# NightOwlX HD — user reviews > 81 indexed App Store user reviews of NightOwlX HD by Night Owl SP, LLC, rated 1.50/5 from 186 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightowlx-hd/id1151773094/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightowlx-hd/id1151773094.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 10 · 4★ 9 · 3★ 6 · 2★ 20 · 1★ 141 ## What do users think of NightOwlX HD? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 📹 Good camera hardware quality and image clarity - 🔌 No monthly subscription fees required - 💾 Local storage capability with hard drive support - ⚡ Instant live view when properly configured - 🏠 Works reliably on local network without cloud dependency **Cons** - 🐛 Playback functionality severely broken and unreliable - 🐛 App crashes frequently during use - 📱 Poor UI design, outdated interface (appears from 2000s-2006) - 🔌 Remote viewing fails when away from home/WiFi - ⏱️ Extremely slow video loading and navigation - 📊 Cannot filter or search recordings by time - 🔔 Push notifications not working - 📲 iPad app lacks landscape mode support - 🎬 No fast forward/rewind functionality for playback - 🔄 App loses connection frequently requiring restarts - ❌ Video downloads fail or are incompatible - 📹 Motion detection playback limited to small number of clips - ⚙️ Inconsistent settings that reset on app restart - 🖼️ Playback video quality poor or degraded - 🌐 Remote connection issues and WiFi connectivity problems **Commonly reported bugs** - Playback screen goes black or fails to load - App crashes when attempting playback or downloading videos - Motion detection clips not appearing in list despite showing count - Cannot load more than 500 clips in motion detection view - Video playback plays at incorrect speed or cuts off mid-video - App disconnects from system requiring 5-10 minute reconnection - Cameras not populating after iOS/Android updates - WiFi connectivity issues preventing remote access - Chat support feature non-functional - Password reset only available through support contact - Keyboard input issues during account creation - Login failures with correct credentials - Night vision not working or displaying in black and white - Multi-camera view defaults to single camera view - HD streaming mode not working despite multiple attempts - Live view shows still frame for 10 seconds before updating - Landscape mode removed in recent updates - Video playback freezes and pauses randomly - App incompatible with iOS 14 and later versions - Desktop CMS application has high CPU usage issues **Most requested features** - Time-based filter dropdown for recordings - Fast forward and rewind controls for video playback - Landscape mode support for iPad - Ability to scrub/seek through continuous recordings - Download all videos for a selected time range - Improved search functionality with date/time selection - Reduce duplicate motion detection notifications - Save and persist user preferences across sessions - Support for HomeKit integration - Better multi-camera view with customizable layout - Ability to rename and organize favorite cameras - Improved HD streaming quality and consistency - Desktop/Mac application updates and improvements - Android 13+ compatibility ## Newest reviews (17 of 81) ### 1/5 — App stopped working *2022-11-04, version 2.0.6* Cameras not populating after last IOS Apple update. Can this be fixed? ### 1/5 — Not connecting over WiFi again! *2022-10-04, version 2.0.6* COME ON MAN!!! FIX THIS APP ALREADY!!! THIS APP IS SUPER HORRIBLE! CAN’T EVEN VIEW MY CAMERAS ON THE PHONE!!! ### 1/5 — Half the features don’t work. *2022-07-29, version 2.0.6* -It won’t let you filter times on recording playbacks. -only shows me 40 motion recordings. -creating a favorite won’t let you type in a name. ### 1/5 — Playback quality *2022-04-26, version 2.0.6* The play back quality is horrible. If you go back to try and view a certain time frame. Depending on the time the video saved. You have to wait hours just to get to the time frame needed. There needs to be a fast forward option. This is horrible. I also had the police department come once to ask if they can see the video from the camera I have point to our alley. They where investigating a shooting and the car fled by my house. Unfortunately this app was no help and it was embarrassing. This system is the Wish version of any camera system. ### 1/5 — FIX YOUR APP *2022-03-25, version 2.0.6* I have had 2 of your systems for over 2 years. I thought you would have your app fixed by now. I haven’t seen an update in a LONG TIME. ### 1/5 — Dear Developer stop apologizing and fix the app already!!!!! *2021-11-15, version 2.0.6* To developer!! Really dislike this app/system! Please Stop apologizing and fix it already!!!! This very frustrating when you depend on this especially when you’re away for business and need to check up on the house... this is unacceptable! What’s going on with this app????? It works sometimes & but