Is Your Lorex Security System Failing to Record?
Discovering that your Lorex security system hasn't been recording is a serious issue. The primary purpose of a CCTV system is to capture footage, and if it's failing to do so, your property is left unprotected. Whether you have no new recordings at all, or it's just one camera that's stopped working, this guide will help you get to the bottom of it.
We will cover the most common causes for recording failures on Lorex DVRs and NVRs, from simple settings mistakes to hardware problems.
Identifying the Scope of the Recording Problem
First, let's figure out the exact nature of the issue:
- No cameras are recording: This often points to a system-wide setting or a problem with the recorder's hard drive.
- Only one specific camera is not recording: This suggests an issue with that camera's individual settings or its connection to the recorder.
- Not recording on motion: The system records on a continuous schedule but fails to create motion-triggered events.
- Recordings are present but have gaps: This could be a sign of a camera disconnecting or a hard drive issue.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Lorex Recording Issues
Let's systematically troubleshoot the problem.
1. Ensure Cameras Are Online and Functioning
A camera cannot record if it's not powered on and connected to the recorder.
- Check Live View: Look at your monitor or the Lorex app. Can you see a live video feed from all your cameras?
- Check for "Offline" Status: If a camera is not recording, check its status. If it shows as "Offline" or "Video Loss," you need to troubleshoot that camera's connection first. Check its power supply and the cable (BNC or Ethernet) connecting it to the recorder.
2. Review the Recording Schedule
This is the most common reason for a lack of recordings. The system might simply be programmed not to record at certain times.
- Access the Menu: Using the mouse connected to your DVR/NVR, right-click on the screen and open the Main Menu.
- Navigate to Recording Settings: Look for an option called Storage, Schedule, or Recording.
- Check the Schedule Grid: You will likely see a grid representing the hours of the day and days of the week for each camera. Different colours usually represent different recording modes (e.g., Green for Continuous, Yellow for Motion Detection, Red for Alarm).
- Ensure it's Correct: Make sure the grid is coloured in for the times you expect recording to happen. If the grid is blank, the system is instructed not to record. Adjust the schedule as needed and be sure to save your changes.
3. Check the Hard Drive (HDD) Status
The hard drive is the physical component where your video footage is stored. If it fails, recording stops.
- Access System Information: In the Main Menu, find a section called System, Information, HDD, or Storage.
- Check HDD Status: You should see the hard drive listed. Its status should be "Normal" or "Healthy".
- If the status is "Error," "Not Found," or "Unformatted," there is a problem.
- Troubleshooting the HDD:
- Reformat: The first thing to try is to reformat the hard drive using the menu option. WARNING: This will erase all existing recordings.
- Reseat the Drive: If formatting fails, power down the recorder, open the case, and check that the data and power cables for the hard drive are securely connected.
- Replace the Drive: If the drive continues to show an error after reformatting and checking the cables, it has likely failed and will need to be replaced.
4. Verify Motion Detection Settings
If you're specifically missing motion recordings, the settings may need adjustment.
- Access Motion Settings: In the Main Menu, go to the Alarm or Events section and find Motion Detection.
- Enable Detection: Ensure that motion detection is enabled for the desired camera.
- Adjust Sensitivity: The sensitivity might be set too low. If it's set to 1, it will require a very large movement to trigger a recording. Try increasing the sensitivity level.
- Check the Detection Area: Make sure the grid for the detection area covers the parts of the scene where you expect to see motion.
By carefully checking these four key areas—camera status, recording schedule, hard drive health, and motion settings—you can resolve the vast majority of issues that cause a Lorex system to stop recording.