Foscam Camera Not Recording Video? Here's the Fix

Foscam Camera Not Recording? Here's How to Fix It

Discovering that your Foscam camera has failed to record crucial moments can be deeply concerning. Whether you're using an SD card, a Foscam NVR, or the Foscam Cloud service, this guide will help you diagnose and resolve the most common reasons your camera isn't saving footage.

## Quick Initial Verifications

Let's start with the basics. These simple checks can often resolve the issue without needing to delve into deeper settings.

1. Reboot the Camera: The first and simplest step in troubleshooting is to restart the device. Unplug your Foscam camera from its power source, wait for 30-60 seconds, and then plug it back in. This can clear temporary software glitches.
2. Check the Storage Media:
   • SD Card: Is an SD card properly inserted into the camera?
   • NVR: Is your Network Video Recorder powered on and connected to the same network?
   • Cloud: Is your Foscam Cloud subscription active and not expired?
3. Update Firmware and App: Ensure you are running the latest version of the Foscam app on your phone and that your camera's firmware is up to date. Updates often contain important bug fixes that can solve recording problems.

## Diagnosing the Specific Recording Issue

If the initial checks don't solve the problem, you need to investigate the settings related to how and when your camera is supposed to record.

### SD Card and NVR Storage Problems

The physical storage medium is the most common point of failure.

• Full Storage: If your SD card or NVR hard drive is full and not set to overwrite the oldest files, it will stop recording. Check the storage capacity in the app.
• SD Card Corruption: SD cards can get corrupted over time. The camera may fail to write new files to a corrupted card.
• Incompatible Card: Ensure you are using a high-quality, high-endurance microSD card designed for surveillance cameras. A slow or cheap card can lead to recording failures. Foscam generally recommends a Class 10 card.
• Hard Drive Failure (NVR): The hard drive in your NVR could have failed. Check the NVR's system information for the hard drive status.

### Incorrect Recording Settings

Your camera might be working perfectly, but it's been told not to record.

• Recording Schedule: Check the recording schedule in the Foscam app. You may have inadvertently disabled recording for certain times or days. Ensure the 'Armed' or recording schedule is active.
• Motion Detection Sensitivity: If you are relying on motion-triggered recordings, the sensitivity might be set too low, or the detection area might be incorrectly configured. The camera won't record if it doesn't detect any motion.
• Human/AI Detection: If you have enabled advanced features like 'Human Detection', the camera will only record when it identifies a person, ignoring other movements like pets or swaying trees. This might be why you're not seeing expected recordings.

## Step-by-Step Solutions to Get Recording Again

Follow these steps in order to fix the problem.

1. Check and Manage Storage:
   • Open the Foscam app and navigate to your camera's settings, then find the 'Storage' menu.
   • Check the remaining capacity. If it's full, enable the 'Loop Recording' or 'Overwrite' option.
   • If you suspect corruption, use the 'Format' option within the app to completely erase the SD card and start fresh. This will delete all existing footage.
2. Verify Your Recording Schedule:
   • Go to the 'Recording Schedule' or 'Alarm' settings.
   • Ensure that the schedule is enabled (often represented by a grid of hours and days).
   • For motion recording, make sure the 'Alarm' or 'Motion Detection' schedule is active. For 24/7 recording, the 'Scheduled Recording' should be enabled for all times.
3. Tune Motion Detection Settings:
   • In the 'Motion Detection' settings, try increasing the sensitivity level slightly.
   • Ensure the detection area covers the entire scene you want to monitor.
   • Perform a 'walk test': arm the camera, walk in front of it, and then check the playback timeline or your alerts to see if a recording was successfully triggered.
4. Check Your Cloud Subscription: If you use Foscam Cloud, log into your account on the Foscam website and verify that your subscription plan is active and that the correct camera is assigned to it.
5. Factory Reset (Last Resort): If all else fails, a factory reset will return the camera to its original settings. You will need to set it up again from the beginning. This can often resolve persistent issues caused by a software glitch or misconfiguration.