Troubleshooting: Why Is My Axis Camera Not Recording 24/7?
Axis cameras are professional-grade surveillance devices known for their reliability and advanced features. One of their core functions is the ability to record footage continuously, 24/7, to ensure no event is ever missed. When you discover that your camera has stopped recording or is only capturing clips intermittently, it's a critical issue that needs immediate attention.
This guide will help you diagnose and resolve the common reasons why an Axis camera might fail to perform continuous recording, focusing on issues related to on-board storage like SD cards.
Common Causes for Recording Failures
Unlike simple consumer cameras, Axis devices offer complex configuration options. A failure in 24/7 recording is typically due to one of the following:
- Incorrect Recording Mode: The camera is likely set to record on motion detection or other triggers, not continuously.
- SD Card Failure: The microSD card inside the camera has reached the end of its lifespan, has become corrupted, or is not the correct type for surveillance use.
- Storage is Full: The SD card is full, and the camera is not configured to automatically overwrite the oldest footage.
- Misconfigured Storage: If recording to a network location (NAS), the connection path or credentials may be incorrect.
- Outdated Firmware: Bugs in the camera's firmware can sometimes interfere with recording operations.
Step-by-Step Guide to Restore Continuous Recording
To troubleshoot this issue, you will likely need to access your camera's web interface by typing its IP address into a web browser on a computer connected to the same network.
1. Verify the Recording Mode
The most common reason for a lack of 24/7 recording is simply that the camera isn't told to do so.
- Log in to your Axis camera's web interface.
- Navigate to Settings > Recording & Events. The exact menu name may vary slightly by model.
- Look for a section called Recording Mode or Continuous Recording.
- Ensure that the recording is set to Continuous or Always. If it's set to 'On Motion' or another triggered event, this is your problem. Change the setting and save the configuration.
2. Inspect the SD Card and Storage Status
The health of your storage medium is critical for continuous recording. Standard SD cards are not designed for the constant writing that 24/7 recording demands and will fail relatively quickly.
- In the web interface, go to Settings > System > Storage.
- This page will show you the status of your installed microSD card.
- Check the Status: Look for any error messages. If the status is 'Read-only', 'Failed', or 'Unavailable', the card needs to be replaced.
- Check the Capacity: The page will show if the card is full. If it is, and recording has stopped, your overwrite settings are incorrect (see next step).
- Use the Right Card: For surveillance, you must use a high-endurance or surveillance-grade microSD card. These are specifically designed to handle the constant read/write cycles. If you are using a standard card from a phone or photo camera, it is guaranteed to fail. Replace it with the correct type.
3. Configure Storage Overwriting Rules
To record 24/7 on a loop, the camera must be set to automatically delete the oldest footage to make space for the new.
- While in the Storage settings menu, look for Storage Rules or Disk Management.
- Find the setting that dictates what to do when the disk is full.
- Ensure the option "When full, overwrite oldest recordings" (or similar wording) is selected.
- If it's set to "Stop recording when full," the camera will do exactly that, and this is why your 24/7 recording has ceased.
4. Format or Replace the SD Card
If the SD card is showing errors, you can try reformatting it as a temporary fix.
- In the Storage menu, there should be an option to Format the disk. This will erase all existing footage.
- After formatting, the camera may resume recording correctly.
- However, be aware that a card that has produced an error once is very likely to fail again soon. Formatting is often just a temporary solution. The best practice is to replace a faulty card immediately to avoid future data loss.
5. Update Camera Firmware
Ensure your camera is running the latest firmware from Axis. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements to storage handling and overall stability. You can check for and install new firmware through the camera's web interface under the System or Maintenance tabs.