most of the the time it doesn’t work please make sure you guys update all your bug fix and such! I would attach a picture of proof so that you guys can see and improve on your app! But unfortunately it won’t allow me to attach the pictures. This is by far the worst app! Last update was two plus years ago that’s 2.0 version! Wow! **Developer response:** We want to assist you with this issue. Please contact our technical support team by calling 1-866-390-1303. We look forward to assisting you. ### 1/5 — Poor customer support and poor product *2021-08-08, version 2.0.6* If you’ve bought this product, take it back and get a refund. They’re terrible. ### 1/5 — Products are made and abandoned with no support. *2021-05-18, version 2.0.6* My security system is only 2 years old and abandoned by Night Owl. The app on my iPad hasn’t had an update in over a year. The support page no longer exists after clicking the link, which means poor customer support. App is very buggy and loses connection frequently (multiple times daily). Not a reliable security or monitoring device if away on vacation and system crashes and needs reset. I typically have to go into DVR and perform reset to get it operational again. ### 1/5 — Typical Chinese Junk *2021-05-12, version 2.0.6* App is Crap as well as the system works better Offline And now let’s have the automated response ### 1/5 — Garbage App *2021-04-08, version 2.0.6* I tried to connect my Mom’s DVR though the setup wizard but it would not connect to the device. I tried the UID, QR Code, manual and nothing worked. Using it with a THD series and it has worked before when the free DDNS service was still live. I tired to connect from my house via the app and it never asks for an IP address, DDNS address, or anything that tells the app the networking info to the DVR. Stop making apps that take away manual configuration settings to make it “easier” to use. I am a networking professional and I am baffled by this sad app. No wonder it has a 1.6 star rating. TRASH YOUR APP AND START OVER!!! ### 1/5 — I can’t view mycams not good at all *2021-04-07, version 2.0.6* Can’t view my cams on my iPhone is all screwed up not good at all ### 1/5 — Poor execution... *2021-01-31, version 2.0.6* The hardware works okay, but Night Owl software is clunky and primative. That includes NightOwlX_CMS for PC and Night Owl XHD on my iPhone. Just a downright terrible interface that is littered with non-functional and counterintuitive bits. Comes up with nothing for playback, search function doesn't work on phone or PC, and my phone only shows live view for one of four cameras. I'm tossing the whole system in the trash and replacing with a better system due to terrible software. ### 1/5 — Update broke functionality *2021-01-18, version 2.0.6* Can’t see my camera now and will no longer go into landscape mode. This is my 3rd and will be final issue with this brand. Unfortunate. ### 2/5 — No fast forward in continuous mode *2020-09-27, version 2.0.6* When reviewing video on the app for a continuous recording there is no way to fast forward or quickly scan through the video. This makes remote viewing of video feeds unusable in the app. Is there a plan to add such a feature soon? ### 1/5 — Not work on iOS 14 *2020-09-23, version 2.0.6* My system and the app worked beautifully until I updated to iOS 14. At first I could not see my cameras on my phone after the update. I check and it tells me to delete the app, reinstall, try again. Did that, still can’t connect. I try the HD version, still no good. It tells me to check the network but that is fine. I’m streaming TV and checking other, unrelated devices (thermostat, temp / humidity gauge) and they talk via the network to my phone. The timing to this problem is the new iOS update. Since the last app update shows 11 months ago, they must be related. I see my cameras on the connected monitor but not my phone. ### 1/5 — Can’t connect. *2020-09-01, version 2.0.6* Will not let me view cameras when away from home and not on my home WiFi. ### 1/5 — Please fix issues *2020-08-31, version 2.0.6* Update failed, after the update not able to view playback ,cashes ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Notificaciones *2026-03-24, version 2.0.6* Por Que no me llegan notificaciones ### 1/5 — Not able to view my recordings *2024-12-23, version 2.0.6* When I have this setup to motion bc we have cats there are many small motion clips. Everytime I’ve ever actually needed to pull up a recording the app doesn’t allow to load normally but 500 clips and after that it doesn’t even bring it up so I can attempt to watch the recording. It says it’s loading them on the count but none of the new ones appear on the list! Idk why this is but it’s very very frustrating! Having a time option to be able to choose from a drop down menu would be EXTREMELY HELPFUL!! ### 1/5 — No play back *2024-11-22, version 2.0.6* The system is crappy. Find a better system. I have not had playback for sometime already. I have 2 cameras that the night vision no longer works or is black and white. I would give no stars but i can’t ### 1/5 — Worst App ever *2024-05-27, version 2.0.6* Playback is awful. I have an iPhone. I go to playback and you have to keep refreshing from 11pm the previous night. Then keep refreshing it. By pulling down. Most of the time it stops refreshing at whatever time it feels. So if an event just happened 10 minutes prior. Looking at it from your phone is impossible. If you do happen to get to the time you need and download it. The video plays faster or it’s been cut off. ### 1/5 — No push notifications *2024-04-02, version 2.0.6* 2nd review. 