Where are iQ videos saved?
Your iQ Dash Cam saves all recordings to the SD card. A version of each recording can be viewed and downloaded in the iQ app from the Events, Library, and Downloads tabs. This article explains where to find your videos and what might cause them to appear missing. Cloud based footage stored in the Events tab will be low-quality footage; Footage on the SD card under the Library tab can be downloaded in either low-quality or high-quality.
iQ History
In the iQ app, all videos are shown in the History tab, listed in reverse order with the newest at the top and the oldest at the bottom. The History section is split into three categories:
Events
Shows all videos that are protected from being overwritten.
Includes:
Smart Sense Parking Events
Driving Events where the built‑in G‑sensor detects an impact or the Protect button is pressed
Guardian Mode and Witness Mode activations
With a Protect or Protect Plus subscription, event files are automatically uploaded to the cloud for a number of days (up to 30 days for Protect, up to 180 days for Protect Plus).
Library
Shows all files currently on the SD card in your iQ, in the same order they appear if you view the card on a computer.
If you format the SD card, all Library videos will be deleted.
Downloads
Shows all videos you have downloaded to your phone.
If you uninstall the iQ app, all files in Downloads will also be deleted.
What to check if you cannot find a file
If you cannot find the clip you need, it may have been overwritten or deleted. Consider these points:
When did the incident occur?
For example: 1:02 pm on 1 March 2026.How much use has the vehicle had since the recording?
Unprotected files can be overwritten quickly, especially if you drive a lot or use a small‑capacity SD card.Has the vehicle been parked in a busy area?
If Smart Sense Parking is enabled and the vehicle is left unattended, the camera creates many motion‑based recordings, which take up space and cause driving videos to overwrite sooner.Are there many protected files?
Protected files are eventually overwritten when their total size exceeds about 30% of the SD card’s capacity.Have you formatted the SD card?
This deletes all files on the card and clears the Library tab.Have you uninstalled the iQ app?
This removes all downloaded videos from the Downloads section.
How long until videos are overwritten?
How long it takes for a video to be overwritten depends on:
Your iQ model (1K, 2K, or 4K)
Whether a rear camera is connected
Whether Smart Sense Parking is active
How often the vehicle is driven
The table below shows the total recording time available on the SD card, not only driving time. It does not include the space taken by protected files, which can reduce available space.
iQ 1K
SD card size | Front only (minutes) | Front + Rear (minutes) |
32 GB | 123 | 65 |
64 GB (included) | 246 | 131 |
128 GB | 492 | 261 |
256 GB | 984 | 522 |
iQ 2K
SD card size | Front only (minutes) | Front + Rear (minutes) |
32 GB | 70 | 46 |
64 GB (included) | 139 | 93 |
128 GB | 278 | 186 |
256 GB | 557 | 371 |
iQ 4K
SD card size | Front only (minutes) | Front + Rear (minutes) |
32 GB | 54 | 39 |
64 GB (included) | 108 | 78 |
128 GB | 217 | 156 |
256 GB | 434 | 312 |
What SD card should you use?
Using a card not designed for Dash Cams or CCTV can cause problems because it may not handle constant loop recording.
Symptoms of a failing or incompatible SD card include:
SD error messages
Recording failures
Gaps between recordings
Corrupt or unplayable files
Frozen screen or unresponsive buttons
For best results, use a Dash‑cam‑rated SD card (such as a Nextbase‑branded U3 card).