# Night Owl HD — user reviews > 160 indexed App Store user reviews of Night Owl HD by Night Owl SP, LLC, rated 1.80/5 from 1,774 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-owl-hd/id945919542/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-owl-hd/id945919542.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 162 · 4★ 84 · 3★ 122 · 2★ 210 · 1★ 1,196 ## What do users think of Night Owl HD? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Works great - 🚀 Quick transition from SD to HD - 👍 Great looking interface updates **Cons** - 🐛 Constant disconnection issues - 🐛 Notifications not working - 🐛 Live view not working - 🐛 Playback issues - 🐛 Unreliable app - 🐛 Crashes frequently - 🐛 Compatibility issues with iOS updates **Commonly reported bugs** - Live view not working - Playback not working - Frequent disconnections - Notification issues - Compatibility problems with iOS updates **Most requested features** - Update the app - Improve remote access functionality - Add ability to save video to Photos app - Improve playback controls - Add multi-camera playback - Allow locking of camera views - Improve notification system - Optimize app for larger screens ## Newest reviews (18 of 160) ### 2/5 — No support *2025-09-09, version 4.0* They quit supporting this app years ago, I still have my older DVR with my analog cameras and the website that kept updating my ever changing IP address is gone and has been for years, but my system works excellent but you can’t access my system online so it’s worthless until I find a workaround on my own. ### 3/5 — You need to upgrade 5G *2024-06-22, version 4.0* You need to upgrade the app to 5g ### 1/5 — Notifications *2024-06-15, version 4.0* Not getting any movement notifications ### 2/5 — Stopped working after switching wifi providers *2024-06-03, version 4.0* I could no longer see my cameras on my phone after switching wifi providers, called the internet service but they couldn't do much about it. ### 2/5 — Cant connect *2024-05-30, version 4.0* I cant connect to my camera’s for few days now. ### 1/5 — Swann is better *2024-05-30, version 4.0* My playback does not work at all should’ve kept my swann system. ### 1/5 — Changing the whole system *2024-05-27, version 4.0* I bought this system 8 years ago from Costco. The system runs fine but it is no good because the app stopped working properly 6 years ago. I was told years ago by night owl support I need to upgrade my entire system at my expense. I give it no stars. I will be up grading to another system. ### 1/5 — Update app *2024-04-19, version 4.0* Update the app for better viewing it's been 6 years and this app hasn't been updated at all ### 2/5 — Can’t hear anything *2024-04-11, version 4.0* It shows an option to hear sounds in the camera but I can’t hear anything ### 3/5 — Notification *2024-03-14, version 4.0* My camera wont give me notifications when someone walk by them. ### 1/5 — Notifications are not working *2024-03-03, version 4.0* For some reason notifications stopped working. I have a iPad with iPadOS 16.6 & Night Owl X HD and an iPhone with iOS 17.3.1 & Night Owl X and neither receive notifications anymore when movement is caught on camera. Seems to me that you guys have stopped providing the notification service from your system. What’s going on? ### 2/5 — Cannot see cameras in phone *2024-01-16, version 4.0* Hi since the beginning of the year 2024 try to login and shows disconnect can you please help me ### 1/5 — App is horrible! *2024-01-05, version 4.0* I have installed this app, I have done all the trouble shooting to get the Live View to display on the app & nothing. Tech support is useless! Not sure if it needs an update or what but this is horrible app. Thankfully only thing working are the cameras & the TV monitor but I should be able to use the app as well ### 1/5 — Do not purchase anything night owl *2023-12-28, version 4.0* The system rarely ever works. It doesn’t let you play back it doesn’t send notifications for motion detection it’s useless unless your always on live view. If you’re on the app it usually crashes before you even select live view. Again DONT NOT PURCHASE THIS SYSTEM ### 1/5 — Slow *2023-10-27, version 4.0* Needs an update and better features ### 1/5 — App fails to connect with latest version of iOS *2023-09-21, version 4.0* Disappointed this app has stopped working. Never seen it quit before (repeatedly now) and then fail to allow adding a camera or channel to the view. Developers seriously need to update this app. This is really bad. IOS 16.5.1 has broken this app completely. Now on iOS 16.6.1 - Developer says to delete and reinstall and we have done this multiple times using different iPhones and on iPad (computer version for Mac OS never worked) but iOS app is still not connecting to our cameras for live view or to DVR for playback - HELP!! ### 1/5 — Total garbage app *2023-08-20, version 4.0* Get anything else is my suggestion Hate that I went with this system as it’s the worst possible and most inconvenient app you can imagine. Most of the time it doesn’t work, or it closes when you try to use the app to playback a recording…or it might not connect for no reason at all. What a worthless trash…to say I am disappointed and upset to have two of these systems in my businesses is a understatement. Get anything else for your own sake ### 1/5 — Night owl no longer supports its product *2023-08-03, version 4.0* I can’t see myself upgrading and buying a new Night Owl. I have had this device a few years now and Night Owl will no longer support their product. Since I’ve had this device, I have had to call tech support for various issues several times, but now they are not supporting their product. The manual is not very in-depth enough for my particular issue so I guess I will have to try another brand of security camera. