How to Fix Missed Recordings on Your Guardzilla Camera
A security camera is only as good as the footage it records. If you're finding that your Guardzilla camera is missing events, sending notifications without video clips, or has unexplained gaps in its timeline, it's a critical issue that needs to be resolved.
This troubleshooting guide will help you identify the root cause of the problem and get your camera recording reliably again.
Why Do Recordings Go Missing?
When your Guardzilla camera detects motion, it's supposed to record a video clip and upload it to your cloud storage. A missed recording means there's a breakdown somewhere in that process.
Here are the most common culprits:
- Motion Detection Settings: The camera's sensitivity might be too low, or the defined motion zones might be excluding the area where the event happened.
- Poor Wi-Fi Connectivity: The camera needs a strong and stable connection to the internet to upload video files.
- Cloud Subscription Issues: An expired subscription or a full storage plan will prevent new clips from being saved.
- Camera Firmware Glitches: A temporary bug in the camera's software could be interfering with its ability to record.
- Service Outages: The problem could be on Guardzilla's end with a temporary server issue.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Resolving the Issue
Follow these steps in order to pinpoint and fix the problem.
1. Fine-Tune Your Motion Detection Settings
This is the best place to start, as it's the most frequent cause of missed events.
- Increase Sensitivity: Open the Guardzilla app and navigate to your camera's settings. Find the motion sensitivity level and, if it's set to low, increase it to a medium or high setting.
- Review Motion Zones: If you have created specific zones for detection, make sure they are drawn correctly. Ensure there are no small gaps between zones or at the edges of the frame where a person could walk. As a test, try disabling motion zones completely to see if the camera starts recording all events.
- Check Scheduling: Verify that you don't have a schedule set up that deactivates motion alerts and recording during the times the events were missed.
2. Evaluate Your Wi-Fi Signal
A weak Wi-Fi signal is a silent killer of cloud recordings.
- Check Signal Strength: In the Guardzilla app, find the device details or settings page where the camera's Wi-Fi signal strength is displayed. If the signal is weak (e.g., only one or two bars), this is likely your problem.
- Improve the Signal: Try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera. If that's not possible, consider installing a Wi-Fi extender to boost the signal in the area where the camera is located.
- Reboot Your Network: Unplug your router for 60 seconds and then plug it back in. This can often resolve temporary connectivity problems.
3. Verify Your Guardzilla Subscription
You can't save clips if there's nowhere to put them.
- Log In Online: Go to the official Guardzilla website and log in to your account.
- Check Your Plan: Navigate to the subscription or billing section and confirm that your cloud storage plan is active and has not expired. Check to see if your storage is full.
4. Reboot and Update Your Camera
A simple refresh can often solve unexplained technical glitches.
- Power Cycle the Camera: Unplug your Guardzilla camera from its power source. Wait for at least one minute to allow it to fully power down, then plug it back in.
- Check for Firmware Updates: In the app's settings for the camera, look for an option to check for firmware updates. Manufacturers release updates to fix bugs and improve performance, and installing the latest version is always recommended.
By systematically addressing these key areas, you can ensure that your Guardzilla camera captures every important moment without fail.