Uniview Can't Save Locally: A Guide to Fix SD Card Issues

Troubleshooting Guide: When Your Uniview (UNV) Camera Can't Save Locally

One of the most critical features of a Uniview security camera is its ability to record footage locally to a microSD card. This provides a reliable, subscription-free backup of important events. When your camera fails to save these recordings, it can be a major security concern.

This guide is designed to help you diagnose and resolve the common issues that prevent Uniview cameras from saving video locally. By following these steps, you can ensure your system is functioning correctly and your footage is secure.

The Importance of Local Recording

Local storage on an SD card acts as a primary recording solution or a vital backup to a Network Video Recorder (NVR). It ensures that even if the network connection to the NVR is lost, the camera will continue to capture and store video of any incidents. If this function fails, you could be left with no evidence when you need it most.

Step 1: Identify the Symptoms of the Storage Problem

First, let's accurately identify the problem. Log in to your camera's web browser interface by typing its IP address into a browser like Chrome or Firefox. Navigate to Setup > Storage > Disk Management.

Here are the common symptoms you might encounter:

• No SD Card Detected: The Disk Management screen is empty and does not show any storage device.
• Status: Unformatted: The SD card is listed, but its status shows as 'Unformatted' or 'Not Initialised'.
• Status: Error: The SD card is detected, but its status is 'Error', 'Abnormal', or 'Read-Only'.
• Capacity is Incorrect: The storage capacity shown for the card is incorrect (e.g., showing only a few MBs).
• Recording Log is Empty: The camera indicates that an SD card is present and healthy, but when you try to play back footage, there are no recordings available.

Step 2: Verify SD Card Compatibility and Health

The vast majority of local storage problems stem from the microSD card itself. Uniview cameras, like all security cameras, require high-quality media for reliable operation.

Essential SD Card Requirements:

• Brand Name: Use a microSD card from a trusted manufacturer such as Western Digital, SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston. Avoid unbranded or suspiciously cheap cards, as they are often counterfeit and will fail.
• High Endurance: It is strongly recommended to use a 'High Endurance' or 'Video Monitoring' card. These are specifically designed to handle the 24/7 writing and rewriting that security cameras perform.
• Speed Class: The card must be at least Class 10. For 4K cameras, a U3 or V30 rating is recommended to handle the higher data rate.
• Correct Capacity: Check the official datasheet for your specific Uniview camera model to find the maximum supported SD card capacity (e.g., 128GB, 256GB, 512GB). Using a card larger than the supported limit will cause it to fail.

If you are using an old card or one that does not meet these criteria, replace it with a new, suitable card before proceeding. This is the most common and effective solution.

Step 3: The Critical Formatting Process

You must format the microSD card using the camera's internal software. Do not format it on your PC or Mac.

1. Power Down: It is good practice to power off the camera before inserting the SD card.
2. Insert the Card: Securely insert the microSD card into the camera's slot until it clicks.
3. Power Up and Log In: Power the camera back on and log into its web interface.
4. Navigate to Formatting: Go to Setup > Storage > Disk Management.
5. Format the Card: Select the SD card from the list. The 'Format' button should become active. Click Format.
6. Wait: The process will take a few minutes. The camera will erase the card and create the correct file system.
7. Verify: Once complete, the card's status should change to 'Normal' or 'Healthy', and it should show the correct available capacity.

Step 4: Configure the Recording Schedule

If the card is healthy but the camera is not saving video, you need to tell it when to record.

1. In the web interface, navigate to Setup > Storage > Schedule.
2. You will see a timetable for the week. You can configure different recording types (Continuous, Motion, Alarm).
3. To record all the time, click the 'Continuous' radio button, then click and drag the cursor across the entire timetable for all days.
4. To record only when motion is detected, ensure you have first configured motion detection under Setup > Events > Basic Event > Motion Detection. Then, come back to the schedule and apply the 'Motion' schedule to the timetable.
5. Click Save. The camera will now record according to the schedule you have set.

By ensuring you have a high-quality, compatible SD card, formatting it correctly within the camera, and setting a recording schedule, you will resolve almost any issue preventing your Uniview camera from saving footage locally.