not outage tests. Power cycling, recovery timing, saved-clip corruption and deferred alert delivery are not established.
Internet down · Wi-Fi stays on
The camera and router stay powered and connected locally; the home internet connection is down. No cellular failover.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Not verified.The official offline procedure establishes scheduled timelapse, not ordinary event or continuous footage. Do not treat those as equivalent.Official documentation.Official sourceOfficial source |
| App playback on home network | Not verified.Local-only app playback without internet is not established for this model by the reviewed sources.Not established. |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Dependency inference.Official source |
Wi-Fi/router down · camera powered
The camera stays powered, but has no local network connection. No direct-access or alternate network is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Not verified.The official offline procedure establishes scheduled timelapse, not ordinary event or continuous footage. Do not treat those as equivalent.Official documentation.Official sourceOfficial source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Dependency inference.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Dependency inference.Official source |
Household power out · no backup
Mains-powered cameras and the router lose power. Battery cameras have charge remaining. No UPS, generator or backup internet is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.This mains-powered camera has no operating power under the stated no-backup scenario. Stored footage is not the same as new recording or active access.Dependency inference.Official source |
Reviewed 2026-09-29. Sources: Supported models and scheduled-recording requirement. Exact model power supply and local storage specification. Offline scheduled recording is described as Timelapse; must be configured online.
Battery Cam Pro · battery · US
Wyze lists this model for offline scheduled recording, but the linked procedure describes timelapse. Ordinary event/continuous outage recording is not established here.
- Complete setup and enable the intended microSD recording mode before the outage. Use a working compatible card; check the exact firmware and settings.
- These are documentation reviews and labelled dependency inferences, not outage tests. Power cycling, recovery timing, saved-clip corruption and deferred alert delivery are not established.
- Remaining battery charge is assumed; no backup runtime or sustained solar output is promised. Recording mode remains model-specific, not automatically 24/7 video.
Internet down · Wi-Fi stays on
The camera and router stay powered and connected locally; the home internet connection is down. No cellular failover.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Not verified.The official offline procedure establishes scheduled timelapse, not ordinary event or continuous footage. Do not treat those as equivalent.Official documentation.Official sourceOfficial source |
| App playback on home network | Not verified.Local-only app playback without internet is not established for this model by the reviewed sources.Not established. |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Dependency inference.Official source |
Wi-Fi/router down · camera powered
The camera stays powered, but has no local network connection. No direct-access or alternate network is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Not verified.The official offline procedure establishes scheduled timelapse, not ordinary event or continuous footage. Do not treat those as equivalent.Official documentation.Official sourceOfficial source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Dependency inference.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Dependency inference.Official source |
Household power out · no backup
Mains-powered cameras and the router lose power. Battery cameras have charge remaining. No UPS, generator or backup internet is assumed.
| Function | Status and conditions |
|---|---|
| New event / continuous footage | Not verified.The official offline procedure establishes scheduled timelapse, not ordinary event or continuous footage. Do not treat those as equivalent.Official documentation.Official sourceOfficial source |
| App playback on home network | Unavailable.No camera-to-phone network path remains. Removing a card for a computer is separate from app playback.Dependency inference.Official source |
| Remote camera access | Unavailable.The camera has no working internet path in this scenario. Existing cloud clips are a separate service; their availability is not assessed.Dependency inference.Official source |
| New phone push alerts | Unavailable.New camera events cannot deliver phone push alerts over the missing network path; delayed delivery after recovery is not established.Dependency inference.Official source |
Reviewed 2026-09-29. Sources: Supported models and scheduled-recording requirement. Exact model power supply and local storage specification. Offline scheduled recording is described as Timelapse; must be configured online.
Before relying on a system, verify its installed behavior after setup: disconnect only the internet, then the camera's network connection, and separately assess loss of its normal power source. Check for new recordings and replay access after each change. Previously saved cloud clips, card-reader recovery, safe shutdown and recovery after reboot are separate questions.
Related questions
Do security cameras need Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi cameras need Wi-Fi for setup, live view and alerts. Recording is a separate question: cameras with a microSD card or a local hub can record without internet, PoE cameras wired to a recorder don't use Wi-Fi at all, and cellular (LTE) cameras use a mobile data plan instead.
Do Ring cameras work without internet?
No new recordings. Ring stores video only in the cloud, except Ring Edge on a Ring Alarm Pro, which needs a Ring Pro plan. Without internet you lose live view and alerts too.
Do Google Nest cameras work without internet?
Google says current Nest cameras can hold up to about an hour of events in internal memory while offline and upload them when the connection returns; that memory isn't accessible to you, and live view and alerts stop until the internet is back.
Will my camera record during a power outage?
Mains-powered cameras and the router stop. A battery camera with a card may keep recording locally, but alerts and remote access need the router and internet. See the power scenario for each reviewed model below.
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Sources & checks
- Tapo C120 (US): Installation Q10; Other Questions Q6 (without Internet); monitoring power requirement; Applies to list
- Tapo C120 (CA): Installation Q10; Other Questions Q6 (without Internet); monitoring power requirement; Applies to list
- Argus 4 Pro (US): Battery-powered WiFi camera function table and initial activation note
- E1 Outdoor Pro (US): Non-battery WiFi camera function table; applicability excludes battery models
- Wyze Cam v4 (US): Supported models and scheduled-recording requirement
- Google Nest: what happens when a camera loses its connection
- Ring: recording requires a subscription
Guide checked 2026-09-29. Product prices and specifications have their own checked dates on each model page.