Troubleshooting Your Tend Camera When It's Not Recording
A security camera that doesn't record is a significant security risk. If you've noticed that your Tend camera is not recording events, motion, or clips, this guide will help you systematically identify and fix the problem. The issue usually lies in one of three areas: your cloud subscription, the camera's settings, or its network connection.
Let's restore your camera's most important function.
### Step 1: Verify Your Tend Secure Cloud Subscription
For most Tend camera models, the ability to record and save video clips is tied directly to a Tend Secure cloud storage plan. Without an active subscription, your camera will likely only provide a live view.
- Check Subscription Status: Open the Tend Secure app or log in to your account on their website. Navigate to the subscription or billing section.
- Confirm Your Plan: Ensure that your subscription is active and has not expired. Check that the payment method is up to date.
- Assign Plan to Camera: In some cases, you may need to ensure that your active plan is correctly assigned to the specific camera that is not recording.
If your subscription has lapsed, renewing it is often the quickest and only solution to restore recording functionality.
## Step 2: Optimise Motion Detection and Notification Settings
If your subscription is active, the next step is to dive into the camera's settings within the Tend Secure app. Incorrectly configured settings are a very common reason for a camera failing to record.
### Motion Detection Settings
- Enable Motion Detection: It might sound simple, but make sure the main motion detection toggle for your camera is turned on.
- Adjust Sensitivity Levels: Navigate to your camera's settings and find the 'Motion Sensitivity' slider. If the sensitivity is set too low, small or distant movements may not be enough to trigger a recording. Try increasing the sensitivity level and then test it.
- Configure Activity Zones: Activity Zones are a powerful feature that tells your camera to only pay attention to motion in specific parts of the view. However, if they are set up incorrectly, any motion happening outside these zones will be ignored and not recorded. Review your Activity Zones to ensure they cover the areas of interest, like doorways or paths. If in doubt, try disabling the zones completely to see if recording resumes.
### Notification and Recording Schedules
- Check Schedules: Does your camera have a recording schedule set? You may have inadvertently configured it to only record during specific hours of the day. Check for any active schedules and ensure they align with when you expect the camera to be recording.
- Armed vs. Disarmed Mode: Make sure your camera or system is in the 'Armed' mode. In 'Disarmed' mode, recording is typically disabled by default.
## Step 3: Check Network and Hardware
Even with a valid subscription and perfect settings, the camera needs a stable connection to upload video clips.
- Wi-Fi Signal Strength: A camera that is online for live view might still have a connection that is too weak or unstable to upload video files. A weak Wi-Fi signal can cause uploads to fail, resulting in no saved recordings. Check the camera's signal strength in the app and consider moving it closer to your router if it's low.
- Reboot the Camera: A simple power cycle can resolve many temporary glitches. Unplug your Tend camera from the power source, wait for 30-60 seconds, and then plug it back in. Give it a few minutes to reconnect and then test motion detection again.
- Firmware Update: Ensure your camera's firmware is up to date. Manufacturers release updates to fix bugs, and a known issue could be preventing recording. Check for updates in the camera's settings menu within the app.
By carefully checking your subscription, fine-tuning your motion settings, and ensuring a stable network connection, you can resolve the vast majority of issues that cause a Tend camera to stop recording.