You can view recorded CCTV footage on a CP Plus DVR in 3 ways. Use the recorder menu first. Use the phone app or a web page for remote viewing. Export a clip to USB when you need a copy. CP Plus guides do not name the export file format. Menu names differ by model.
You need last night's clip from your CP Plus recorder. Live view shows only right now.
You get 3 ways to view recorded CCTV footage with menu paths from CP Plus guides. You also get the limits I could not verify.
Where does a CP Plus Recorder Store Footage?
Your recorder saves video on its internal hard disk. CP Plus Quick Start says the default schedule records 24 hours a day on all channels.
Find the schedule under Main Menu, Storage, Schedule and Record. Viewing recorded CCTV footage works only for hours the schedule covered.
| Method | Best for | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recorder menu | Quick check at the site | Monitor and mouse |
| Phone or PC | Remote viewing | Network setup |
| USB export | A copy of one clip | USB drive |
How do You Play Footage on the Recorder?
Who it suits. Owners with a monitor and a mouse at the recorder. Extra application. None needed.
- Open the menu. Right click the live view and select Main Menu.
- Log in. Enter your recorder password when the screen asks.
- Open the search screen. Main Menu and Video opens the search and playback screen in the Quick Start Guide.
- Choose the clip. Set the date, the time and the channel on that screen.
- Play it. CP Plus manuals list slow, backward and frame by frame playback.
Pro Tip. CP Plus's AI DVR manual also lists Search in the right click menu. Try it when your Main Menu shows no Video item.
How do You Watch Footage From a Phone or PC?
Who it suits. Owners who need footage away from the site. Extra application. CP Plus phone app or a web browser.
- Enable InstaOn. Select Main Menu, Network and InstaOn on the recorder.
- Add the recorder to the app. In the Cell Phone Client app select Device Manager, Add Device and InstaOn. Scan the QR code.
- Try the web page. Type the recorder IP into a browser. CP Plus lists 192.168.1.240 as the default web address.
- Install the plugin. First live view on the web page asks for one.
Quick Start stops at live view. Open the playback menu of the app or page to find your clip. CP Plus's manual also names KVMS Pro Lite as PC software for remote record search.
How do You Export Footage to USB?
Who it suits. Owners who need a copy for police or an insurer. Source file size limit. Not stated in the CP Plus guides I found. Extra application. Player software on your PC.
CP Plus's manual lists Backing up Recorded Video and a backup chapter with Finding USB Device and Backing up Files. CP Plus's V1.02 manual names USB drives, portable hard disks and burners as backup media.
- Plug in the USB drive. Use the port on the recorder.
- Find the USB device. Open the backup screen and select the drive.
- Select the clip and start. Choose the date, time and channel and begin the backup.
- Wait for the finish. Do not unplug the drive early.
CP Plus's V1.02 manual calls the exported file a special data format. Our guide to CCTV playback on a PC lists player options.
Which Limits Apply to These Steps?
- Menu names. Guides I found show Video and Search. Your model can label buttons in its own way.
- Playback detail. I could confirm the chapter titles for calendar search and backup and not every button.
- Export format. CP Plus does not name it in the pages I found.
- Missing footage. Paused schedules or a missing hard disk mean nothing to play. See the guide on DVR not detecting HDD.
My Verdict on CP Plus Playback
Start at the recorder menu because it needs no network. Move to the app only after InstaOn works.
Export one short test clip before you need a long one. Viewing recorded CCTV footage from a copy is safer than from the recorder.
Key Takeaways
- Main Menu and Video opens the search screen.
- Default schedules record 24 hours on all channels.
- InstaOn links the recorder to the phone app.
- Test a USB copy on a PC before you rely on it.
Next Read
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a CP Plus DVR Record All Day by Default?
Yes. CP Plus sets the default schedule to 24 hours on all channels. Check it under Main Menu, Storage, Schedule and Record.
Does Phone Viewing Work Without Network Setup?
No. CP Plus tells you to enable InstaOn first. Then you add the device in the app with a QR code.
Do I Need a Password to Open the Menu?
Yes. CP Plus says to log in after you select Main Menu.
Is the Web Address the Same on Every Recorder?
No. CP Plus lists 192.168.1.240 as the default. Ask your installer for the address your recorder uses.
Can I Copy Footage to a USB Drive?
Yes. CP Plus's manual lists Finding USB Device and Backing up Files. Menu names differ by model.
Does CP Plus Name the Export File Format?
No. CP Plus's V1.02 manual calls it a special data format. Test one clip on your PC first.
Should I Test the Copy Before I Delete Anything?
Yes. Play the copy on a PC before you rely on it. Our guide to CCTV playback on a PC lists options.
Jamie blends strategic marketing insight with technical writing, turning migration and recovery topics into guidance that works for technical and general readers alike.
Published 11 November 2026. Menu steps come from the CP Plus Quick Start Guide Version 2.01 and the contents of the CP Plus AI Digital Video Recorder User's Manual V2.1. The backup media and file format notes come from the CP Plus DVR User's Manual V1.02. Menu names differ by model. Check the manual of your own recorder. Test one exported clip before you rely on it.