Citroen built in dash cam reactivated

[Paut]

ConnectedCAM is the app that you needed to activate the built in dash cam and according to Citroen which are right that app can no longer be found in google play store because it was remove but there are alternative play stores site that still have the app ConnectedCAM.

Not going into detail it will take to long but my built in dash cam is activated

[mickthemaverick]

No long story needed but at least a clue for others may be helpful

[Paut]

Okay mick, first of all this is just for a android phone not to sure about iPhone also I found AI to be a great help in guiding me in the right direction by just asking AI some questions on what I was looking for, okay first of all you need to go to apkpure it's a alternative app store now you might have to download that app store but when there type in connectedcam then download that on to your phone, the password for your dash cam is ConnectedCAM the port to my dash cam is on the passenger side and it's a usb male port so I had to get usb c adapter now at the beginning it took me a while to figure things out, apparently my dash cam has it's own built in storage sd card so when you have the cable sorted and plug in there should appear a symbol at the top of your phone slid your finger down on that and press open and hopefully you should see what your dash cam has recorded

[Paut]

Forgot to mention check your wifi for connectedcam when you have the cables in but when you're using android auto it's best not to have connectedcam on in wifi I found it stop voice command on android auto

[Richard_C]

Just to add to this for anyone searching for answers for the C3 dash cam in future. Some models and trims had them fitted as standard and the UK printed handbook implies that you have to use the connected cam app to make use of it. But, there is a small 'quick start' guide which came with the C3 which tells you more including showing where the physical buttons are. If you use the downloaded pdf manual it too has details of the buttons.

Moving on, somewhere along the Android update trail the app no longer met the security requirements - I think around Android 13 - but Citroen simply withdrew it from the playstore: customers with cars less than 6 years old and new or upgraded phones could no longer use the app. That, together with the less than useful printed manual rendered the camera useless.

But it didn't - if you look at the downloaded manual you find that can use the camera without the app. You can activate it with a button (it remembers its state so works on the ignition, you should only need to reactivate if you disconnect the battery) and access the recorded files using a micro usb connection to your phone, tablet or laptop using a file manager programme. It's not as convenient as the app, but you don't need to download anything from 3rd party sites which may be a risk.

The almost hidden button under the camera body activates it, it continuously records in 2 minute blocks and ovewrites itself when full - 2 or 3 weeks of recordings kept at any time - and there is a still photo button in the side facing away from the RHD UK driver. I think there is a green led on that side that shows it is activated.

I had no interest in it at all, after the novelty of the first week we had it, but a few months ago our neighbour was victim of an insurance scam near our sleepy village so I thought I would check it was working. The quality is OK 'for the record' but lower than even the cheapest modern 3rd party dash cam: I fitted a Kawa Mini 3 - if I recall about £25 - to the C4 and that has a much better image quality and no reliance on Citroen keeping an app up to date as android evolves. I only want it 'in case' so simple is fine.

[Paut]

Thank Richard, It's good to know that the Citroen dash cam is recording and the drivers can get access to it, I remember a couple of years back I phone Citroen and ask about the dash cam and was told that dash cam no longer records it's only there as a sensor and I believe that and then a good few months back I was looking for a camera that I could fit inside the housing area where the dash cam is and that's when I started to find out more about the camera that is already there, now to be honest it madding me when I found out I was driving a car with a fitted dash cam that unknown to me for those couple of years was recording all along, but hey if you can get access to it without having to download the app then great in fact I'm going to uninstall the app in the next few days and see if I can still access the recording and if I can then brilliant.

On another note I read that the car manufactures are parting ways with android auto.

[Paut]

Richard what downloaded pdf manual are you referring to thanks

[Paut]

Okay update, a few days back I uninstall the app on my phone took the car for a spin plugged the cable in but had no access to the recording so left it for a few days and today again took the car for a spin plugged the cable in and still no access to the recording so I had a look at the wifi on my phone and ConnectecCAM was still there but it was not set to connect so put in the password and again took the car for a spin and again plugged the cable in and this time I had access to the recording which was great, so on the way back I disconnect the wifi and when I got home you know what, I still had access to the recording, will check again in a few days.

[Paut]

No long story needed but at least a clue for others may be helpful

I remember the time I had a hillman avenger I use to keep a plank of wood in the boot to hit the starter, easy time man

[Richard_C]

Richard what downloaded pdf manual are you referring to thanks

The one that Citroen make available. A sticky post further up this forum will guide you to it, or Citroen.co.uk and look around, maybe under owners.

I recall in the olden days of the working app my phone automatically connected to the home network when I was in the drive, I think I had to disconnect that and connect to the camera. An extra step

If you are content with the wire, on your phone under WiFi find the connected cam and tell it to forget this network. Should do it

[Paut]

(If you are content with the wire, on your phone under WiFi find the connected cam and tell it to forget this network. Should do it)

Yeah already did that, funny I tried a awful lot of things but anyway the dashcam is working without the app which is great I can even upload the recording to my phone with the cable and it's not interfering with the sensors but now, I'm looking for a rear view camera.