How to Fix Wyze Camera Storage Full Errors
A Wyze Cam provides an excellent and affordable way to keep an eye on your home, especially when using a microSD card for continuous local recording. However, it can be confusing and alarming when the Wyze app notifies you that your storage is full. This guide will explain why this happens and show you how to easily fix it.
Understanding the 'Storage Full' Notification
It's important to clarify that this message refers to the local microSD card that you have inserted into the camera itself. It does not refer to the 12-second motion-triggered event clips that are stored on the Wyze cloud for free.
The primary reason you see this error is that the microSD card has been completely filled with video footage, and the camera has stopped recording new content to avoid overwriting existing files. This usually happens if the camera is set to 'Record on event' instead of 'Continuous Recording'.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing the Storage Issue
There are two main ways to resolve the 'Storage Full' problem and get your camera recording again.
Method 1: Format the MicroSD Card (Recommended)
Formatting is the quickest and most effective way to solve the problem. It completely erases the card, freeing up 100% of the space and clearing any potential file corruption issues.
- Open the Wyze app on your smartphone.
- Select the camera that is showing the storage error.
- Tap the Settings icon (the gear symbol) in the top right corner.
- Navigate to Advanced Settings.
- Select Local Storage.
- Tap on Format. You will be asked to confirm this action.
- The formatting process will take a few moments. Once complete, the card will be empty and ready to record new footage.
Method 2: Enable Continuous Loop Recording
To prevent this issue from happening again, you can set your Wyze Cam to automatically overwrite the oldest footage when the card gets full. This creates a continuous recording loop.
- Follow steps 1-5 from the formatting method above to get to the Local Storage menu.
- Under 'Recording Mode', ensure that Continuous Recording is selected, not 'Record on event'.
- When this mode is active, the camera will record non-stop. Once the SD card is full, it will automatically begin deleting the oldest video files to make room for the newest ones. This ensures you always have the most recent footage available without ever running into a 'Storage Full' error.
What to Do If Formatting Fails
If you try to format the card via the Wyze app and it fails, or the error persists, it could indicate a problem with the microSD card itself.
- Power Cycle the Camera: Unplug your Wyze Cam, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Sometimes a simple reboot can resolve communication issues with the SD card.
- Physically Re-seat the Card: Power down the camera, carefully eject the microSD card, and then re-insert it firmly. Power the camera back on and try to format it again.
- Format the Card in a Computer: If the in-app format fails, the card may be corrupted. Remove the card from the camera and use an adapter to plug it into a computer.
- For cards 32GB or smaller, format it using the FAT32 file system.
- For cards 64GB or larger, format it using the exFAT file system.
- After formatting it in the computer, re-insert it into the Wyze Cam. The camera may still require you to format it again via the app, but this can often fix the underlying issue.
- Replace the Card: If the card cannot be formatted by a computer, it is likely damaged and will need to be replaced. Always use a high-endurance microSD card from a reputable brand for best results in security cameras.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage your Wyze Cam's local storage and ensure it's always ready to capture what's important.