Frustrated by "Recording Failed" Errors on Unifi Protect?
The Unifi Protect system is a powerful tool for safeguarding your property, but seeing a "Recording Failed" notification can be alarming. This error indicates that your system is unable to save footage, leaving potential gaps in your security coverage.
Fortunately, this is a common issue with several identifiable causes and solutions. This guide will help you systematically troubleshoot the problem, from simple restarts to more advanced checks, to get your cameras recording reliably again.
Understanding the Root Causes of Recording Failures
When Unifi Protect fails to record, it's usually due to one of three main areas: the storage device, the network, or the software itself.
- Hard Drive (HDD) Issues: The hard drive is the heart of your storage. If it's full, failing, or has become corrupted, the system has nowhere to save the video data.
- Network Instability: Unifi cameras stream video to the controller over the network. If a camera's connection is unstable or drops out, the recording will fail.
- Software Glitches: Sometimes the Unifi Protect application itself can encounter a bug or a database corruption that prevents it from managing recordings correctly.
- Camera Malfunctions: A faulty camera can sometimes disrupt the recording process for the entire system.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Recording Failures
Follow these steps in order. Most issues can be resolved with the initial, simpler steps.
1. Perform a System Restart
The classic "turn it off and on again" is often the most effective first step. A simple reboot can clear temporary glitches in the software.
- For Cloud Key Gen2+ or UNVR: Navigate to the device's settings in the dashboard and select Restart.
- For other controllers: Follow the standard procedure for restarting the device running your Unifi Protect application.
- Wait for the system to fully reboot and check if the error message disappears.
2. Check Your Hard Drive Health and Capacity
If a restart doesn't work, the next logical place to look is your storage.
- Open the Unifi Protect dashboard.
- Navigate to the Settings section.
- Find the Storage or Hard Drive menu.
- Check Capacity: Ensure the drive is not full. If it is, you may need to back up and delete old footage or configure your recording retention settings to automatically overwrite older clips.
- Check Health: The system should report the health of the drive (e.g., "Healthy" or "Failing"). If the health is poor or errors are reported, the drive is likely failing and must be replaced.
3. Inspect Camera and Network Connectivity
A stable connection to each camera is essential for recording.
- In the Unifi Protect dashboard, go to the Cameras list.
- Check the status of each camera. Are any of them showing as "Offline" or "Disconnected"?
- If a camera is offline, investigate its physical connections. Check the Ethernet cable and the port it's connected to on your network switch.
- Ensure the camera is receiving adequate Power over Ethernet (PoE) from the switch.
- Try restarting the problematic camera by unplugging its network cable for 30 seconds.
4. Check for Software and Firmware Updates
Ubiquiti frequently releases updates that fix known bugs and improve system stability.
- In your Unifi Protect controller's settings, check for any available updates for the Unifi Protect application.
- In the Cameras section, check if any of your cameras have pending firmware updates.
- Always keep your system up to date to prevent known issues from affecting your recordings.
5. Rebuild the Database (Advanced)
If none of the above steps work, your recording database may be corrupted. This is a more advanced step.
Important: Ensure you have a backup of your Unifi Protect configuration before proceeding.
- Gracefully shut down your Unifi Protect controller.
- Carefully remove the hard drive(s) from the device.
- Wait for about a minute, then re-insert the hard drive(s) securely.
- Power the controller back on.
- The system will often detect an issue and attempt to automatically repair or rebuild the database. This process can take some time.
By methodically checking your system's storage, network, and software, you can effectively diagnose and resolve the "Recording Failed" error and restore confidence in your security setup.