Holographic recording mode

"Voice override, actuating code Epsilon Actual. Switch to holographic recording mode. Acknowledge, Artoo."

- Leia Organa to R2-D2

Holographic recording mode was a means by which a holographic recording could be made. It was built into certain astromech droids like R2-D2 and Princess Leia Organa used it to record and store a message to Obi-Wan Kenobi before sending the droid away from the Tantive IV on an escape pod.

Behind the scenes
Holographic recording mode was introduced as the means by which Leia Organa recorded her message to Obi-Wan Kenobi on R2-D2 in the radio version of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. While this story, along with other releases of A New Hope released prior to April 25, 2014 are no longer considered canon, holographic recording mode was confirmed in canon as the means by which Leia Organa used to record her message in the story A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy.

Appearances

 * A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy