Is Your Reolink Camera Failing to Record to its SD Card?
Using a microSD card for local storage is a fantastic feature of Reolink cameras. It allows you to save motion-triggered events without needing a subscription to a cloud service or a dedicated NVR. However, it can be incredibly frustrating when you discover that your camera hasn't been saving footage, especially after an incident has occurred.
If your Reolink camera isn't saving to the SD card, the problem usually falls into one of three categories: an issue with the SD card itself, a problem with the camera's settings, or a hardware fault. This troubleshooting guide will help you systematically identify and fix the cause.
## Step 1: Verify the SD Card's Compatibility and Health
The microSD card is the most common point of failure. Let's ensure it's the right type and is functioning correctly.
- Use a High-Endurance Card: Standard SD cards are not designed for the constant writing and rewriting of a security camera. You should use a high-quality, high-endurance microSD card specifically designed for dash cams or surveillance systems. Reolink recommends a Class 10 or UHS-1 card from a reputable brand.
- Check the Card's Status in the App: Open the Reolink app, go to your camera's Device Settings, and find the Storage or SD Card menu.
- If the app shows 'No SD Card Inserted', physically remove the card (with the camera powered off) and re-insert it firmly to ensure it is seated correctly.
- If the app shows 'Invalid' or an error, the card's file system may be corrupt. Proceed to the next step.
## Step 2: Format the SD Card Correctly
Formatting erases the card and sets up a fresh file system for the camera to use. Important: This will delete all existing recordings on the card, so back up anything important first.
- Format Using the Reolink App: It is crucial that you format the SD card within the Reolink app or desktop client, not on your computer. This ensures the camera uses the correct file system format (e.g., FAT32 or exFAT).
- How to Format: In the Storage menu in the app, you should see the SD card details and a Format button. Tap this and confirm the action. The process will take a minute or two. After formatting, the camera should show the correct available capacity.
## Step 3: Configure Your Recording Settings
Once the camera recognises the formatted card, you need to tell it when to record.
- Enable Overwrite/Loop Recording: In the storage settings, make sure the option for Overwrite (or Loop Recording) is enabled. When this is on, the camera will automatically delete the oldest footage to make space for new recordings once the card is full. If this is off, the camera will simply stop recording when the card's capacity is reached.
- Check the Recording Schedule: Go to the Recording settings for the camera. Here, you can set a schedule for when the camera should record (e.g., 24/7 or only when motion is detected). Ensure that recording is enabled for the times you need. For motion-triggered recording, make sure your motion detection settings are also properly configured.
## Step 4: Final Troubleshooting
If you have followed all the steps above and the camera is still not recording, try these final checks.
- Update Camera Firmware: Check for any firmware updates for your camera within the app. Sometimes bugs that affect SD card functionality are fixed in new firmware versions.
- Test with a Different SD Card: If possible, try a different, known-good SD card in the camera. If the new card works, it's highly likely your original SD card has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced.
- Reboot the Camera: A simple power cycle (unplugging the camera for 30 seconds and plugging it back in) can sometimes resolve temporary glitches.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, there may be a hardware fault with the camera's SD card slot. In this case, you should contact Reolink's official support for further assistance.