How to Update the Dash Cam App on Your Phone

Why updating the dash cam app matters

Your dash cam's companion app is the bridge between the camera and your phone. It gives you live view, lets you change settings, and handles clip downloads. Many Wi-Fi models also push firmware through the app, so an outdated app can block a camera update even when the camera itself is fine. Keeping the app current is just as important as keeping the camera's firmware current.

App makers release updates for several reasons: to fix bugs after a new phone operating system arrives, to add compatibility with new camera models, and to improve Wi-Fi connection reliability. An app update can also prepare the phone for a camera firmware update. If you notice the app crashing, failing to show live view, or missing settings that the camera supports, an update is probably overdue. For a fuller picture of what these dash cam companion apps do, see the app guide.

• The app closes on its own or freezes during live view.
• The camera does not appear in the app's device list.
• Settings that used to work are grayed out or missing.
• Clips download slowly or stop halfway.

How to check for updates on your phone

Open the app store on your phone and look for the updates area or your account page. On Android phones, this is usually a menu item inside the store; on iOS devices, it is the account page in the upper corner. The store will list any pending updates for apps you have installed. Find the dash cam app and check the button next to it: if it says Update, an update is waiting. If it says Open, the installed version is already current.

If automatic updates are enabled on your phone, the dash cam app may update in the background without asking. That is convenient, but you should still verify the version occasionally. Open the app's page in the store to see the current version number and the date it was released. If the store says Open but the app has not been refreshed recently, the maker may release updates on a slower schedule, or you may have automatic updates limited to certain connections.

• Park the car and keep the phone and camera powered.
• Connect the phone to your home network or use mobile data with a strong signal.
• If the phone is still connected to the dash cam's Wi-Fi, switch to another connection so the update can download.
• Have the dash cam's Wi-Fi name and password nearby.

Installing the update and restarting the app

Tap Update and wait for the download to finish. The app store installs the update automatically; you do not need to keep the dash cam connected during this step. A large update can take a little time, so leave the phone on and avoid closing the store. Once the install finishes, open the dash cam app. Some updates ask for permissions again, especially location, storage, and notifications. Grant the ones you need for Wi-Fi scanning and saving clips.

If the app does not open cleanly after a major update, force-close it and try again. On most phones, you can find the recent-apps view and swipe the app away. If that does not help, restart the phone before reconnecting the camera. A phone restart is the simplest way to clear the stale connections that app updates sometimes leave behind.

Reconnecting your dash cam after the update

Most dash cam apps reconnect automatically after an update. Open the app and look for your camera in the device list. If it appears, tap it and wait for live view. If it does not appear, take the manual path: open your phone's Wi-Fi settings, select the dash cam's network, enter the password, and return to the app. The camera's network name and password are printed in the manual or shown on its screen.

When the app will not recognize a camera that connected before the update, treat the situation like a fresh setup. Follow the same steps you used to set up a Wi-Fi dash cam on your phone: start the camera, join its network in Wi-Fi settings, then open the app. Many post-update connection problems come from the phone holding onto an old network profile. Forget the camera's network in your saved Wi-Fi list, then join it again.

Once the connection is back, the app should display live view and make your clips reachable. If it does not, check that the camera is recording or in standby, because some dash cams disable Wi-Fi when they are powered down. When the link is stable, you can download dash cam videos to your phone and confirm that everything still works.

If the connection still fails after the update

Start with the fast fixes: restart the phone, power-cycle the dash cam by unplugging it and plugging it back in, then reopen the app. If the camera still does not appear, forget the camera's Wi-Fi network in the phone's saved networks and rejoin it. This re-pairing process is the same one you used on the first day, and it clears most post-update blockages.

Also check whether the camera itself needs a dash cam firmware update. App releases sometimes arrive with a matching firmware release, and a version mismatch can keep the two from connecting. Look for the firmware number in the camera's settings or on the maker's support page, then compare it with the maker's current release. If you can still reach the camera from the app, the firmware version is often listed in the camera information screen.

If nothing else works, factory reset the dash cam. A factory reset clears the camera's saved settings and pairing data, giving the updated app a clean slate to pair against. Do this only after you have saved any clips you want to keep, and be ready to set your resolution, bitrate, time zone, and parking mode again. If the app itself keeps closing, our guide to an app that keeps crashing covers the next steps.

Update when parked, not while driving

Plan app updates for a time when you are parked. Using a cellphone while driving increases crash risk, and researchers have consistently linked texting or otherwise manipulating a cellphone to increased risk (IIHS). An app update is a short task, but it still draws your eyes and fingers away from the road. Pull over, finish the update, reconnect, and then start your trip.

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death in the United States and kill more than 120 people every day (CDC). In 2024, crashes took 39,254 lives in the U.S. (IIHS). Keeping the phone out of your hands while the car moves is one of the easiest safety habits you can build. For a camera that gives you app control and live view, see the latest Wi-Fi dash cams.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Do I really need to update the dash cam app?

Yes. Updates fix connection bugs, restore compatibility with new versions of your phone's operating system, and unlock features the camera already supports. An outdated app may fail to recognize a camera that just received new firmware, so updating the app is an easy first step before troubleshooting connection issues.

Why doesn't my app show an Update button?

The app may already be current, or it may have updated automatically in the background. Open the app's page in the app store and read the version listed there. If the button says Open instead of Update, you have the latest release. If the app store no longer has the app, contact the dash cam maker about the replacement app or support page.

Will updating the app delete my dash cam settings?

No. The app update changes software on your phone, not the camera. Resolution, bitrate, parking mode, and other camera settings live on the camera and stay where they are. You may need to reconnect your phone to the camera's Wi-Fi after the update, but the saved settings should remain intact.

The app asks for new permissions after the update. Should I accept?

Accept only what the app needs to work. Dash cam apps commonly ask for location, storage, and notification permissions. Location is often used to scan for the camera's Wi-Fi network on newer phone operating systems, and storage is needed to save downloaded clips. If you skip a required permission, the app may connect poorly; you can always change permissions later in your phone's settings.

Should I update the app while the car is moving?

No. Pull over or update before you leave. Researchers have consistently linked manipulating a cellphone to increased crash risk, and even a quick tap in the app store takes your attention away from the road.

Do I need to update the camera's firmware at the same time?

Not always, but it is smart to check. App updates and firmware updates are separate processes, and a maker sometimes pairs them. If the updated app cannot connect, compare your camera's firmware version with the maker's current release and update the firmware if needed.

What if the app update makes the connection worse?

Restart both devices, forget the camera's saved Wi-Fi network on your phone, and join it again. If the problem continues, the issue may be the camera firmware or a problematic app release from the maker. Check the maker's support page for known issues and see whether a camera firmware update is available.