Dealing with a 'Storage Full' Alert on Your Merkury Camera
A 'Storage Full' notification on your Merkury smart camera can be a major concern, as it means the device can no longer save new video clips, potentially leaving you without a record of important events. Whether you are using a local microSD card or a cloud subscription, this guide will walk you through the steps to effectively manage your storage and ensure your camera is always ready to record.
## Understanding Merkury Storage Options
Merkury cameras offer two primary methods for storing video footage:
- Local Storage (microSD Card): You can insert a microSD card directly into the camera. All recordings are saved to this card, and you can access them through the app as long as the camera is online.
- Cloud Storage: This is a subscription-based service where your recordings are uploaded and stored securely on remote servers. This protects your footage from being lost if the camera is stolen or the SD card fails.
The 'Storage Full' issue typically relates to the microSD card.
How to Fix and Manage Your Merkury Camera's Storage
Follow these solutions to resolve the storage problem and optimise your camera's recording settings.
### 1. Enable Loop Recording
This is the most crucial setting for managing local storage automatically. Loop recording, sometimes called 'overwrite', allows the camera to automatically delete the oldest saved footage to make space for new recordings once the microSD card's capacity is reached.
- How to Enable: Open the app and navigate to your Merkury camera's settings. Look for 'Storage Settings' or 'Recording Settings'. Within this menu, you should find an option for 'Loop Recording' or a similar toggle. Ensure this is switched on. If it was off, enabling it will solve the 'Storage Full' problem going forward.
### 2. Format the MicroSD Card
If you want to clear all footage and start fresh, or if the card seems to be malfunctioning, formatting it is the best solution.
- Formatting via the App: The safest and easiest method is to use the built-in format function. In the camera's settings, find the SD card or storage menu. You will see an option to 'Format' or 'Erase SD Card'. Tapping this will wipe the card completely. This can also resolve underlying file system errors on the card.
- Formatting via a Computer: If the app fails to format the card, you can use a computer. Remove the microSD card from the camera and insert it into a card reader connected to your PC or Mac. Format the card using the 'FAT32' file system for cards 32GB or smaller, or 'exFAT' for cards 64GB or larger.
### 3. Upgrade Your MicroSD Card
The size and quality of your microSD card matter.
- Increase Capacity: If you find the card fills up too quickly even with loop recording (e.g., you only have a few days of footage), consider upgrading to a larger capacity card, such as 64GB or 128GB (check your camera model's maximum supported size).
- Use a High-Endurance Card: Standard microSD cards are not designed for the constant 24/7 rewriting that a security camera performs. Using a 'High-Endurance' or 'Video Surveillance' rated card is highly recommended. These are built to be more durable and reliable for this specific task, reducing the risk of storage errors and card failure.
### 4. Manage Your Cloud Storage Subscription
If you are a cloud storage subscriber and are receiving 'Storage Full' alerts, it likely relates to your subscription tier.
- Check Your Plan: Review your cloud subscription details. You may have a plan with a limited number of days of video history (e.g., 7-day or 14-day history). The system will automatically delete clips older than this limit.
- Download Important Clips: If there are specific videos you need to keep permanently, you must download them from the cloud to your phone or computer's local storage before they are automatically deleted.