1st never posted. Customer service is terrible. Can’t get help. Ouch notifications do not work ### 1/5 — Stressed and more stress *2024-01-25, version 2.0.6* No notification from the app even updated and same problem ### 1/5 — Not good for playback *2023-12-08, version 2.0.6* I have 24 night owl camera systems that I monitor. The night owl apps are absolutely HORRIBLE with play back or trying to download any video whatsoever. It allows me to see that there is video available to watch but trying to watch them or download them is absolutely not going to happen. The reason the company I work for bought this camera system is for the video,audio, and app that was supposed to allow you to download the videos and do playback with out having to go to the location to do so. Sometimes, it looks like it’s going to download and then kicks you out of the app completely so then you have to go back into the app and wait for what seems like forever for it reload the videos. And if it is a video from earlier that morning good luck trying to find it you have to go to the top of the screen to reload and it only reloads about 10 at a time (if you have over 1,000 videos this is a pain) and most of the time you get disconnected from the system so you have to wait about 5-10 mins before it will reconnect to try to redownload the clips…. You should be able to find it on the desktop application but it will not allow you to watch it or download it either. At this point the app is just trash, unless, the only reason you want it is to watch it live… I ,also, have the desktop version as well and it does the exact same thing only difference is you can’t watch the live video from the desktop. The protect app isn’t much better. I’m not sure who was in charged of developing these but it’s not even worth the download. Just watch your videos with a monitor when you can. If you are a corporation don’t even bother with this system I’m sure there is much better options out there. I don’t normally leave bad reviews but would hate for someone to get as frustrated as I am currently with this set up!! And Yes I have called the night owl help center and stayed on the phone with them for hours trying to figure this out a few years ago when it was just one system and they could not figure it out as well. We also upgraded our internet thinking maybe that was the problem… that didn’t help either. Now that most of them don’t download or do playback we have figured out it’s nothing that we are doing wrong but most definitely a night owl problem. ### 1/5 — Dear Developer stop apologizing and fix the app already!!!!! *2023-12-04* To developer!! I Really don’t like this app/system! Please Stop apologizing and fix it already!!!! The last time this app was updated was 4years ago! Wow! I’am just shocked!!! This very frustrating when you depend on this especially when you’re away for business and need to check up on the house... this is unacceptable! What’s going on with this app????? It works sometimes & but most of the the time it doesn’t work please make sure you guys update all your bug fix and such! I would attach a picture of proof so that you guys can see and improve on your app! But unfortunately it won’t allow me to attach the pictures. This is by far the worst app! Last update was two plus years ago that’s 2.0 version! Wow! **Developer response:** We want to assist you with this issue. Please contact our technical support team by calling 1-866-390-1303. We look forward to assisting you. ### 1/5 — Needs an update ASAP *2023-06-22, version 2.0.6* Make it compatible with android 13 ### 1/5 — So bad *2023-02-16, version 2.0.6* I would never recommend these cameras only because this app is horrible. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — It Does Work, But Only If You Do This… *2022-11-05, version 2.0.6* The app does work, but only if you grant it access to the “local network.” That setting can be found in the NightOwl app’s settings, which is in your iPad/iPhone’s settings menu (the icon that looks like gears). Be patient, make sure that everything is set correctly and connected at your NightOwl DVR, and you will be able to get this app to work. ### 5/5 — You Are Doing It Wrong! *2020-01-13, version 2.0.6* *READY? WE HAVE TWO 8 CAMERA WIRELESS SYSTEMS! 1 IN FRONT, 1 IN BACK! 16 CAMERAS*