# Night Owl X — user reviews > 186 indexed App Store user reviews of Night Owl X by Night Owl SP, LLC, rated 1.60/5 from 2,484 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-owl-x/id1151675917/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-owl-x/id1151675917.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 199 · 4★ 88 · 3★ 129 · 2★ 240 · 1★ 1,828 ## What do users think of Night Owl X? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Lightning-fast live view - 🔒 Robust security features - 📸 Great camera quality **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent app crashes - 🔍 Playback issues and limitations - 🔕 Unreliable notifications - 🕰️ Slow app performance - 💻 Compatibility issues with newer devices/OS **Commonly reported bugs** - Cameras randomly showing as offline - Playback videos not loading or freezing - Inability to log in or reset password - Notifications not working after updates **Most requested features** - Fast forward/rewind for playback - Ability to download full video clips - Customizable notification tones - Improved motion detection sensitivity - Option to view all cameras by default ## Newest reviews (18 of 186) ### 1/5 — Degrading system *2025-07-25, version 2.0.6* Night owl is horrible. Don’t waste your money. Sure when it first came out it was amazing. Now the play back is total trash. No recording no motion detection. When I go to history on playbacks it can’t bring up the playback. Gonna switch to a new system. Don’t waste your money on night owl ### 1/5 — Not worth the stress *2025-07-20, version 2.0.6* The app doesn’t recognize anything that is being put into its searches. This app clearly hasn’t been updated in who knows how long. The help button doesn’t even bring a support page up, it brings you a white screen.(WOAH). Cameras work but app does not. Do better night owl. ### 1/5 — Can not see record *2025-07-20, version 2.0.6* I can not see the record, someone tell me it is Hardrive problem . I order a new harddrive, it is still no recording ### 3/5 — Good For the price *2025-07-17, version 2.0.6* I’ve been using this surveillance camera for a while now, and overall, it gets the job done. The good: it works consistently, I can connect to it remotely even when I’m not at home, and it has solid features like video recording mode and capture mode. Videos save without any issues, and I upgraded the storage to 3TB, which helps a lot when I need to look back 3–4 weeks. Now for the downsides—don’t expect amazing quality. It claims 1080p, but the video looks closer to 480p (maybe even lower). The audio feature is there, but the sound quality is mediocre at best. It’s fine for basic monitoring, but not ideal if you’re expecting high-definition footage. - just don’t expect top-tier performance. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t send notifications *2025-06-16, version 2.0.6* It does not send me notifications even though I have them enabled and freezes during live view. Night owl tells you it’s out dated but in reality they know the notifications do not work and do it so that you buy a new unit. ### 1/5 — The worst *2025-06-10, version 2.0.6* Playback never works and camera quality is useless ### 1/5 — Horrible app *2025-06-02, version 2.0.6* The app only works maybe a quarter of the time if you’re lucky. All cameras show black. If you call the support, all they do is send you the manual and troubleshooting steps. There is no support at all. Don’t waste your money. ### 1/5 — Compatability issues *2025-05-12, version 2.0.6* The app is pretty barebone, but seems to be unsupported on newer devices and old ones alike. My DVR stopped connecting on the app my iphone 14 and my parents androids. I tried it on my friends iphone 16 and I couldn't even get the app installed, and I borrowed my friends pixel and it had problems connecting. My DVR works locally and can connect to the local network, making me consider the app was the issue. Contacting support told me my DVR is no longer supported, but it's unclear if I need a new app and DVR or if they just don't support their own software and hardware products. A Google search seems like there's app compatibility issues across different OS' but I'm no longer sure which are supported. ### 1/5 — Myeh *2025-04-23, version 2.0.6* Been “using” this app since new and, it has never impressed me. This app is a very basic, slow and clunky way to access the security system which I regret buying. This app does allow decent live view from anywhere but not much in the way of playback because you can only search by day and then you have to scroll through the clips to find a time period. This can take forever since the app only loads 30-40 and you may have 500-1000. Keep refreshing and get 10-20 more. It can take hours to do. The system came with 8 cameras but, you cannot choose which ones send you notifications so, if you really want to monitor your porch, you are in a pickle because the system will send you notifications for ALL the cameras. The main system interface is myeh as well but, at least you can search a specific camera for a specific time to investigate a specific thing instead of this app which is purely, myeh. ### 1/5 — Playback and live vídeo *2025-03-03, version 2.0.6* Live video sometimes doesn’t work at really important times. Playback doesn’t work all the time. There’s times where I want to watch something and it just doesn’t work. Very disappointing