How to Record RTSP Camera Footage in SmartRTSP

Q: Is there a maximum recording length?

Recording length is limited only by available device storage. There is no artificial time cap imposed by the app. Long recordings may be split into segments automatically to keep file sizes manageable.

Q: Can I access recordings remotely?

Recordings saved to your iPhone or iPad are accessible via the Files app or Photos app. If you have iCloud Drive enabled, files in the SmartRTSP folder can sync to iCloud and be accessible from other devices.

Overview

SmartRTSP records camera footage directly to your device — iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Recordings are stored locally in your photo library or Files app. No cloud upload, no subscription. You control your footage.

Recording Modes

Manual Recording

Tap the record button while viewing a live camera feed. Recording continues until you tap again to stop. Ideal for capturing specific moments on demand.

Motion-Triggered

Automatically starts recording when AI detects motion or a person. Saves storage by only capturing relevant events. Recordings are labelled with the trigger type.

Continuous Recording

Records all the time while monitoring is active. Uses significant storage — best paired with H.265 streams and a high-capacity device or NAS for longer retention periods.

How to Start Recording

Open a live camera view

Tap any camera in your camera list to open the live view. Ensure the stream is connected and playing before starting a recording.

Tap the record button (circle icon)

The record button is displayed in the camera controls overlay. Tap it once to begin recording. A red recording indicator will appear on screen.

Tap again to stop

Tap the record button a second time to stop recording. The file is immediately saved to your device.

Access footage in Photos or Files

Recordings are saved to your device automatically. See the section below for exact save locations on iPhone/iPad and Mac.

Where Are Recordings Saved?

iPhone & iPad

Recordings are saved to your Camera Roll in the Photos app, organised into a SmartRTSP album. You can also find them in Files app → On My iPhone → SmartRTSP.

Mac

Recordings are saved to your Documents folder → SmartRTSP Recordings. Files are named with the camera name and timestamp for easy identification.

Storage Management Tips

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Use H.265 streams. H.265/HEVC-encoded footage uses approximately 50% less storage than equivalent H.264 footage at the same quality. If your camera supports H.265, enabling it is the single most effective way to reduce storage usage.
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Use sub-stream for long recordings. Recording a sub-stream (e.g. 720p instead of 4K) drastically cuts file sizes while still capturing enough detail for most security review purposes.
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Manage recordings in Files app. Periodically review and delete old recordings in the Files app (iPhone/iPad) or Finder (Mac). SmartRTSP does not auto-delete old footage — storage management is in your hands.
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Consider NAS for extended retention. For longer retention periods (days or weeks of footage), a NAS (network-attached storage) device connected to your local network offers far more capacity than device storage alone.

Motion-Triggered Recording Setup

Motion-triggered recording combines AI detection with automatic recording so you never miss an event — and you never record hours of nothing.

Enable AI motion detection

Go to camera settings → AI Detection → enable Motion Detection (and optionally Person Detection for higher accuracy triggers).

Enable "Record on Detection"

In the Recording settings, enable the "Record on Detection" toggle. Recording will now start automatically whenever a detection event fires.

Pre-buffer recording (3 seconds)

SmartRTSP automatically captures 3 seconds before the detection event fires, so you never miss the moment that triggered the alert. Each event recording starts at 5 seconds, extends in 5-second increments if activity continues, and caps at 15 seconds maximum. A 10-second cooldown follows before the next recording can begin.

Video Format and Playback

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Format: Recordings are saved as MP4 or MOV files, depending on the source stream codec.

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Playback: Files are playable in the Photos app, Files app, VLC, and QuickTime Player on Mac.

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H.265 compatibility: H.265 files require iOS 11 or later, or macOS High Sierra (10.13) or later for native hardware playback. Older devices will fall back to software decode.

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Sharing: Recordings can be shared directly from the Photos app or Files app via AirDrop, email, or any share sheet destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much storage does recording use?

Storage use depends on camera resolution and codec. As a rough guide, 1080p H.265 uses approximately 1 GB per hour. 1080p H.264 uses roughly double that — about 2 GB/hour. 4K footage uses significantly more. Using a sub-stream or enabling H.265 on your camera is the most effective way to reduce storage consumption.

Can I record multiple cameras at once?

Yes. SmartRTSP supports simultaneous recording from multiple cameras. Each camera's footage is saved as a separate file, named with the camera name and timestamp.

Is there a maximum recording length?

For manual recording, length is limited only by available device storage with no artificial time cap. For motion-triggered recordings, each event clip starts at 5 seconds, extends in 5-second increments while activity continues, and has a maximum length of 15 seconds per event. A 10-second cooldown period follows before the next event recording can start.

Can I access recordings remotely?

Recordings are accessible via the Files app or Photos app on your device. If you have iCloud Drive enabled, files in the SmartRTSP folder can sync to iCloud and become accessible from other Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account.

Record footage locally — free

Manual, motion-triggered, or continuous recording — all saved to your device. No cloud, no subscription.

Download for iPhone / iPad Download for Mac

Recording RTSP Camera Footage Locally