How to Turn the Cabin Camera On or Off

How the cabin camera control works

On a dash cam with an interior lens, the cabin camera is a separate video source from the front camera. Turning it on or off controls whether that interior channel is recorded. Some models call it a cabin camera, interior camera, in-cabin camera, or IR cabin camera. You can usually change this from the device, the app, or a physical control.

Most cabin camera dash cams are sold as front-and-inside systems or as part of a multi-channel setup. If you have not used the interior view before, check your dash cam menus for the cabin channel before you rely on it. For an overview of models with an interior lens, see cabin camera dash cams and front and inside dash cams. If your system has a third lens, 3 channel dash cams explains the channel layout.

Use the physical switch or privacy shutter

Look around the cabin lens for a slider, cover, or switch. A privacy shutter is a mechanical cover that blocks the interior lens, but it does not always stop the recorder. The dash cam may continue to write a dark video file or a file with no cabin image. To stop all interior recording on a model with only a shutter, also change the cabin camera setting in the menu.

For more detail on this option, see dash cam privacy shutter.

• Check for a small sliding cover near the cabin lens, often labeled with a camera icon.
• If a dedicated physical button toggles the interior camera, press it once and check the screen icon or voice prompt.
• Confirm the setting by saving and reviewing a short clip to make sure the cabin view is not recorded.

Use the on-screen cabin camera menu

To disable the interior view using the touchscreen or buttons, open the camera settings and look for a cabin camera item. Common labels are Cabin Cam, Cabin Camera, Interior Camera, In-Cabin Monitoring, or IR Cabin. Select it and choose Off if you want no recording, or On if you want the interior channel saved. Some models let you set the cabin camera resolution and frame rate separately.

If your dash cam shows the cabin channel in live view, the setting may be inside a submenu for that channel. On models with a separate camera input for the cabin lens, the on/off toggle sits with the other channel settings. For help with multi-lens layouts, see dash cam channels explained. The controls you use also depend on whether the dash cam has a touchscreen or physical buttons.

Use the companion app

Many dash cams with cabin cameras pair with a phone app over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. After connecting, open the app camera settings or live view and look for the interior channel. Some apps show the front and cabin feeds side by side; the cabin feed may have its own toggle or a menu entry called Cabin Camera or Interior Camera.

If the app only offers live view and playback, change the cabin camera on the device instead. App availability, connection, and menu naming vary by model. See dash cam Wi-Fi apps for general steps.

Voice control and shortcuts

Voice control can be a quick way to turn the cabin camera on or off without navigating a menu. If your dash cam supports voice recognition, the command might be something like open cabin camera, turn on cabin camera, or turn off interior camera. Exact phrases are set by the manufacturer, so review the voice command list for your model. See dash cam voice control.

Whichever method you use, avoid making a complex setting change while driving. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that manipulating a cellphone while driving increases crash risk and that distractions include adjusting a radio, eating, drinking, reading, grooming, and interacting with passengers. The IIHS also notes that crash avoidance systems can bring a driver attention back to the road, but a cabin camera setting is best changed while parked.

When to leave the cabin camera on and when to turn it off

Motor vehicle crashes are still a leading cause of death, according to the CDC, and IIHS fatality statistics say crashes took 39,254 lives in the U.S. in 2024. The decision to record the cabin is part of a broader safety picture: a camera can capture what happened, but safer driving habits and crash avoidance systems are what prevent crashes. IIHS notes that crash avoidance systems can bring a driver attention back to the road regardless of the cause of distraction.

Leave the cabin camera on when you want a record of what happens inside the car. That can be useful for rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, truck drivers, or parents who want to check on a teen driver. A cabin camera does not prevent distraction, but it can record after-the-fact evidence. Drivers should still avoid phone manipulation and other distractions while driving. See dash cam for rideshare drivers and dash cam for teen drivers.

Turn the cabin camera off when passengers expect more privacy, when you park in a garage, when a valet or service technician uses the car, or when you simply do not want interior footage saved. A privacy shutter is fine for blocking the lens, but use the menu toggle if you want to stop recording entirely. You can turn it back on when you start a trip or enter a rideshare shift.

Check audio and parking mode settings

Turning off the cabin camera does not always turn off the microphone. Audio recording is usually a separate setting. If you want no sound recorded along with the front view, adjust the audio toggle as well. See dash cam audio recording.

Parking mode is another place to check. Some dash cams let you choose whether the cabin camera records while the car is parked. If you want an interior view during parking events, enable the cabin channel in the parking mode settings. If you prefer no cabin recording overnight, keep it off. Related guide: dash cam parking mode explained.

Many interior cameras use infrared LEDs for dark cabins. If your cabin view is dark at night, you may also want to check the cabin camera aim and any infrared setting.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Is the cabin camera the same as the rear camera?

No. The rear camera records the road behind your vehicle, while the cabin camera records the interior. A 3 channel dash cam can include front, cabin, and rear views.

If I cover the cabin lens with a privacy shutter, does the camera stop recording?

It usually blocks the image but may not stop the recorder. The dash cam can still create a video file for the cabin channel, often a blank or dark frame. If you want no cabin video on the memory card, also set the cabin camera to Off in the menu or app.

Does turning off the cabin camera save storage space?

It can, because the dash cam no longer writes the cabin video stream from that lens. How much space you save depends on the model, the resolution, and the bitrate. The front camera, rear camera, and audio settings still affect the file size.

Can I turn the cabin camera on or off while driving?

If the model has a physical switch or voice command, you can. Using a touchscreen menu while driving is risky; IIHS says manipulating a cellphone while driving increases crash risk. Try to make the change before you start driving or pull over when it is safe.

Does the cabin camera stay on in parking mode?

Only if the dash cam is configured to record the cabin channel in parking mode. Check the parking mode settings for a cabin or interior camera option.

What if my dash cam menu has no cabin camera option?

Check if your model actually has a separate interior channel. Some front-only cameras simply record the cabin with the main lens if it is rotated; that is not a cabin camera toggle. If the dash cam has an interior lens but no on/off menu, look for a physical switch or privacy shutter. You may also need to update firmware or use the app.