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Loop recording is an essential feature of dashcams, allowing them to record continuously without running out of storage. It does this by overwriting the oldest footage with new recordings, ensuring that the dashcam never stops capturing what’s happening on the road.
How Does Loop Recording Work?
From the moment you power on your dashcam, it starts capturing everything that happens in front of you. The footage is stored on a memory card, and modern dashcams support a variety of card types and capacities—typically from 32GB to 512GB. Once your memory card is full, loop recording kicks in, automatically overwriting the oldest files with the newest ones. This ensures your dashcam never misses a moment, providing a seamless and hassle-free recording experience.
Loop recording splits footage into shorter segments—usually 1 to 3 minutes. This segmented approach helps you easily adjust the settings based on what you need. Shorter segments are great when you want to find specific moments quickly, while longer segments offer an uninterrupted view of a journey, making playback smooth and more enjoyable.
Most dashcams store footage on a MicroSD card, and choosing the right one is key to smooth operation. If you’re unsure about what to pick, feel free to explore our detailed guide to choosing the right SD card for your dashcam.
Some advanced dashcams also come with dual-memory storage options, combining built-in eMMC and microSD card storage. For instance, the N5 Dual dashcam uses D2save 2.0 Dual-Memory Storage, which includes a 512GB microSD card and a 32GB built-in eMMC. If the microSD card ever fails, critical footage is automatically saved to the eMMC memory, acting as a personal “BlackBox” for your car.
For long trips, it’s a smart idea to use a high-capacity SD card and manually lock important clips. This ensures that any significant moments—like an accident or an interesting event—are saved and not overwritten by the loop recording process.
Benefits of Loop Recording
- Continuous Recording: With loop recording, your dashcam is always ready to capture the latest events, providing complete, uninterrupted coverage of your drive.
- Efficient Storage Management: No more worries about running out of space or having to delete old files. Loop recording takes care of storage automatically.
- Critical Footage Saved: Important footage can be manually locked to prevent it from being overwritten, ensuring crucial events are always preserved.
How to Properly Set Up Loop Recording
Optimizing the loop recording settings of your dashcam can greatly enhance how well it captures and stores your footage. Here’s how to do it right:
Set the Loop Recording Duration According to Your Need
You can customize the length of each recording segment in most dashcams. For quick and easy access to specific moments, 1-minute segments are often ideal. They make reviewing incidents faster and less time-consuming, helping you locate and save important footage with ease.
Ensure Important Footage Is Preserved
Since loop recording is designed to overwrite old footage with new clips, it’s important to secure any valuable recordings you want to keep. Most dashcams let you export and lock crucial clips using their mobile app. This way, you can store essential moments before they’re overwritten.
If something unexpected happens—like an accident or any unusual activity—you can quickly save the footage to prevent it from being deleted. Additionally, many dashcams are equipped with G-sensors, which automatically lock video segments in response to sudden impacts or movements, so you don’t have to worry about missing important recordings.
Loop Recording FAQs
What Happens When Storage Is Full?
When storage is full, loop recording ensures that your dashcam keeps running by automatically overwriting the oldest footage, making space for new recordings.
How Can I Protect Important Footage?
You can manually lock or save important clips to ensure they are not overwritten by the loop recording feature. Most dashcams have this option either through physical buttons or via the companion app.
How Often Should I Format My Memory Card?
It’s a good practice to format your memory card at least once a month. This helps maintain the performance of the card, reduces the risk of corrupted files, and ensures that your dashcam continues to function smoothly.
Conclusion
Loop recording is an essential feature for dashcams, providing peace of mind by capturing every moment of your drive without worrying about storage limitations. With its ability to automatically manage storage, protect important footage, and keep you covered in case of incidents, it’s easy to see why loop recording is a must-have for every driver.
