Troubleshooting Guide: When Your Merkury Camera Can't Save Locally
One of the key features of Merkury smart cameras is the ability to save video footage locally to a Micro SD card, giving you access to recordings without needing a cloud subscription. However, it can be frustrating when this feature doesn't work as expected. If your Merkury camera isn't saving footage locally, this guide will walk you through the common causes and solutions.
## Identifying the Symptoms of a Local Storage Failure
How do you know you have a local storage problem? Here are the most common signs:
- The Geeni app shows a 'No SD Card' or 'SD Card Error' message.
- The camera fails to format the Micro SD card.
- You have enabled local recording, but no videos are saved to the card.
- Playback functionality in the app shows no recorded history.
- The app indicates the SD card is full, even when it should be overwriting old footage.
- The camera stops recording to the SD card after working for a while.
- You can view the live stream, but no recording takes place.
## Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Local Saving Issues
Follow these steps to diagnose and resolve the problem with your Merkury camera's local storage.
### 1. Verify SD Card Compatibility and Quality
The single most common reason for local recording failure is the SD card itself. Merkury cameras require specific types of cards to function correctly.
- Card Type: Ensure you are using a Micro SD card. Standard SD cards will not fit.
- Speed Class: For smooth video recording, a Class 10 or UHS Speed Class 1 (U1) or higher card is essential. This is indicated by a 'C' with a '10' inside it or a 'U' with a '1' or '3'. Slower cards cannot handle the data stream from the camera.
- Capacity: Most Merkury cameras support cards up to 128GB. Check your specific model's specifications.
- Brand Reputation: Always use high-quality cards from reputable brands like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston. Counterfeit and low-quality cards are widespread and are a primary cause of recording errors.
### 2. Format the SD Card Correctly
The SD card must be formatted with the correct file system to be recognised by the camera. The best way to do this is through the Geeni app.
- Insert the Card: Power off the camera, carefully insert the Micro SD card into the slot until it clicks, and then power the camera back on.
- Open the Geeni App: Select your camera from the device list.
- Navigate to Settings: Tap the settings icon (often three dots or a gear symbol) in the top-right corner.
- Find Storage Settings: Look for an option called 'Storage Settings' or 'Micro SD Card Settings'.
- Format: Tap on 'Format SD Card'. This process will erase everything on the card and prepare it for the camera. Wait for the process to complete.
### 3. Check and Enable Recording Settings
Once the card is formatted, you need to tell the camera to use it.
- Go to Recording Settings: In the camera's settings menu, find an option like 'Recording Settings'.
- Enable Local Recording: Make sure the toggle for 'Local Recording' is turned on.
- Choose Recording Mode: You will often have two choices:
- Continuous Recording: The camera records 24/7.
- Event Recording: The camera only records when it detects motion.
- Select the mode that suits your needs. For troubleshooting, you can start with 'Continuous Recording' to see if it saves any footage at all.
### 4. Reboot the Camera
A simple power cycle can often resolve temporary glitches.
- Unplug the Camera: Disconnect the camera from its power source.
- Wait: Leave it unplugged for at least 30 seconds.
- Plug It Back In: Reconnect the power and wait for the camera to fully restart and connect to your Wi-Fi. Check the app to see if the SD card is now recognised and recording.
### 5. Test the SD Card Elsewhere
If the camera still doesn't recognise the card, the card itself might be faulty.
- Use a Card Reader: Remove the Micro SD card from the camera and insert it into a computer using an SD card adapter or reader.
- Check If It's Readable: See if your computer can recognise the card. Try copying a small file to it. If the computer also fails to see or write to the card, the card is likely damaged and needs to be replaced.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can resolve most issues preventing your Merkury camera from saving footage locally.