Amcrest Not Recording 24/7? How to Fix It

Is Your Amcrest Camera Failing to Record 24/7?

Setting up your Amcrest camera for continuous 24/7 recording provides the highest level of security, ensuring that you have a complete, uninterrupted video timeline. However, it can be alarming to discover gaps in your footage or find that the camera has stopped recording altogether. This issue is often caused by incorrect settings, storage problems, or firmware glitches.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the necessary steps to diagnose and resolve the reasons your Amcrest camera is not recording continuously. We will cover everything from checking your recording schedule and storage health to ensuring your camera's software is up to date.

Common Symptoms of Recording Failure

If your Amcrest camera isn't recording 24/7 as expected, you will likely notice one or more of the following signs:

• Gaps in the Timeline: When you review footage, there are missing periods of time.
• Recording Stops: The camera records for a while and then stops for no apparent reason.
• "No Disk" or "SD Card Error": The system displays an error message indicating a problem with the storage medium.
• Motion-Only Recording: The camera only saves clips when motion is detected, even though you have set it for continuous recording.
• Schedule Not Working: The recording schedule you configured in the settings is being ignored by the camera.
• Old Footage is Not Overwritten: The storage becomes full, and the camera stops recording instead of overwriting the oldest files.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Work through these solutions systematically to identify and fix the root cause of your recording problem.

1. Verify Your Recording Configuration

The most common reason for a lack of 24/7 recording is a simple misconfiguration in the camera's settings.

• Check the Recording Schedule:

  1. Log into your Amcrest camera's web interface using a browser or use the Amcrest View Pro app.
  2. Navigate to Setup -> Storage -> Schedule.
  3. Ensure the "General" or "Regular" recording tab is selected.
  4. You will see a grid representing the hours of the day and days of the week. Make sure all the boxes are coloured in for the times you want to record continuously.
  5. Click "Save" to apply the settings. This is a crucial step that is often missed.

• Enable Overwrite:

  1. In the storage settings, find the "Disk Management" or "Record Control" section.
  2. Ensure the "Overwrite" or "Recycle Record" option is enabled. This allows the camera to automatically delete the oldest footage to make space for new recordings once the storage is full.

2. Inspect Your Storage Medium

The health and configuration of your microSD card, NVR hard drive, or cloud storage are critical for continuous recording.

• For MicroSD Cards:
  • Compatibility: Ensure you are using a high-endurance microSD card (Class 10 or higher) from a reputable brand. Standard SD cards can fail quickly under the strain of constant writing.
  • Format the Card: The best practice is to format the microSD card using the camera's own interface. This ensures the file system is perfectly matched to the camera's requirements. You can find this option in the Storage -> Disk Management menu.
• For NVR/DVRs:
  • Hard Drive Status: Access your NVR's main menu and look for a storage or HDD status page. Verify that the hard drive is recognised, healthy, and has free space.
  • Re-initialise the Drive: If you suspect an issue, backing up any critical footage and re-initialising (formatting) the hard drive through the NVR's menu can resolve many problems.

3. Update Camera and NVR Firmware

Firmware bugs are a common source of unexpected behaviour. Keeping your devices updated is an essential troubleshooting step.

1. Visit the official Amcrest support website and find the downloads or firmware page for your specific camera or NVR model.
2. Download the latest firmware file to your computer.
3. Log into your device's web interface and navigate to the Setup -> System -> Upgrade section.
4. Upload the downloaded file and start the upgrade process. Do not power off the device during the update.

Advanced Solutions

If the basic steps did not resolve the issue, the problem might be more complex.

• Check Network Stability: While less common for continuous SD card recording, an unstable network connection can sometimes interrupt recording processes, especially if the camera's time sync is affected. Ensure your camera has a strong and stable Wi-Fi or wired connection.
• Factory Reset: As a last resort, performing a factory reset can clear any deep-seated software glitches. After resetting, you will need to set up the camera from scratch, including the recording schedule.