Is Your Aiphone System Warning You That Storage is Full?
An Aiphone intercom system provides peace of mind by recording visitor interactions and motion events. However, this valuable feature can be interrupted if the system runs out of storage space. Seeing a "Storage Full" or "Memory Full" error means your system can no longer save new recordings, potentially leaving you vulnerable. This guide will help you understand, manage, and resolve storage issues with your Aiphone system.
Understanding Your Aiphone's Storage
Most modern Aiphone video intercoms use either internal memory or a removable microSD card to store recordings. Over time, as new videos are saved, this space gets filled up. Understanding how your system manages this is the first step to solving the problem.
- Internal Memory: Some models have a fixed amount of internal storage. Once full, you must manually delete files to make space.
- SD Card Storage: Many models use a microSD card, which allows for flexible storage capacity. When full, the card needs to be managed or replaced.
- Overwrite Function: Most systems have an "overwrite" or "loop recording" feature. When enabled, it automatically deletes the oldest recordings to create space for new ones. If this is turned off, recording will stop once the storage is full.
How to Check Your Current Storage Usage
Before taking action, it's helpful to see how much space is being used.
- Access your Aiphone master station or monitor.
- Navigate to the settings or system menu.
- Look for an option labelled "Storage," "SD Card," or "Memory."
- This screen should display the total capacity and the amount of space currently used, often as a percentage or a graph.
Step-by-Step: Freeing Up Storage Space
If your storage is full and recording has stopped, you need to clear some space.
1. Manually Deleting Recordings
This is the most direct way to free up space.
- From your master station, go to the "Playback" or "Recordings" list.
- Browse through your saved video files.
- Select the recordings you no longer need. Most systems allow you to select individual files or an option to "Delete All."
- Confirm the deletion. This action is permanent, so be sure you have saved any important footage elsewhere before deleting.
2. Enabling the Overwrite Feature
For hassle-free storage management, enabling loop recording is essential.
- Go to the "Settings" menu on your master station.
- Find the "Recording" or "Storage" submenu.
- Locate the "Overwrite" or "Loop Recording" option and ensure it is turned ON.
- With this setting active, you will no longer receive "Storage Full" errors, as the system will manage the space itself.
Optimising and Upgrading Your Storage
To prevent the issue from recurring, consider these long-term solutions.
Adjust Recording Settings
You can often reduce the amount of space each recording uses. In the settings, look for options to:
- Lower the Resolution: Recording in a slightly lower resolution (e.g., 720p instead of 1080p) can significantly save space without a major loss in quality.
- Adjust Frame Rate: A lower frame rate (e.g., 15 fps) uses less data than a higher one (e.g., 30 fps).
- Refine Motion Detection: Ensure you are only recording when necessary by adjusting motion detection sensitivity and setting up specific activity zones.
Upgrade Your SD Card
If your Aiphone system uses a microSD card, the easiest solution is to upgrade to a larger capacity.
- Check Compatibility: Consult your Aiphone model's manual for the maximum supported SD card size (e.g., 32GB, 64GB, 128GB).
- Choose the Right Type: Always use a high-endurance card designed for security cameras. These are built for constant rewriting and are more reliable.
- Format the New Card: After inserting the new, larger card, be sure to format it using the Aiphone system's menu to ensure proper compatibility and performance.