Laview Camera Not Using Local Storage? A Troubleshooting Guide
Using a microSD card for local storage in your Laview camera is an excellent way to ensure you always have a record of events, even if your Wi-Fi connection drops. However, it's a common source of frustration when the camera fails to recognise the card or save recordings to it.
This guide will walk you through the most common reasons for local storage failure and provide clear, step-by-step solutions to get your Laview camera recording correctly.
Step 1: Check the MicroSD Card Itself
The problem often lies with the SD card, not the camera. Before diving into app settings, let's ensure your card is suitable and correctly installed.
Is it a Compatible SD Card?
Not all microSD cards are created equal. Security cameras require cards that can withstand continuous writing and rewriting.
- Brand: Always use high-quality, reputable brands like SanDisk High Endurance, Samsung PRO Endurance, or WD Purple. Cheap, unbranded cards are unreliable and a common cause of failure.
- Class and Speed: The card must be Class 10, U1, or U3. This is indicated by a 'C' with a '10' inside it, or a 'U' with a '1' or '3' inside. This ensures the card has a fast enough write speed to handle video recording.
- Capacity: Check the maximum supported SD card capacity for your specific Laview camera model. Inserting a card that is too large (e.g., a 256GB card in a camera that only supports 128GB) will cause it to not be recognised.
Is it Inserted Correctly?
It's a simple mistake to make. Power down the camera, eject the microSD card, and re-insert it carefully. Make sure it clicks into place and is fully seated in the slot. The contacts on the card should be clean and free from dust.
Step 2: Configure Settings in the Laview App
Once you've confirmed the hardware is correct, the next step is to check the camera's software settings.
Format the SD Card in the App
This is one of the most critical steps. Simply inserting a card is not enough. You must format it using the Laview app to ensure it's using the correct file system for the camera.
- Open the Laview app and go to the settings for the camera in question.
- Find the 'Storage Settings' or 'SD Card Management' menu.
- The app should show the card's capacity. If it says 'Abnormal' or 'Unformatted', there is an issue.
- Tap on the 'Format' or 'Format Storage' option.
- Allow the process to complete. This will erase all data on the card.
Verify Your Recording Schedule
After formatting, you need to tell the camera when to record.
- Navigate to the 'Recording Settings' or 'Recording Schedule' menu.
- You will typically see two options: Event Recording and Continuous Recording.
- Event Recording: The camera will only save clips when motion is detected.
- Continuous Recording: The camera will record 24/7.
- Ensure you have selected one of these options. If no recording mode is active, nothing will be saved to the card.
Enable Loop Recording / Overwrite
Modern SD cards don't last forever, but they can be overwritten many times. If your camera stops recording once the card is full, it's because the overwrite feature is disabled.
- In the 'Storage Settings' or 'Recording Settings', look for a toggle switch labelled 'Overwrite' or 'Loop Recording'.
- Make sure this is enabled. This allows the camera to automatically delete the oldest footage to make space for new recordings, ensuring it never stops.
Final Checks
- Reboot the Camera: After making changes to the storage settings, it's always a good idea to reboot the camera. You can usually do this from within the app's settings menu, or by unplugging it from power for 30 seconds.
- Firmware Update: Check if a firmware update is available for your camera. Updates can fix bugs related to SD card compatibility and recording functions.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve most issues with Laview cameras not using local storage. The key is to use a high-quality card and ensure it is properly formatted and configured within the app.