What to Do When Your Ezviz Camera Fails to Record
Your Ezviz camera is a vital tool for security and peace of mind, but it's only effective if it's properly recording footage. Receiving a "Recording Failed" error or discovering that no video has been saved after an important event can be incredibly frustrating. This issue can stem from several sources, including the local microSD card, your CloudPlay subscription, or the camera's settings.
This comprehensive guide will help you diagnose why your Ezviz camera is not recording and provide clear, actionable steps to resolve the problem.
Identifying the Cause of the Recording Failure
First, let's look at the common symptoms that point to a recording problem:
- A "Recording Failed" or "Storage Exception" error message appears in the app.
- You receive motion detection notifications, but when you try to view the clip, it's missing or won't play.
- The playback timeline in the app is empty, showing no recorded history.
- The camera appears to be working fine with a stable live view, but nothing is being saved.
- The app reports that there is no microSD card inserted, even though one is physically present.
Most recording issues are related to the local microSD card storage. Let's start our troubleshooting there.
Part 1: Troubleshooting MicroSD Card Issues
A faulty, incompatible, or full microSD card is the number one cause of recording failures.
1. Check SD Card Compatibility
Not all cards are created equal. Security cameras require special cards designed for continuous recording and rewriting.
- Use a Reputable Brand: Choose cards from well-known manufacturers like SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, or Western Digital.
- Choose High Endurance: Look for cards specifically labelled "High Endurance" or "for Video Monitoring." These are built to last under the constant workload of a camera.
- Check the Class: Use a card that is Class 10 or has a U1 or U3 speed rating. This information is printed directly on the card.
2. Reformat the MicroSD Card
Sometimes, the card's file system can become corrupted, preventing the camera from writing new data. Reformatting erases everything and creates a fresh file system.
- Open the Ezviz app and select the camera you're having issues with.
- Tap the gear icon to go to Settings.
- Navigate to Storage Status or Storage Settings.
- Select the MicroSD Card.
- Tap 'Reformat' or 'Initialize' and wait for the process to complete.
Important: Reformatting will delete all existing footage on the card.
3. Ensure the Card is Seated Correctly
A loose card cannot be read by the camera.
- Power off your Ezviz camera completely.
- Carefully eject the microSD card from its slot.
- Inspect the slot for any dust or debris.
- Re-insert the card, ensuring it clicks firmly into place.
- Power the camera back on and check the storage status in the app again.
4. Test or Replace the Card
If reformatting doesn't work, the card itself may have reached the end of its life.
- Try using a different, known-good microSD card in the camera. If the camera starts recording with the new card, your old one is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Part 2: Troubleshooting Ezviz CloudPlay Issues
If you're using cloud storage, the troubleshooting steps are different.
1. Verify Your Subscription Status
- Log in to your Ezviz account on the app or website.
- Navigate to the CloudPlay section and confirm that your subscription is active and has not expired.
- Ensure the subscription is assigned to the correct camera, as it's possible to have multiple cameras but a subscription for only one.
2. Check Your Internet Connection
Cloud recordings must be uploaded from your camera to Ezviz's servers. This requires a stable internet connection with sufficient upload speed.
- Run a speed test on your network. A minimum upload speed of 1-2 Mbps is recommended per camera.
- Reboot your router and the camera to refresh the network connection.
3. Review the Recording Schedule
Ensure the camera is set to record when you expect it to.
- In the camera's settings, find the Recording Schedule or Notification Schedule.
- Make sure it is set to "All Day" or that the scheduled times are correct. Also, ensure that motion detection is enabled, as this is what triggers cloud recordings.
By methodically checking both your local storage and cloud settings, you can quickly get to the bottom of any Ezviz recording failures.