What Is Continuous Loop Recording on a Dashcam?
Continuous loop recording is a dashcam feature that automatically overwrites the oldest footage when your phone's storage fills, so recording never stops. Hawk dashcam uses this method to ensure you're always capturing your drives without manual intervention.
How Continuous Loop Recording Works
When you start Hawk dashcam recording, it writes video clips to your phone's storage in sequence. Once storage reaches capacity, the app automatically deletes the oldest clip and starts a new one, creating a continuous cycle. This means if you drive every day, you'll always have the most recent footage available, with older clips gradually removed unless you lock them. Hawk stores up to 10 free clips with 7-day retention on the free tier, or unlimited clips with longer retention on Local Pro. You decide which clips to preserve by locking them to the evidence locker, where they stay indefinitely with biometric protection.
Why Loop Recording Matters for Drivers
Without loop recording, you'd need to manually delete old footage or buy extra storage constantly. Loop recording solves this by automating the process. For daily commuters and rideshare drivers, it means Hawk runs silently in the background without you thinking about it. The moment an accident happens, you tap the app to lock that footage, preserving the exact evidence you need. All locked clips stay in your evidence locker forever, and Hawk writes a SHA-256 integrity hash to every clip, so the footage is cryptographically verifiable if you need to submit it to insurance, police, or court.
Loop Recording on Hawk vs Dedicated Dashcams
Most dedicated dashcams use loop recording because they have limited storage. Hawk does the same but on your phone, so you avoid buying separate hardware. Your iPhone or Android already has a camera, GPS, and screen; Hawk simply repurposes them as a court-ready dashcam. When you lock clips in the evidence locker, they sync to your own iCloud account (on Pro), so you have a backup beyond your phone. If you also need cabin recording or multi-trip shift mode for rideshare work, Hawk's Rideshare Pro tier adds those features while keeping loop recording running for both front and interior cameras.
Controlling Loop Recording in Hawk
Hawk gives you full control over what you keep. Start recording with one tap, and the app loops continuously. Any clip you want to preserve goes into the evidence locker via a single tap, where it's locked with biometric security and never overwritten. Free users get 10 clips and 7-day retention; Local Pro removes the clip limit and extends retention to 30 days, so you have more time before old footage expires. With lifetime access or an annual subscription, you also unlock one-tap dispute export, where Hawk bundles all your locked clips into a ZIP file with a SHA-256 manifest you can send directly to an insurer or police officer. Siri Shortcuts (Pro feature) lets you save clips by voice command while driving, so you never take your hands off the wheel.
Storage, GDPR, and Evidence Integrity
Loop recording uses your phone's local storage, not cloud servers. Hawk never auto-uploads your footage to MRVL servers; only Pro clips you explicitly lock sync to your iCloud. This keeps you in control of your driving data and compliant with GDPR. When you export a dispute ZIP, you're exporting from your own phone to your email or message app. Hawk's SHA-256 hash on every clip proves the footage hasn't been tampered with, a feature courts and insurance companies recognise as evidence-grade. The GPS overlay (speed, timestamp, location) is optional and only active if you enable it in your GDPR profile settings, so you decide what metadata to record.
Start recording your drives with Hawk dashcam today. Download now and get your first 10 clips free.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawk automatically delete old footage?
Yes. Hawk uses loop recording to overwrite the oldest clips when storage fills. Clips you lock in the evidence locker are never deleted and sync to your iCloud (on Pro), so important footage stays safe permanently.
How long does Hawk keep footage before deleting it?
Free tier: 7 days. Local Pro and Rideshare Pro: 30 days. Locked clips in the evidence locker stay indefinitely. You decide which clips to preserve by locking them.
Can I export my footage for insurance or police?
Yes. Pro users can tap once to export all locked clips as a ZIP file with a SHA-256 manifest, which you can email directly to your insurer or police department. The manifest proves the footage hasn't been altered.
Does Hawk record video to the cloud automatically?
No. Hawk records to your phone's local storage and only syncs locked Pro clips to your own iCloud account. You control what leaves your device.
What happens if my phone runs out of storage?
Loop recording will pause. Clear space on your phone, and Hawk resumes automatically. Locked clips in the evidence locker are unaffected and stay protected.
Can I use Hawk as my main dashcam without buying a dedicated one?
Yes. Hawk turns your iPhone or Android into a full dashcam with continuous loop recording, GPS overlay, and evidence export. Daily commuters and rideshare drivers use it as their only dashcam; Rideshare Pro adds cabin camera for interior recording.