The Silent Failure: When Your Security System Stops Recording
A security camera system's primary job is to record what happens. You rely on this footage to review events, identify individuals, and provide evidence if necessary. When your Swann system fails to record, it creates a critical vulnerability, as you might not realise there's a problem until you need the footage and it isn't there. This guide will help you troubleshoot the common reasons why a Swann DVR or NVR might stop recording and how to resolve them.
Common Causes for Swann Recording Failures
Recording issues usually stem from one of a few key areas. Understanding these will help you narrow down the problem.
- Hard Drive (HDD) Issues: The internal hard drive is where all your footage is stored. If it's full, has an error, is disconnected, or has failed, recording will stop. This is the most common point of failure.
- Incorrect Settings: Your recording schedule might be paused, set to motion-detect only when sensitivity is too low, or the camera channel may have been accidentally disabled.
- Camera Connection Problems: The recorder cannot save footage from a camera it cannot see. A loose or damaged cable can interrupt the video feed and, therefore, the recording.
- Power Supply Issues: An unstable power supply to the DVR/NVR or the cameras can cause the system to reboot or stop functioning correctly.
- Outdated Firmware: Bugs in the system's software can sometimes lead to recording problems.
Troubleshooting Steps for When Your Swann Camera Won't Record
Follow this diagnostic process to find and fix the issue.
1. Check Recording Schedules and Modes
First, ensure the system is actually set to record.
- Access the Main Menu on your Swann recorder.
- Navigate to the Recording or Schedule settings.
- Check that the schedule is correctly configured. For continuous recording, the grid should be set to 'Normal' (often represented by a green block). For motion-only recording, it should be set to 'Motion' (often yellow).
- Ensure you haven't accidentally set the schedule to 'None' or 'Stop'.
2. Inspect the Hard Drive (HDD) Status
The system itself can tell you the health of its storage.
- From the Main Menu, go to System, Device, or Storage settings.
- Find the HDD Information or HDD Status screen.
- Check the status. It should show 'Normal' or 'Good'. If it shows 'Error', 'Not Detected', or 'Unformatted', you have found the problem.
- Also, check the capacity. If the drive is full and not set to overwrite old footage, it will stop recording.
3. Format the Hard Drive
If the HDD status shows an error or is unformatted, a reformat can often fix it. WARNING: This will permanently erase all recorded footage on the drive. Back up any important clips before proceeding.
- In the same HDD settings menu, find the Format HDD option.
- Select the drive and confirm that you want to format it.
- The system will re-initialise the drive. After it's finished, reboot the recorder and check if recording has resumed.
4. Verify Camera Connections
Ensure the recorder is receiving a stable video signal from the camera.
- Check that the BNC (for DVRs) or Ethernet (for NVRs) cable is securely plugged into both the back of the recorder and the camera.
- Inspect the cable for any visible signs of damage.
- Try plugging the non-recording camera into a port on the recorder that you know is working with another camera. If the camera now records, the original port may be faulty. If it still doesn't record, the issue may be with the camera or its cable.
5. Update Your System's Firmware
Check the Swann support website for your model number to see if a newer firmware version is available. Updating the firmware can resolve known bugs that might be affecting the recording function. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when performing an update.