Is Your Hik-Connect System Failing to Save Local Recordings?
Using local storage—either an SD card directly in your camera or a hard drive in a Network Video Recorder (NVR)—is the most reliable way to ensure your security footage is always saved, even if your internet connection goes down. However, when you discover that your Hikvision camera isn't saving recordings locally, it's a serious issue that needs immediate attention.
Whether you're getting errors about your SD card or your NVR isn't capturing footage, this guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the most common local storage problems with the Hik-Connect system.
Part 1: Troubleshooting On-Camera SD Card Recording
If you are relying on a microSD card inside your camera for storage, follow these steps.
1. Check SD Card Compatibility and Health
Not all SD cards are created equal. Security cameras put a heavy, continuous strain on them.
- Use a High-Endurance Card: For surveillance, you must use a "High Endurance" or "Surveillance" grade microSD card. Standard cards are not designed for constant rewriting and will fail quickly.
- Check Compatibility: Ensure the card's capacity (e.g., 128GB, 256GB) is supported by your camera model. Check the camera's technical specifications.
- Verify Card Status: In the Hik-Connect app, navigate to your camera's Settings > Storage Status. What does it say next to "SD Card"? If it shows "Error," "Uninitialized," or "Not Found," there is a problem with the card itself.
2. The Crucial Step: Format the SD Card in the Camera
This is the most important step and the one most people miss. You cannot format the card on a computer and then insert it.
- Insert the SD card into the camera while it is powered off.
- Power the camera on.
- In the Hik-Connect app, go to Settings > Storage Status.
- Tap on the SD card details and select the "Format" or "Initialise" option.
- This will erase everything on the card and prepare it with the correct file system for the camera. You must do this for any new card.
3. Configure Your Recording Schedule
Just because a card is installed doesn't mean the camera is told to use it.
- Go to your camera's settings and find the Recording Schedule menu.
- Ensure you have enabled recording. You can choose between "Continuous" recording (24/7) or "Event" recording (only when motion is detected).
- Make sure you save the schedule.
Part 2: Troubleshooting NVR / DVR Recording
If your cameras are supposed to record to a central NVR or DVR, the troubleshooting process is different.
1. Verify the Camera-to-NVR Connection
- Check Network: Ensure the camera and the NVR are on the same local network and can communicate with each other. You can often use a "Test" button in the NVR's camera settings.
- Check Credentials: In the NVR's camera management menu, ensure the camera's IP address, username, and password are correct. If you've changed the camera's password, you must update it on the NVR.
2. Check the NVR's Hard Drive Status
- Using the NVR's local interface (connected to a monitor) or its web portal, go to the Storage or HDD Management section.
- Check the status of the hard drive. Does it show as "Normal"? Is there free space available? If the drive has failed or is full (and not set to overwrite), recordings will stop.
3. Set the NVR Recording Schedule
Just like with an SD card, you must tell the NVR to record.
- In the NVR's settings, go to the Recording Schedule section.
- You must configure a schedule for each individual camera/channel. It's a common mistake to set a schedule for channel 1 but forget to apply it to channels 2, 3, and 4.
- Ensure you have enabled either continuous or event-based recording for the correct camera.
By systematically checking the storage medium, formatting, and recording schedules, you can resolve most issues preventing your Hik-Connect system from saving footage locally.