Why Is My Bosch Camera Not Recording? A Troubleshooting Guide
A security camera's primary job is to record what happens. It's a serious problem if you discover your Bosch camera has missed recording a crucial event. This issue can stem from several sources, ranging from simple configuration errors to problems with your storage media.
This guide will help you systematically diagnose why your camera is missing recordings and provide clear, actionable steps to ensure every important moment is captured reliably.
## Understanding the Recording Process
For an event to be recorded, a chain of things needs to happen correctly:
- Motion Occurs: The camera must physically see movement.
- Trigger: The camera's software must recognise this movement as a valid motion event based on your settings.
- Record: The camera must be instructed to record when a trigger occurs.
- Store: The camera needs a working and available place to save the video file (an SD card or cloud storage).
A failure at any point in this chain will result in a missed recording.
## Common Reasons for Missed Recordings
Let's explore the most frequent culprits and how to fix them.
### 1. Incorrect Motion Detection Settings
This is the most common reason for missed events. Your settings may not be sensitive enough or may be focused on the wrong area.
- Motion Zones Are Not Set Correctly: You might have drawn motion zones that are too small or that exclude the area where the event happened.
- Sensitivity Is Too Low: A low sensitivity setting requires significant movement to trigger a recording. A person walking quickly at a distance might not be enough to start the recording.
- Object Size Is Wrong: Some cameras allow you to ignore objects below a certain size to avoid alerts from small animals. If this is set too high, it might ignore people.
Solution:
- Open your Bosch camera app and go to the Motion Detection Settings.
- Review Your Motion Zones: Ensure they cover all areas of interest, like walkways, driveways, and doorways.
- Increase Sensitivity: If you are missing events, increase the motion sensitivity level by one step. Test it for a day. Repeat this process until you find a reliable balance that doesn't produce too many false alarms.
### 2. SD Card or Storage Issues
The camera needs a healthy place to save the footage. If the storage is full, faulty, or not configured, recordings will fail.
- SD Card is Full: If the camera is not set to overwrite old footage, it will stop recording once the card is full.
- SD Card is Corrupted or Faulty: SD cards have a finite lifespan and can fail. A corrupted card may prevent new files from being written.
- Cloud Subscription Has Lapsed: If you are using cloud storage, a lapsed subscription or payment issue will stop new recordings from being uploaded.
Solution:
- In the app, navigate to Storage Settings.
- Check SD Card Status: Look for any errors or warnings. It should show the correct capacity and the amount of free space.
- Enable Overwrite/Loop Recording: Ensure the option to automatically overwrite the oldest footage when the card is full is turned ON. This is essential for continuous recording.
- Reformat the SD Card: If you suspect an issue, use the "Format" option within the app. This will erase all footage but can resolve many file system errors. Important: Back up any needed clips before formatting.
- Check Cloud Subscription: If applicable, log into your Bosch account on their website to verify that your cloud storage plan is active.
### 3. Incorrect Recording Schedule
You may have inadvertently set a schedule that tells the camera not to record at certain times.
Solution:
- Find the Recording Schedule section in your camera's settings.
- Review the timetable grid. It should show you when the camera is set to record (e.g., 24/7, only at night, or only when motion is detected).
- Ensure that "Motion Recording" or "Event Recording" is enabled for all the times you expect the camera to be active. For most users, this should be enabled 24/7.
By carefully checking your motion settings, verifying your storage health, and confirming your recording schedule, you can resolve the vast majority of issues with missed recordings and restore your confidence in your security system.