How to Fix "Recording Failed" Errors on Your Merkury Camera
The "Recording Failed" error on your Merkury smart camera is a common but frustrating problem that prevents you from recording and reviewing footage locally on your microSD card. This issue effectively turns your recording camera into a live-view-only device, compromising your security. Fortunately, this error is almost always solvable and is typically related to the microSD card or the camera's settings, not a faulty camera.
This troubleshooting guide will walk you through the most common causes and provide a clear, step-by-step process to resolve the "Recording Failed" error and get your Merkury camera recording again.
Understanding the Root Causes of Recording Failure
This error message is the camera's way of telling you it cannot successfully write video data to the installed microSD card. Here's why that might be happening:
- SD Card Corruption: The file system on the card may have become corrupted, preventing the camera from accessing it.
- Improper Formatting: The card was formatted on a computer or other device, not within the camera itself.
- Card is Full: The "Overwrite" setting is disabled, and the card has run out of space.
- Low-Quality or Fake SD Card: The card cannot keep up with the constant data stream from the camera.
- Weak Wi-Fi Connection: An unstable network can sometimes interrupt the camera's internal processes, including recording.
- Card Has Reached End-of-Life: All SD cards have a finite number of write cycles and will eventually wear out.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Work through these steps in order. In most cases, the first few steps will solve your problem.
1. Check Your Recording Settings in the Geeni App
First, ensure your camera is set up to record correctly.
- Open the Geeni app and select your Merkury camera.
- Tap the settings icon (usually a gear or "...") in the top-right corner.
- Go to "Storage Settings" or "SD Card Settings".
- Make sure that "Recording Mode" is set to "Continuous" or "Event Recording" based on your preference. If it's off, the camera will not record.
- Check the "Recording Schedule" to ensure it is enabled for the times you expect it to be recording.
2. Reformat the MicroSD Card (The Right Way)
This is the most effective solution for fixing corruption and configuration issues. This will erase all footage on the card.
- Keep the microSD card inside your powered-on Merkury camera.
- Open the Geeni app and navigate to your camera's settings.
- Find the "SD Card Settings" menu. You should see information about the card's capacity.
- Tap on the "Format SD Card" option.
- Confirm that you want to erase the card. The process will take a minute or two.
- Once formatting is complete, restart the camera by unplugging it from power for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.
After the camera reboots, check the app to see if it is now recording correctly. This resolves the issue for most users.
3. Ensure a Stable Wi-Fi Connection
While recording is local, the camera's operating system depends on a stable network connection.
- Check the Wi-Fi signal strength for your camera in the Geeni app's device settings.
- If the signal is weak or unstable, try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera, or consider using a Wi-Fi extender.
- A simple reboot of your router can often resolve temporary connectivity glitches.
4. Use a High-Quality MicroSD Card
If formatting the card doesn't work, or the problem returns quickly, the card itself is likely the culprit.
- Invest in a "High-Endurance" Card: These are specifically designed for the heavy demands of security cameras. Standard cards will fail much more quickly.
- Purchase from Reputable Sources: The market is flooded with counterfeit microSD cards that have fake capacities and slow speeds. Buy from well-known retailers to ensure you get a genuine product.
- Replace Old Cards: If your card is more than a year or two old and has been recording continuously, it may simply be worn out. Replacing it with a new, high-endurance card is the best solution.