How to Troubleshoot an Axis Camera That Is Not Recording
An Axis camera that isn't recording is a critical failure of its primary purpose. Whether you're using local storage like an SD card or recording to a network-attached storage (NAS) device, a failure to record leaves you without crucial security footage. This guide will walk you through the common causes and solutions for Axis recording problems, helping you restore your system's functionality.
## Understanding the Common Causes of Recording Failures
Most recording issues can be traced back to a few key areas. By understanding these, you can quickly narrow down the source of the problem.
- Storage Issues: The storage medium (SD card or NAS) could be full, corrupted, disconnected, or not properly formatted.
- Configuration and Scheduling: The camera's recording schedule might be disabled, or the rules for event-based recording (like motion detection) may be misconfigured.
- Motion Detection (VMD) Settings: The sensitivity for motion detection might be too low, or the detection zones could be incorrectly defined, causing the camera to miss events.
- Network Problems: If you are recording to a network share or VMS, a network outage or incorrect credentials can prevent the camera from saving footage.
- Firmware Glitches: An outdated or buggy firmware version can sometimes cause recording functions to fail.
## A Systematic Approach to Fixing Recording Issues
Follow these steps in order to diagnose and resolve the problem with your Axis camera.
### Step 1: Check the Storage
The first place to look is always the destination for your recordings.
- Check Storage Status: Log in to your Axis camera's web interface. Navigate to
System > Storage. Here you will see the status of your connected storage devices (e.g., SD card, network share). Look for any error messages like "Failed," "Full," or "Read-only." - Verify Free Space: Ensure there is sufficient free space available. If the storage is full, you need to either manually delete old footage or configure the camera's retention settings to automatically overwrite the oldest recordings.
- Test the SD Card: If you are using an SD card, it may have become corrupted. Power down the camera, remove the SD card, and test it in a computer. If the computer cannot read it, the card has failed and needs to be replaced. If it can be read, it's a good practice to perform a full format of the card (using the camera's web interface for best compatibility) and then reconfigure the recording settings.
- Check Network Storage Connection: If recording to a NAS or network share, verify that the camera can still communicate with the storage device. Check network cables, ensure the NAS is powered on, and verify that the username and password in the camera's storage settings are still correct.
### Step 2: Review Your Recording Configuration
If the storage seems fine, the next step is to check the camera's recording rules and schedules.
- Continuous Recording: If you expect the camera to record 24/7, go to
Recording > Continuous Recording. Ensure that the "Enabled" box is ticked and that the schedule is active for all hours. - Event-Based Recording (Motion Detection): This is the most common setup.
- Go to
Events > Action Rules. Find the rule that triggers recording on motion detection. Ensure the rule is active. - Click to edit the rule. Verify that the "Condition" is set to the correct motion detection profile (e.g., VMD 4) and that the "Action" is to record video with the correct stream profile and duration.
- Navigate to the motion detection application itself (e.g.,
Apps > Axis Video Motion Detection). Check that the detection zones are drawn correctly over the areas you want to monitor and that the sensitivity is set appropriately. You can often see a live indicator to test if motion is being triggered.
- Go to
### Step 3: System and Firmware Checks
- Check the System Log: The camera's system log is an invaluable tool. Go to
System > Logs & reports > System log. Look for any entries around the time that recording should have occurred. Error messages here can point directly to the problem. - Update Firmware: Visit the Axis website and check for the latest firmware for your camera model. Firmware updates often contain important bug fixes that can resolve issues with recording and storage management.
- Reboot the Camera: A simple reboot from the web interface (
System > Maintenance) can sometimes resolve temporary software glitches that may be interfering with the recording process.
By systematically checking your storage, configuration, and system settings, you can effectively troubleshoot and resolve almost any recording issue with your Axis camera.