How to Fix a "Storage Full" Error on Your Dahua CCTV System
A "Storage Full" or "HDD Full" error on your Dahua NVR or DVR is a critical alert. It means your system's hard drive has reached its maximum capacity and, in its current configuration, has stopped recording new footage. This leaves your property unprotected. Fortunately, this is usually a simple settings issue that is easy to fix.
This guide will show you how to enable the overwrite function and offer tips on how to manage your storage more efficiently.
The Core Problem: Overwrite is Disabled
By default, some Dahua recorders are set to "Stop Record" when the hard drive becomes full. This is a failsafe to prevent the accidental deletion of important old footage. However, for most standard security surveillance, you want the system to operate continuously.
The solution is to enable the "Overwrite" function. This tells the recorder that when the disk is full, it is authorised to automatically delete the oldest recorded video files to make space for the newest ones. This creates a rolling period of recording, ensuring you always have the most recent footage.
How to Enable Overwrite on Your Dahua Recorder
Follow these simple steps to change the setting. The menu layout may vary slightly depending on your firmware version, but the principle is the same.
- Log In: Access your Dahua recorder's interface by right-clicking on the screen and selecting "Main Menu". You will be prompted to enter your username and password.
- Navigate to Storage Settings: Once in the main menu, find and click on the "Storage" icon. It often looks like a hard drive.
- Find the Basic or Record Control Menu: Inside the Storage section, look for a sub-menu on the left-hand side. This may be called "Basic," "Record," or "Record Control."
- Change the "HDD Full" Setting: In this menu, you will see an option labelled "HDD Full," "When HDD is Full," or similar. The dropdown box next to it will likely be set to "Stop Record."
- Click on the dropdown box and change the setting to "Overwrite."
- Apply and Save: Click the "Apply" or "Save" button at the bottom of the screen to confirm your changes.
Your Dahua system will now continue recording indefinitely, always preserving the most recent block of footage that fits on your hard drive. The "Storage Full" error should no longer appear.
How to Maximise Your Recording Time
If you find that your hard drive is only storing a few days of footage before it overwrites, you can make several adjustments to increase the storage duration without needing to buy a bigger hard drive.
1. Record on Motion Only
Instead of recording 24/7, you can set your system to only record when it detects movement.
- Go to Storage > Schedule.
- Select the channel you want to change.
- Clear the green "General" or "Continuous" schedule.
- Select the yellow "MD" (Motion Detection) option and drag it across the entire schedule grid.
- Click "Apply".
2. Adjust Video Settings
Slightly lowering the video quality can dramatically increase storage capacity.
- Go to Camera > Encode (or Video).
- Resolution: If your cameras are recording in 4K, consider lowering the resolution to 1080p. For many applications, this is still very clear.
- Frame Rate (FPS): A cinematic 25 frames per second (fps) is often unnecessary for security. Lowering this to 15fps will cut the data usage almost in half without significantly impacting the smoothness of the video.
- Bit Rate: Lowering the bit rate can also save space, but be careful as this can reduce image quality. It's often best to adjust resolution and frame rate first.
By enabling overwrite and optimising your recording settings, you can ensure your Dahua system is operating reliably and efficiently, capturing all the important moments without interruption.