Understanding and Resolving Tend Camera Storage Full Errors
A notification that your Tend camera's storage is full can be frustrating, especially when you rely on it for security and peace of mind. This error prevents the camera from saving new recordings, potentially causing you to miss important events. Fortunately, resolving this issue is usually straightforward. This guide will walk you through the common causes, symptoms, and step-by-step solutions to manage your storage effectively.
Whether you use Tend's cloud storage or a local microSD card, this guide will provide the information you need to get your camera recording again.
## Common Symptoms of a Full Storage Drive
When your Tend camera's storage is reaching its limit, you will likely encounter several clear indicators. Recognising these symptoms early can help you address the problem before any crucial footage is lost.
- "Storage Full" Notifications: The most direct symptom is receiving a push notification or an in-app message stating that storage is full.
- Inability to Record: You may notice that new events are no longer being recorded or saved to your timeline.
- Automatic Deletion of Old Footage: Some storage plans automatically overwrite the oldest footage when space runs out. You might notice that older clips are disappearing faster than expected.
- Sluggish App Performance: The Tend app may become slow, unresponsive, or crash when trying to access recordings or live views.
- Errors When Viewing Clips: You might see error messages like "Unable to play video" or "File corrupted" when attempting to view saved footage.
- Camera Stops Recording: In some cases, the camera may cease all recording functions until storage space is made available.
- Error Indicator Light: A blinking or solid red light on the camera itself can sometimes indicate a storage or recording fault.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Storage Issues
Follow these steps to diagnose and resolve the "Storage Full" error on your Tend camera. We recommend following them in order to ensure a comprehensive solution.
### 1. Identify Your Storage Type
First, determine if you are using Tend's cloud storage service, a local microSD card, or both. The solution will differ slightly depending on your setup. You can verify this within the Tend app's settings for your specific camera.
### 2. Manage Your Tend Cloud Storage
If you subscribe to a cloud storage plan, you will need to manage your files directly through the app.
- Review and Delete: Go through your recorded events in the app's timeline or event list. Identify and delete any clips that are no longer needed. This could include false alarms from pets, passing cars, or other non-essential motion alerts.
- Download Important Footage: Before deleting, make sure to download and save any important video clips to your smartphone or computer. Once a clip is deleted from the cloud, it cannot be recovered.
- Upgrade Your Plan: If you consistently run out of space, consider upgrading your Tend Secure cloud subscription to a plan with a longer storage history or capacity.
### 3. Manage Your Local MicroSD Card Storage
If you are using a microSD card for local storage, you have a few different options.
- Delete Files via the App: The Tend app should allow you to view and delete files stored on the SD card. This is the safest method as it ensures the file system remains intact.
- Format the SD Card: The most effective way to clear all data is to format the SD card. This will erase everything on the card permanently. Most Tend cameras have a "Format SD Card" option in the storage settings menu within the app. This will reset the card and ensure it's correctly configured for the camera.
- Manual Deletion (Advanced): You can remove the SD card from the camera, insert it into a computer using a card reader, and manually delete the video files. However, we recommend formatting via the app to avoid potential file corruption issues.
### 4. Optimise Recording Settings
To prevent the storage from filling up so quickly in the future, you can adjust the camera's recording settings.
- Adjust Motion Sensitivity: Lowering the motion detection sensitivity will cause the camera to trigger recordings less frequently, saving space.
- Set Up Motion Zones: If your camera supports it, create specific motion detection zones to focus on important areas (like doorways) and ignore areas with constant movement (like a busy street).
- Check Recording Schedules: Ensure you don't have the camera set to record continuously if you only need it to record when motion is detected.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage your Tend camera's storage, ensuring it's always ready to capture the moments that matter. Regular maintenance of your storage is a key part of keeping your security system in optimal working order.