# Why only 12 seconds for free? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cameras\ **Tags:** troubleshooting, not-platform-specific, battery-cam-pro\ **Created:** [November 4, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558 "2026-11-04T17:19:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![khjesusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@khjesusfreak](https://forums.wyze.com/u/khjesusfreak)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/1 "2026-11-04T17:19:54Z")
Hello, I have two of the Wyze Cam Battery. I have a concern/issue that I need help with. Currently my only options are Continuous Record (which reallllllly drains the battery) or “12 seconds max” with a 1 minute cool down. I have mentioned this before, but someone was able to pull up to my house, they sat in the car where I couldn’t see their face…for more than 12 seconds. They then go out of the car and walked to my door and then BACK to their car within that minute and the camera never captured any of it. (Besides the car pulling up to the drive). I have an SD Card and YES I could do continuous but as mentioned it Really hurts the Battery life. I’m thinking at least for the battery cam plus that there should be a long recording option or remove the “cool down” when using SD card … Without having to pay the subscription. It’s just my thought. I’m really wishing I wouldn’t have bought the battery one at this point but rather would have found a way to run a LONG cord. I feel restricted even with an SD card AND a more expensive camera. 🥴 ---
**Author:** ![bryonhu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/bryonhu/32/122736_2.png) [@bryonhu](https://forums.wyze.com/u/bryonhu)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/2 "2026-11-04T18:10:23Z")
With Wyze Free Services comes Consequences, their business model is built around the subscription 😭 ---
**Author:** ![khjesusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@khjesusfreak](https://forums.wyze.com/u/khjesusfreak)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/3 "2026-11-04T18:33:53Z")
I do understand that. For sure. I get features like packages and person detection and things like that. But honestly with this particular camera I feel more restricted than with the cheaper plug in ones. I guess I feel like I’m being punished for needing the battery instead of just running an extension cord or something. ---
**Author:** ![dave27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dave27](https://forums.wyze.com/u/dave27)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/4 "2026-11-04T18:41:00Z")
> [@khjesusfreak](#): > > I guess I feel like I’m being punished for needing the battery instead of just running an extension cord or something. It isn’t a punishment, just a limitation of battery powered devices. Consider adding a solar panel, then you may be able to run a lot longer without having to charge it (and still using continuous recording). The SD card should record for as long as motion is detected, before entering the 1 minute delay. Note this is nothing to do with “free” or “paid”, just the camera trying to conserve power and have a useful battery life. When a wall powered camera is an option, that’s definitely the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![khjesusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@khjesusfreak](https://forums.wyze.com/u/khjesusfreak)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/5 "2026-11-04T18:56:59Z")
But I have the solar panel. It just doesn’t keep up with the continuous recording. Anyway the tactic worked. I subscribed. ---
**Author:** ![StevenA](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/stevena/32/98871_2.png) [@StevenA](https://forums.wyze.com/u/StevenA)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/6 "2026-11-04T21:04:48Z")
You might consider trying Wyze wired cameras. These four Cam v3 cameras are inside double pane windows with SD cards set to continuous recording. I have electrical outlets below all windows so the regular supplied Wyze power cords plug in below each window. ![Screenshot_20261104_125910_Wyze](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/original/3X/f/f/ffe1f1ed73491ca19b4a4e5c9aa325db6f136945.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![khjesusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@khjesusfreak](https://forums.wyze.com/u/khjesusfreak)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/7 "2026-11-04T21:13:17Z")
Yes. Thank you. I love my wired cameras. They have much less “restriction” as far as being required to subscribe for better recording options/less recording restrctions is concerned. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![K6CCC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/k6ccc/32/1591_2.png) [@K6CCC](https://forums.wyze.com/u/K6CCC)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/8 "2026-11-04T21:30:55Z")
Yes, the battery powered cameras are massively crippled in order to preserve battery life. Frankly, you could not give me one. ---
**Author:** ![dave27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dave27](https://forums.wyze.com/u/dave27)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/9 "2026-11-04T21:44:54Z")
> [@khjesusfreak](#): > > Anyway the tactic worked. I subscribed. Not sure how that is going to help? ---
**Author:** ![khjesusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@khjesusfreak](https://forums.wyze.com/u/khjesusfreak)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/10 "2026-11-04T21:47:37Z")
For sure it helped. I can turn off the “cool down” feature. And I can increase recording to 5 minutes…without having to turn it to “continuous” recording to get more than 12 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![dave27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dave27](https://forums.wyze.com/u/dave27)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/why-only-12-seconds-for-free/347558/11 "2026-11-04T21:52:33Z")
Some of the confusion is the battery cool down vs subscription cool down. The 1 minute thing is for the SD card only and related to preserving battery. I think there was some discussion over why they don’t have an option to disable that but nothing came of it. Recording to SD card should continue for as long as there is motion, but once motion stops, it has to wait that 1 minute. The 5 minute cooldown is for cloud events and is eliminated by having a subscription. The 5 minute recording period I believe is also related to the subscription only, and not related to the SD card. I’m not sure if having a subscription will eliminate the 1 minute “battery saving” cooldown or not. If it does, that seems like an odd, probably mistaken, mismatch.