Is Your Bosch Camera Not Saving Recordings Locally?
Using a microSD card for local storage in your Bosch security camera is an excellent way to ensure you have a backup of your video footage, even if your network connection goes down. However, it can be alarming to discover that your camera has stopped saving recordings or is displaying an SD card error.
This guide will help you troubleshoot the most common reasons why your Bosch camera may be failing to save video locally and provide you with the steps to resolve the issue.
Identifying Local Storage Problems
You'll know you have an issue with your local storage if you see any of these signs:
- The camera's app displays an "SD Card Error" or "No SD Card" message.
- You can view the live stream, but no new recordings are appearing in the playback timeline.
- The camera fails to format the SD card, often returning an error message.
- Previously saved recordings have disappeared or are unplayable.
- The app shows that the storage is full, even though it should be overwriting old footage.
- Continuous or motion-triggered recording stops working.
How to Fix Bosch Local Storage and SD Card Issues
Follow these steps in order to diagnose and solve the problem.
1. Ensure You Are Using a Compatible SD Card
The type and quality of your microSD card are critical. Not all cards are created equal, and security cameras place high demands on them with constant writing and rewriting.
- Use a Reputable Brand: Stick to well-known brands like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston. Avoid generic, unbranded cards as they have high failure rates.
- Check for "High Endurance": Look for cards specifically designed for security cameras or dashcams. These are labelled as "High Endurance" or "Video Monitoring" cards and are built for constant use.
- Verify Compatibility: Check your Bosch camera's user manual or technical specifications for the maximum supported SD card capacity (e.g., 32GB, 64GB, 256GB). Using a card that is too large can cause it to be unrecognised.
- Speed Class: Ensure the card is at least Class 10 or has a V30 rating to handle high-definition video recording.
2. Format the SD Card in the Camera
This is the most important step. An SD card must be formatted correctly for the camera to use it. Formatting it on a PC or Mac is not the same and can lead to errors.
- Insert the Card: With the camera powered off, carefully insert the microSD card into the slot until it clicks into place.
- Power On: Power the camera back on.
- Use the App: Open the Bosch mobile app or web interface for your camera.
- Find Storage Settings: Navigate to the camera's Settings and look for a Storage or SD Card menu.
- Format: Select the "Format" or "Initialise" option. This will erase everything on the card. Confirm the action and let the process complete.
If the formatting process fails, the card itself is likely faulty or incompatible.
3. Power Cycle the Camera
Sometimes, the camera may not have correctly detected the SD card on startup. A simple reboot can force it to check again.
- Unplug the camera: Disconnect the power supply.
- Wait: Leave it unplugged for at least 30 seconds.
- Re-insert Card: For good measure, you can eject and re-insert the SD card to ensure it is seated correctly.
- Plug it back in: Reconnect the power and wait for the camera to fully boot up before checking the app again.
4. Inspect the SD Card and Slot
If the problem persists, it's time to check for physical issues.
- Test the Card: Remove the SD card from the camera and insert it into a computer using a card reader. See if the computer can recognise it and if you can read and write files to it. If the computer also fails to see it, the card is dead.
- Check for a Lock: If you are using a microSD card in a larger SD card adapter, make sure the tiny lock switch on the side of the adapter is not in the "Lock" position.
- Inspect the Slot: Look inside the camera's SD card slot with a torch to see if there is any debris or if any of the metal contact pins look bent or damaged.