product. I feel like this should be a reliable product but it isn’t. It works when you don’t need it and doesn’t work when you need it to. ### 1/5 — Not able to view cameras on app *2025-03-02, version 2.0.6* I guess the app is down again.The app only works periodically not able to check cameras from my phone which is the main reason why I bought the system I wish they update thisIssue it has been happening for a while. ### 1/5 — App’s stinks! *2025-01-31, version 2.0.6* My system is 5 years old, and works at home, but app’s won’t work on my phone or iPad. No help from tech support, they just want you to buy new system. I will never buy from them.!!! ### 1/5 — No me manda notificaciones *2025-01-29, version 2.0.6* Arreglen la aplicación !!!! No me manda notificaciones cuando hay movientos !!!! Me robaron en mi casa y no me mandó la detección de los movimientos de las personas que me robaron , antes si me los mandaba ### 1/5 — Cameras only work when they want to. *2025-01-23, version 2.0.6* cameras only work when they want to.So does replay mode.I don’t receive notifications or alerts of motion or noise. ### 1/5 — Booooo *2025-01-21, version 2.0.6* Just horrible. I haven’t gotten a notification in like a year from this app. Don’t buy these cameras. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2024-12-16, version 2.0.6* When I called for support they were totally unfamiliar with my product. They sent me to a third party support group. E mailed me links. They said that they are unfamiliar with my product. The product is 3 years old. ### 1/5 — This app NOT AVAILABLE on newer phones *2024-11-29, version 2.0.6* DONT BUY THIS PRODUCT! They don’t stand by their systems and quit developing apps that continue to work for existing customers. Now that I sell security systems, I always steer people away from this brand. This company offers no tech care to systems over 2 years old and emails you brush off unusable tech advice for their lack of updating apps for current customers. You will be abandoned by this company and stuck with a system that won’t fit the needs you purchased it for. Adding to my review { old review)Just got a s24+ and can’t even get the app for my security system. I went on my IPad to review motion activity, and of course, the times are never accurate. The previews that show, are the wrong cameras. I’m so disappointed that I spent the money I did on this security system, it doesn’t meet my needs and I should have researched things like this before I bought it. Just skip night owl. I’d rather pay for an app that works properly. I mean it is for my safety. ### 1/5 — Notifications *2024-11-24, version 2.0.6* Ever since the last update we do not get notification when the motion sensor goes off. We have tried to contact Night Owl without success. This was a good system before this but what good is a security camera if you don’t get notified when the motion detection goes off. We will never buy this system again. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Don’t waste your money. *2026-08-01, version 2.0.6* Thee absolute worst! You have to constantly delete the app and reinstall it. And then it still won’t work. Now it has locked me out. I purchased 3 cameras off Tik Tok that are wonderful! MY HQ. You can talk thru them and hear thru them. It has facial recognition capabilities and one camera cost $39 a bundle of two is 69.99. A subscription is 14.99 and records and saves for all 3 cameras. It’s a win! ### 1/5 — No playback *2026-06-26, version 2.0.6* Easy live view and quality of view is good. However, playback feature never works! It’s a pain! Trying to figure it out is frustrating. Going to replace with ring cameras once I can afford it ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2026-06-09, version 2.0.6* Can’t use playback. Every time I try to play a clip I get kicked off the app. It just shuts down when I press play. I have already uninstalled and reinstalled. Still won’t work ### 1/5 — Unable to view cameras remotely *2026-05-17, version 2.0.6* Starting on February 25 I was no longer able to view my cameras remotely. I called support and was on with them for 90 minutes before being told my issue was being escalated and that they would get back within a few days. After a week of waiting and no call back, I called again and we basically started the same troubleshooting process all over again - no resolution. Once again I was told that someone would get back with me. I received an email approximately one month later asking if I was still having issues. I informed them yes, that I’m still unable to view my cameras remotely. I never heard back. So I decided to call them today. I was told that my issue is due to my system was an older one and this app no longer supports remote viewing. It would have been nice to have been told in advance that this was coming and also not having to wait 3 months and repeatedly calling before Nightowl Support let me know. Do yourself a favor and buy another camera brand. ### 1/5 — Bch *2026-03-24, version 2.0.6* Piece of sheet app ### 1/5 — App not working!! *2026-02-19, version 2.0.6* Stopped working! No devices found on app and cannot connect due to network issue through app all of a sudden please update!!! ### 1/5 — Total Waste of money! No customer support… *2026-01-09, version 2.0.6* I purchased this unit from Costco back in 2018 and it worked perfectly for about 3 years, afterwards it stopped recording