Laview Storage Full? How to Manage Your Recordings

Laview Storage Full? How to Manage Your Recordings

A "Storage Full" error on your Laview security system (whether it's an NVR with a hard drive or a standalone camera with a microSD card) is a critical issue. When the storage is full, the system will stop recording new events, leaving your property unprotected. This guide will show you how to properly manage your storage and ensure you never miss a moment.

## The Most Important Setting: Enabling Overwrite

By default, for safety, some systems may be set to stop recording when the disk is full. However, for continuous security, you want the system to automatically delete the oldest footage to make room for the newest. This feature is called "Overwrite" or "Recycle Record".

### How to Enable Overwrite on a Laview NVR:

1. Access the NVR Menu: Right-click on the live view screen and log in to the main menu.
2. Navigate to Storage Settings: Go to "Record" > "Parameters" > "Record". You may also find it under a top-level "Storage" or "HDD" menu.
3. Find the Overwrite Setting: Look for a setting labelled "Overwrite" or a dropdown menu for "HDD Full".
4. Enable It: Change the setting from "Stop Record" to "Overwrite".
5. Apply and Save: Click "Apply" to save your changes.

### How to Enable Overwrite for a Laview Camera (via App):

1. Open the Laview App: Select the camera you want to configure.
2. Go to Settings: Tap the settings icon for that camera.
3. Find Storage Settings: Go to "Storage Capacity" or "Record Schedule".
4. Enable Continuous Recording: Ensure the camera is set for continuous or event-based recording. The overwrite function is usually automatic when a recording schedule is active. If the card is full and stops recording, formatting it (see below) and ensuring the firmware is up to date will typically resolve this.

Once overwrite is enabled, you should never have to worry about the "Storage Full" error again under normal operation.

## How to Free Up Space Manually

If you need to clear space immediately or want to archive footage, you have two main options: formatting or exporting.

### 1. Formatting the Storage (The Quickest Method)

Formatting will completely erase all recordings on your hard drive or microSD card. This is the fastest way to get back to 100% free space and can also resolve certain disk errors.

• On an NVR:

  1. Log in to the NVR's main menu.
  2. Go to "Storage" > "Storage Device" (or similar).
  3. Select the hard drive (HDD) you want to format.
  4. Click the "Format" or "Init" (Initialise) button.
  5. Confirm the warning that all data will be erased. The process may take several minutes.

• On a Camera (via App):

  1. In the Laview app, go to the camera's settings.
  2. Go to "Storage Capacity".
  3. You should see an option to "Format Storage Device" or "Format".
  4. Tap to format the card. This will erase all clips stored on it.

### 2. Backing Up and Deleting Footage

If you need to save specific incidents before clearing space, you must back them up first.

1. Search for Footage: Use the "Playback" function on your NVR or app to find the video clips you want to save.
2. Export/Backup:
   • NVR: Plug a USB flash drive into the NVR. In the playback or search menu, select the clips you need and find an "Export," "Backup," or "Save" button. Follow the prompts to save the files to your USB drive.
   • App: When viewing a recorded clip in the app, look for a "Download" or "Record" icon. This will save the clip from the camera's SD card directly to your phone's storage.
3. Format After Backup: Once you have safely backed up all necessary footage, you can proceed with formatting the drive or SD card to ensure all other unwanted data is cleanly removed.

## When to Consider a Storage Upgrade

If you find that your storage is filling up too quickly even with overwrite enabled (e.g., you only have a few days of recordings when you need a few weeks), it may be time to upgrade.

• For NVRs: You can replace the existing hard drive with a larger capacity one. Be sure to purchase a surveillance-grade hard drive (like WD Purple or Seagate SkyHawk) as they are designed for 24/7 recording.
• For Cameras: You can replace the microSD card with a larger one. Check your camera's specifications for the maximum supported capacity (e.g., 128GB, 256GB). Always use a high-endurance microSD card.

By properly configuring the overwrite setting and knowing how to manage your data, you can ensure your Laview security system is always recording and your storage works for you.