Which doorbells keep recording when the internet goes down?.
Some models keep writing to a powered microSD card while phone alerts and remote viewing disappear. Only include model-documented offline capture here.
Research reviewed 2026-11-01 where specified; older model source records carry their own review dates. US market.
Start with the hardware requirement.
Some models keep writing to a powered microSD card while phone alerts and remote viewing disappear. Only include model-documented offline capture here.
| Documented model | Without a subscription | Offline capture |
|---|---|---|
| Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi | Reolink documents 24/7 microSD/NVR recording and person detection without internet; phone alerts and remote view stop offline. | Documented |
| Reolink Video Doorbell PoE | Reolink documents offline motion/person detection and local SD recording, with no mobile push or remote live view offline. | Documented |
| Wyze Video Doorbell v2 | A microSD card enables local 24/7 recordings; Wyze explicitly documents continued recording without Wi-Fi. | Documented |
Manufacturers may change firmware, subscriptions and feature policies. No physical failure, subscription-expiry, vendor-shutdown or router-unplug test has been performed by BuyOnce.
Practical details that change the choice.
Which doorbell records during an internet outage?
The Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi and PoE and Wyze Video Doorbell v2 have manufacturer documentation supporting locally saved clips under specified conditions.
Will push alerts work if internet fails?
Reolink explicitly says mobile push alerts and remote viewing stop when internet is unavailable.