How to Fix Doorbird 'Recording Failed' Errors
The recording feature is a core component of your Doorbird's security function, capturing important events at your doorstep. When you receive a "Recording Failed" notification or discover gaps in your history, it's a critical issue to resolve. This guide will help you troubleshoot the common causes for recording failures.
## Focus on the Storage Destination
The problem almost always lies with where the Doorbird is trying to save the footage. This could be the internal SD card, a cloud service, or a local network storage device (NAS).
### Onboard SD Card Recording
Many Doorbird models have an internal SD card for storing a history of recent images.
- Card Health and Status: The first step is to check the status of the SD card. In the Doorbird App, navigate to Settings > Administration and log in. You should find a section for "Onboard Storage" or "SD Card" that shows its status.
- Corrupted or Full Card: SD cards can become corrupted over time or fill up. The best first step is to reformat the SD card. The Doorbird app has a function to do this, which will erase all footage and reset the card's file system. This often resolves the issue.
- Hardware Failure: SD cards have a finite lifespan. If reformatting does not work or the error returns quickly, the card itself may have failed and will need to be replaced.
### Cloud Recording
If you subscribe to Doorbird's cloud recording service:
- Check Your Subscription: Log in to your Doorbird account on their website and verify that your cloud recording subscription is active and your payment method is up to date. An expired subscription is a simple but common reason for recordings to stop.
- Storage Quota: Review your plan's storage limits. Some plans have a cap on the number of days or the amount of data stored. If you have reached your limit, new recordings may fail until older ones are deleted.
### NAS / Network Storage Recording
Recording to a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device offers more control but also adds complexity.
- Verify Credentials: Double-check, then triple-check the credentials you've entered in the Doorbird's settings. This includes the IP address of the NAS, the username, the password, and the specific folder path. A single typo will cause the connection to fail.
- User Permissions: The user account you are using for the Doorbird must have read and write permissions for the target folder on the NAS. Log in to your NAS administration panel and confirm these permissions.
- Network Path: Ensure the path to the storage folder is correct. For example, it might be
/recordings/doorbirdor/volume1/surveillance. Check your NAS documentation for the correct path format.
## Check Network and Power Stability
Even with correct storage settings, external factors can prevent successful recordings.
- Wi-Fi Connection: A weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal can cause the recording data to become corrupted during transmission. If the Doorbird frequently disconnects from your network, it will be unable to reliably save recordings. Ensure a strong Wi-Fi signal at your door, or preferably, use a wired Ethernet connection for maximum stability.
- Power Supply: An insufficient power supply from an old transformer can cause the Doorbird to behave erratically. The process of recording video requires a stable power draw. If the power dips, the write process can fail. Ensure your transformer meets the manufacturer's power requirements.
- Firmware Updates: Check that your Doorbird's firmware is up to date. Manufacturers often release updates that fix bugs related to storage and network connectivity.
By methodically working through these steps, starting with the storage destination and then moving to network and power, you can pinpoint the reason for the recording failures and restore this essential security feature.