Amcrest Camera Not Recording Continuously? Fix it Now

Solving Amcrest No Continuous Recording Problems

One of the most critical features of an Amcrest security camera is its ability to record footage continuously, ensuring you have a complete record of events. When this function fails, it creates significant security vulnerabilities. If your camera is only recording motion clips or has stopped recording altogether, this guide will provide the solutions you need.

We'll walk you through the essential settings, storage management, and troubleshooting steps specific to Amcrest cameras to restore your 24/7 recording and give you peace of mind.

Key Reasons Amcrest Cameras Stop Continuous Recording

Understanding the potential causes is the first step to fixing the problem. For Amcrest cameras, the issue usually falls into one of these categories:

• Incorrect Schedule Configuration: The camera is not instructed to record continuously.
• Storage Issues: The Micro SD card or Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is full, corrupted, or not properly initialised.
• Firmware Glitches: The camera's internal software has a bug that is interfering with recording operations.
• Hardware Failure: The storage medium itself has failed.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring 24/7 Recording

Follow these instructions methodically to diagnose and fix the issue. You will need to access your camera's web user interface (web UI) through a browser.

1. Verify and Configure the Recording Schedule

This is the most common reason for a lack of continuous recording. You need to ensure the camera is set to record 24/7 under the 'General' setting, not just for motion detection.

• Log in to the Web UI: Open a web browser, enter your camera's IP address, and log in.
• Navigate to Schedule: Go to Setup → Storage → Schedule.
• Set the Schedule: You will see a timetable for the week. Make sure the 'General' tab is selected (not 'Motion' or 'Alarm'). Click the 'All' button to the right of the timetable to select all days. Then, drag your cursor across the entire grid for each day. The squares should turn green, indicating general, continuous recording is scheduled for all hours.
• Save Your Settings: Click Save to apply the changes.

2. Check and Manage Your Storage Device

If the schedule is correct, the next logical step is to inspect the storage.

• Navigate to Storage Manager: Go to Setup → Storage → Destination.
• Check the Status: In the 'Path' tab, you should see your SD card or HDD listed. Check its status. It should show as 'Normal'. If it shows 'Error' or is not visible, there is a problem with the device.
• Format the Device: This will erase all existing footage. It is often necessary to format the storage device using the camera's software to ensure compatibility. Select the device and click the Format button. Wait for the process to complete, which may require the camera to reboot.
• Enable Overwrite: To prevent recording from stopping when the storage is full, go to the 'Record Control' tab and check the box for Overwrite. This will automatically delete the oldest files to make room for new ones. Click Save.

3. Update the Camera's Firmware

Bugs in the camera's software can cause a wide range of issues, including recording failures.

• Find Your Model and Firmware Version: You can usually find this information in the Setup → Information → Version section of the web UI.
• Visit Amcrest Support: Go to the official Amcrest support website and find the downloads page for your specific camera model.
• Download and Install: If a newer firmware version is available, download the file. Then, in the camera's web UI, navigate to Setup → System → Upgrade and follow the instructions to upload and install the new firmware. Do not unplug the camera during this process.

4. Test with a Different Storage Device

If you have completed all the steps above and continuous recording still isn't working, the Micro SD card or HDD itself may be faulty.

• Use a High-Quality Card: Use a reliable, high-endurance Micro SD card designed for surveillance cameras. Standard SD cards can fail quickly under the constant strain of 24/7 recording.
• Swap and Test: Power down the camera, insert a new or different SD card, power it back on, and repeat the formatting and scheduling steps above. If recording begins to work correctly, you have confirmed the original storage device was the problem.

Contacting Support

If even a new storage device doesn't resolve the issue, you may be facing a more complex hardware problem with the camera itself. At this stage, it's best to reach out to Amcrest's official technical support for further assistance.