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Garbage system *2025-10-31, version 4.0* The app is garbage, and the cameras don’t even connect anymore. I have literally had zero changes in the system - no WiFi or wiring changes. This has been literally the most frustrating purchase I have made for my home. ### 1/5 — Needs an update ASAP *2025-09-20, version 4.0* This camera system needs an update ASAP!! It’s been 7 years since the last one and it clearly shows! This company should be held accountable for anything that happens like home invasions that results in theft or even death because their failure to update their app!! In any moment, seconds count, and if this app takes a longer time to open of fails to open at all, it could mean your life!! There’s gotta be a way to bring a lawsuit against this company for neglecting their app and failing their customers. ### 1/5 — La peor app *2025-07-30, version 4.0* Carga la imagen y después de un rato quieres ingresar pero te aparece que esta conectándose y tarda bastante en generar de nuevo la imagen :( ### 1/5 — Problème de connexion avec mon système de cameras, vraiment je n’y arrive plus! *2025-02-27, version 4.0* Besoin d’assistance ### 1/5 — Terrible connectivity *2025-01-06, version 4.0* Every time I wanna use the app, I have to restart my phone so that it will actually allow it to connect, maybe. Cameras are good, but it’s pointless if you can’t even remotely view them. Definitely will be going to another camera with an app that actually works when I need it to work. ### 1/5 — Junk *2024-12-29, version 4.0* They don’t stand behind there product. Once it’s outdated which wasn’t long after I purchased the system, they won’t update the app for me to be able to use the camera or app. There went 800.00 in the garbage. ### 1/5 — No access *2024-12-17, version 4.0* Why is that if I’m not on the same WiFi as my system I am unable to access, view or playback any footage. This is very frustrating. Will there be absolutely any new updates to accommodate this problem. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2024-12-09, version 4.0* I guess once you have an older system six years old their app no longer supports live view ### 1/5 — The most unreliable system *2024-09-29, version 4.0* We have instolled this system in 2016. Wired all house. Spend lots of money on wiring and connecting all cameras. It’s never been working. Constant issues with customer service. Do not ever use this product if you need a peace of mind. ### 1/5 — I do not recommend them *2024-08-21, version 4.0* The cameras are good, but the customer service is terrible, and when the warranty expires they will never help you with the equipment or give you advice, and the price is too much for them not to help you. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works *2025-02-25, version 4.0* This app works for me. ### 5/5 — Very good *2025-01-16, version 4.0* Great app ### 5/5 — Nite owl is great *2023-01-01, version 4.0* I’ve been using night I’ll I will for the last eight years. I could be in Nevada, California and I can still see my home is the easiest set up you can get but if you have bad Internet you won’t get anything it’s not because now it’s because of the Internet night owl is good I even have a swan 360 camera hooked to it ### 5/5 — Dear developer *2022-10-02, version 4.0* Care to do an update? Even with the fastest internet on the market still takes forever to connect on the app. Still waiting ### 5/5 — Recent Update Was Very Good *2017-12-22, version 4.0* Very quick transition from SD to HD. Great looking interface updates to the calendar. Great work. ### 5/5 — Great system with excellent stability *2017-12-21, version 4.0* I’ve been using Nightowl systems for close to 10 years. They just keep getting better! Their Mobile app has greatly improved its loading speed and stability. It actually works great. You can immediately record as you monitor and also take picture. I’ve done both with no issues from my office. The one feature I’d strongly wish they incorporate in later revisions is the ability to lock the displayed cameras so that the app opens to that locked prearranged display to avoid having to manually set them. GREAT PRODUCT! ### 5/5 — BeSafe *2017-09-08, version 3.0* I love Night Owl. And here's my review, written on June 16, 2017: I wrote a review about two days ago but I do not see it anymore. I wanted to say that I had a problem a few days ago where I felt that I needed to delete the app in order to resolve the problem. But deleting the app did not resolve the problem. In any case, the app is now working for me. I was very happy that the developer was conscientious and had the insight to get involved and resolve my problem even without my having to call Night Owl directly. Very good job. If I could find the words to express how I feel about that without sounding all mushy, I would do it right here. Thanks again Night Owl. You're great! ### 5/5 — FIRMWARE UPDATE REQUIRED!!! *2016-11-10, version 3.0* The app works! You need to update firmware on receiver first. To do that, open main menu. Click on Advanced tab, then click on Auto Upgrade tab on the right. Then click Detect. That should find the latest firmware update and prompt you to install. After update is done, receiver should reboot and you should have to login with admin and password. Boom! Now you can connect to app! *Make sure device name is correct, though... you can check device name in Main Menu-System-Info. ### 5/5 — Funcionou! *2016-09-03, version 2.4* Funcionou no Moto X 2 geração e no iPhone 6S. Perfeito! ### 4/5 — Cameras *2023-04-16, version 4.0* The app works great. It could be better by the video footage. It should have option for night vision or not night vision. but overall it’s OK. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*