and sending pushed messages. I tried all the troubleshooting that was suggested, but it still didn’t work. This unit has caused me to loose valuable evidence in at least 3 hit and run events, and even a civil case! When I contacted night, owl and finally was able to speak with someone two years later that I had a legacy system and it was no longer supported. This makes zero sense to me. I spent close to $500 and it worked for a grand total of three years otherwise it was just a viewing platform so I can see you who is doing Things outside my home?!?! I finally found a firmware update and I manually installed it yet. It still doesn’t work. The DVR will record for the first day, but then the next day it shows the memory is completely full. This is unacceptable. ### 1/5 — Awful *2025-11-26, version 2.0.6* Almost all the time shows the cam not connected even they are really near ### 1/5 — Can’t even log in *2025-11-19, version 2.0.6* App worked wonkily for years then finally none of my cameras showed up. I can only log in on the monitor and not on the mobile app. ### 1/5 — Play back Recording are limited *2025-08-07, version 2.0.6* Every time I try and review any resorted footage from any of the cameras I have to refresh the playback option and it shows me 7 recordings at a time…so if I want to see what was recorded at night I have to keep refreshing the playback option but then it stops displaying any recorded footage by 5 or 6 pm so I cannot view anything past that time for any of the cameras…..so not only does the app make you scroll or refresh the camera option about 30 times only to realize you cannot view the forage you need. Doesn’t make any sense. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Fixed the issue *2025-10-04, version 2.0.6* I was able to fix the issue on my end. It wasn’t an issue of the program so i retract my previous comment. It has been working fine since ### 5/5 — tires *2025-05-15, version 2.0.6* ortiz67 ### 5/5 — Excelente *2024-08-23, version 2.0.6* Excelente la recomiendo es perfecta para mis cámaras lo recomiendo 100 por 100 ### 5/5 — Notifications *2024-06-18, version 2.0.6* I had my cameras for seven years without having any problems. I love my cameras and they help with intruders in my yard, etc. but recently for some reason, my notifications just stopped working. I had to uninstall and reinstall, hoping that that would work, but it if you can share some insight on how to get my notifications to work, that would be great. My family wants me to change my cameras system. they want me have another company install another brand and pay for all new cameras, etc., I told them no I was not gonna pay for services and then I liked my cameras and I deal without the notifications till I figure it out. Please you if you can let me know I need to do to have my notifications working again. Thank you, Sharon ### 5/5 — No puedo ver mis cámaras *2021-08-18, version 2.0.6* No puedo ver mis cámaras desde que actualice mi iPhone con IOS 14.7.1 por favor actualicen la aplicación ### 5/5 — Areglen los de las cámaras en negro para iPhone *2021-08-16, version 2.0.6* Por favor ### 5/5 — Business Owner *2021-06-06* I have had the out for over five years now and even though it may have had some issues here and there I have been very pleased with the performance. Of course it does have a little lag time sometimes when I try to login and sometimes it will not allow me to login at all but that is because of the Internet connection speed and not the app itself. About a year ago after repositioning the cameras due to continued thefts in the area I was able to zoom in and get license plates which help me lead law-enforcement to the individual who’s been doing the crime in our area. I understand not everyone has the same outcome but just want to let everyone know that it works perfect for me in my business. **Developer response:** We have not had this issue reported to us before, and we'd certainly like to work this through for you. Could you share the details at +18663901303? And any relevant screenshots would be immensely valuable. Thank you. ### 5/5 — Me gustó. *2021-02-08, version 2.0.6* Me ha funcionando bien, requiere buena conexión a internet, me manda alertas de eventos (aún sin internet)y los graba y manda a mi celular cuando ocurren, si tienen problemas al instalar en dispositivo móvil conéctense primero desde su PC y luego prueben en su móvil, esto debe corregir el problema, en lo general estoy contento. ### 5/5 — It is working fine again! *2019-10-04, version 2.0.6* After the update it is working fine with IOS 13, thanks!! ### 5/5 — Tried 2 other brands, this system beats them both. *2019-03-21, version 2.0.3* Ive tried two other brands of which has a long necked bird as their logo. It wasnt user friendly. Being i was broke in by those 2 brands maxe this one very easy & definatly user friendly. Night owl’s tech support is great too. I used the tech support chat option & she had me back on track. If your internet drops youll need to contact them & theyll steer you the right way. It has a few small & very minor quirks because of me needing ro repeat that process each time i have to disconnect the internet from it but all in all, much clearer, sharper & higher grade nv or it seems to be. Picks up much better. & their notifications caused by movement works. Thanks for a great product. --- *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 2026-08-16.*