Lorex Camera Can't Save Locally? Here's How to Fix It
One of the key features of many Lorex security cameras is the ability to store recordings locally on a microSD card, giving you control over your own footage without mandatory subscription fees. When this feature fails, it can be a major source of frustration and compromise your security.
If your Lorex camera is not recording to its SD card, this guide will walk you through the essential troubleshooting steps. From SD card compatibility and formatting to configuration settings within the app, we'll help you diagnose and solve the problem to ensure your recordings are being saved safely.
Identifying the Cause of the Local Storage Failure
Before we can fix the issue, we need to understand why it's happening. The problem usually stems from one of four areas: the SD card itself, the camera's hardware, the camera's settings, or its firmware.
Common Symptoms of Local Recording Issues
- 'No SD Card' Error: The Lorex app displays an error message stating 'No SD Card' or 'SD Card Malfunction', even when one is inserted.
- Recording Failures: The camera is online and streams live video, but no new recordings appear in the playback timeline.
- Playback Issues: You can see a list of recorded events, but they fail to play back and give you an error.
- Formatting Problems: Attempting to format the SD card via the app fails repeatedly.
- Camera Not Recognising Card: The app shows the storage capacity as '0 GB' or doesn't acknowledge the card's presence at all.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Troubleshooting Local Storage
Follow these steps in order to systematically identify and fix the root cause of your Lorex camera's inability to save footage locally.
1. Check SD Card Compatibility and Health
Not all microSD cards are created equal. Security cameras require high-endurance cards designed for constant rewriting.
- Use a Reputable Brand: Always use a high-quality, Class 10 or V30 rated microSD card from a trusted manufacturer like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston.
- Verify Capacity: Check the maximum supported SD card capacity for your specific Lorex camera model on the official Lorex website. Using a card that is too large can cause it to fail.
- Test the SD Card: To rule out a faulty card, remove it from the camera and test it in a computer or another device. If the computer cannot read or write to the card, the card itself has likely failed and needs replacing.
2. Format the SD Card Correctly
Improper formatting is the most common cause of recording failures.
- Format Inside the Camera: It is critical to format the microSD card using the Lorex app. Do not format it on a PC. In the app, go to your camera's Device Settings > Device Storage. You should see an option to 'Format Storage Device'. This ensures the camera uses the exact file system it needs.
- Re-format if Necessary: If the card was previously working, a file system error could have occurred. Re-formatting the card will erase all footage but can often resolve the issue.
3. Review Camera Recording Settings
Sometimes, the camera is working perfectly, but the recording settings are not configured as you expect.
- Enable Recording Schedules: In the Lorex app, navigate to Device Settings > Motion Detection Settings. Ensure that the recording schedule is enabled for the times and days you want.
- Check Recording Type: Confirm that you have enabled recording for the events you want to capture (e.g., motion detection). If you want it to record all the time, you need to enable 'Continuous Recording'.
- Enable Overwrite: Ensure the 'Overwrite' or 'Loop Recording' feature is turned on. If this is off, the camera will stop recording once the SD card is full.
4. Update Firmware and Reboot
- Firmware Update: An outdated firmware can contain bugs. Check in the app under Device Settings > Device Info for any available firmware updates and install them.
- Power Cycle the Camera: A simple reboot can often clear temporary glitches. Unplug your Lorex camera from its power source, wait for 60 seconds, and then plug it back in.
By following these structured steps, you can resolve the vast majority of issues preventing your Lorex camera from saving recordings locally.