Verkada Can't Save Locally? Troubleshooting Storage

Troubleshooting Guide: When You Can't Save Verkada Footage Locally

Verkada offers a streamlined, cloud-based security camera system that simplifies management and access. However, if you're trying to save footage locally to your own computer or server, you might find that it works differently from other systems you've used. The inability to save clips can be a frustrating roadblock.

This professional guide, written in British English, will clarify how Verkada's storage works and provide troubleshooting steps for when you're unable to save footage locally.

## Understanding Verkada's Storage Philosophy: Cloud-First

The most important thing to understand is that Verkada is a cloud-native platform. The primary storage location for your footage is the camera's onboard industrial-grade solid-state drive (SSD). This footage is then accessed, managed, and viewed through the Verkada Command cloud interface.

There is no built-in feature to continuously record directly to a local Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, a server, or an SD card. The process of saving footage locally is called Archiving. An archive is a specific video clip that you select and create, which can then be downloaded.

## Common Problems and Solutions for Saving Footage

Let's address the most common issues users face when trying to save footage locally.

### Problem 1: You Cannot Find the Option to 'Save'

Many new users look for a simple 'Save' or 'Download' button on the live or historical footage timeline.

• The Cause: You are looking for the wrong terminology. In the Verkada ecosystem, this process is called Archiving.
• The Solution:
  1. From the camera's history view in Verkada Command, find the event or time frame you wish to save.
  2. Click and drag on the timeline to select the desired start and end times for your clip.
  3. A pop-up window will appear over your selection. Click the 'Archive' button.
  4. Give the archive a descriptive name and add notes if necessary.
  5. The system will then process this clip. You can access it for download from the main 'Archives' page, accessible from the left-hand navigation menu.

### Problem 2: The 'Archive' Button is Greyed Out or Inactive

You've selected a clip, but the button to create an archive is disabled.

• The Cause: This is almost always a permissions issue. Your user account in the Verkada Command platform has not been granted the rights to create archives for that specific camera or site.
• The Solution:
  1. You must contact the administrator of your organisation's Verkada account.
  2. Ask them to review your user role and permissions.
  3. They need to ensure that your role has the 'Archive' permission enabled for the cameras you are trying to access. Site-level permissions can be customised, so you may have rights for some cameras but not others.

### Problem 3: The Downloaded Archive File is Corrupted or Won't Play

You've successfully created an archive and downloaded it, but the MP4 file is unplayable.

• The Cause: This can be caused by a few things: an incomplete download due to a network interruption, a browser issue, or a problem with your local media player.
• The Solution:
  1. Try Downloading Again: The simplest solution is to go back to the 'Archives' page and re-download the file.
  2. Use a Different Browser: Sometimes browser extensions or cache issues can interfere with large file downloads. Try using a different web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge) to download the file.
  3. Check Your Media Player: Ensure you are using a modern media player like VLC Media Player or the latest version of Windows Media Player / QuickTime. Some older players may lack the necessary codecs to play the file.
  4. Check Network Stability: If you are on an unstable Wi-Fi connection, try plugging your computer directly into your router with an Ethernet cable to ensure a stable download.

### Problem 4: You Need to Save More Than 24 Hours of Continuous Footage

You are trying to archive a very long period of footage, but the system is limiting you.

• The Cause: Verkada's cloud archiving is optimised for specific events and clips, not for mass exporting of entire days of footage. There are limitations on the length of a single archive that can be created via the web interface.
• The Solution:
  1. Break It Down: You will need to create multiple, smaller archives that are back-to-back. For example, create one archive from 00:00 to 06:00, another from 06:00 to 12:00, and so on.
  2. Contact Support for Mass Export: If you have a legitimate and critical need to export very large amounts of data (e.g., for legal or law enforcement requests), it is best to contact Verkada Support. They have backend tools and processes that may be able to assist with bulk footage retrieval.

By understanding the 'Archive' workflow and checking your permissions, you can resolve most issues related to saving Verkada footage locally.