Solving UniFi Protect's Continuous Recording Problems
One of the most critical features of a security camera system is its ability to record footage continuously. If your UniFi Protect system isn't recording 24/7, you could miss vital moments. Gaps in your video timeline can be caused by several factors, from simple configuration errors to hardware issues.
This guide will help you systematically troubleshoot why your UniFi cameras are not recording continuously and provide clear steps to resolve the problem.
## Step 1: Verify Camera Recording Modes
The most common reason for a lack of continuous recording is an incorrect setting within the UniFi Protect software. Each camera's recording mode must be configured individually.
- Open the UniFi Protect Application: Log into your UniFi Protect console via a web browser or the mobile app.
- Select Your Camera: Navigate to the 'Devices' tab and select the camera that is not recording continuously.
- Go to 'Recording Mode': In the camera's settings panel, find the 'Recording' or 'Recording Mode' section.
- Choose 'Always': You will see several options, such as 'Detections', 'Never', and 'Always'. To ensure 24/7 recording, you must select the 'Always' option. The 'Detections' setting will only save clips when motion is detected, which creates gaps in the timeline.
- Save Your Changes: Apply the settings and repeat this process for any other cameras that need to record continuously.
## Step 2: Check Your NVR Storage
Your Network Video Recorder (NVR) or Cloud Key Gen2 Plus is where all your footage is stored. If there's an issue with the storage, recording will fail.
### Hard Drive Health
A failing or faulty hard drive (HDD) cannot save new video data.
- Check HDD Status: In the UniFi Protect settings, find the 'Storage' or 'NVR Settings' section. This will show you the status of your hard drive. Look for any warnings or errors. If the drive health is listed as 'Poor' or 'Failed', it needs to be replaced.
- Ensure Proper Installation: If you recently installed or replaced the drive, double-check that it is seated correctly in its bay and that all connections are secure.
### Storage Capacity
If your hard drive is full and not configured to overwrite old footage, all recording will stop.
- Review Capacity: The storage settings will show you the total capacity and the amount of free space remaining.
- Configure Data Retention: Look for a setting like 'Time to Retain' or 'Storage Retention'. To ensure recording never stops, you should set this to auto-overwrite or a fixed number of days. This will automatically delete the oldest footage to make space for new recordings.
## Step 3: Investigate Network and Power Stability
Continuous recording requires a constant, stable connection between your cameras and the NVR.
- Network Connection: For wireless cameras, ensure they have a strong Wi-Fi signal. Poor signal strength can lead to dropouts and lost footage. For wired cameras, check the Ethernet cables for any damage. A camera that frequently disconnects and reconnects will have significant gaps in its recording.
- Power Supply: Ensure your cameras and NVR are connected to a reliable power source. If a camera loses power, it cannot record. Using a Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a great way to ensure system stability.
## Step 4: Update Your Software
Ubiquiti regularly releases firmware updates for UniFi Protect and its cameras to fix bugs and improve performance. An outdated system could have known issues affecting recording.
- Check for Updates: In the UniFi Protect settings, look for a 'System' or 'Updates' section.
- Install Updates: If updates are available for the UniFi Protect application or your cameras, schedule a time to install them. This can often resolve persistent and unexplained recording problems.
By carefully checking your camera modes, NVR storage, network stability, and software versions, you can resolve the vast majority of issues preventing continuous recording in your UniFi Protect system.