Dahua CCTV Not Recording? A Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
It's a significant security concern when you discover your Dahua CCTV system has stopped recording footage. Whether you're getting a hard drive error or there's simply no video on playback, this guide will help you diagnose and fix the most common recording issues with Dahua NVRs (Network Video Recorders) and DVRs (Digital Video Recorders).
## Step 1: Check the Hard Drive (HDD) Status
The most frequent cause of recording failure is an issue with the internal hard drive. Your Dahua recorder has built-in diagnostic tools to help you identify the problem.
- Access the Main Menu: Log in to your Dahua recorder's interface using your admin password.
- Navigate to Storage: Find the "Storage" or "HDD Management" section.
- Check HDD Status: You should see a list of the installed hard drives. The status should show as "Normal".
If the status shows "Error," "Unformatted," or "No Disk," you have found your problem.
- If "Error": The drive may have bad sectors or is failing. The first thing to try is a re-format. Select the drive and find the "Format" option. Be aware that this will erase all existing footage. If the error persists after formatting, the hard drive likely needs to be replaced.
- If "Unformatted": This is common with new hard drives. Simply use the "Format" option to prepare the drive for use with the recorder.
- If "No Disk": The recorder is not detecting the hard drive at all. This could be due to a loose data or power cable inside the unit. If you are comfortable doing so, power down the recorder, open the case, and ensure the cables connected to the hard drive are secure.
## Step 2: Verify Your Recording Schedule
If the hard drive status is "Normal," the next step is to ensure the recorder is actually instructed to record.
- Go to Schedule Settings: From the main menu, navigate to Storage > Schedule.
- Select Your Camera: Choose the specific camera that is not recording from the dropdown list.
- Analyse the Grid: You will see a coloured grid representing the days of the week and hours of the day. Each colour corresponds to a recording type:
- Green (General): Continuous, 24/7 recording.
- Yellow (MD): Recording triggered by Motion Detection.
- Red (Alarm): Recording triggered by an external alarm input.
- Ensure it's Configured: If the grid is completely blank, the system has no instructions to record. Click the "Setting" button, choose the type of recording you want (e.g., "General" for continuous), and apply it to the desired days and times. To record everything, draw a green box over the entire grid.
- Apply to All Cameras: You can use the "Copy" function to apply the same schedule to other or all cameras. Remember to click "Apply" or "Save".
## Step 3: Check Motion Detection Settings (If Applicable)
If you're relying on motion-triggered recording (yellow in the schedule), you must ensure motion detection is properly enabled.
- Navigate to Event Settings: From the main menu, go to Event > Video Detect > Motion Detect.
- Enable Motion Detection: Select the camera and make sure the "Enable" box is ticked.
- Set the Region: Ensure the detection area (usually marked by a red grid) covers the part of the scene where you want to detect motion.
- Link to Recording: Crucially, make sure the "Record Channel" option is ticked for that camera. This tells the system to start recording on that channel when motion is detected.
## Step 4: Playback and Final Checks
After confirming your settings, use the "Playback" or "Search" function to see if new recordings are being created. If you've just formatted the drive or fixed the schedule, you may need to wait a few minutes for new files to appear. If issues persist, also consider checking that your recorder's system time and date are correct, as an incorrect date can make finding recordings impossible.