Troubleshooting Guide: When Your Yale Camera Won't Save Locally
Yale smart home cameras provide peace of mind, but if your camera isn't saving recordings to the local microSD card, you're missing a key security feature. This guide will walk you through the most common reasons for this issue and how to resolve them.
Local storage is crucial as it allows your camera to record footage even if your internet connection goes down and avoids the need for a monthly cloud subscription fee.
## Step 1: Verify SD Card Compatibility
The single most common cause of recording issues is an incompatible or poor-quality microSD card. It's essential to use a card that meets Yale's specifications.
- Card Type: Ensure you are using a microSD card, not a full-size SD card.
- Speed Class: Use a card with a Class 10, U1, or U3 speed rating. This is indicated by a 'C' with a '10' inside it, or a 'U' with a '1' or '3' inside. Slower cards cannot handle the data rate required for video recording.
- Capacity: Check the maximum supported capacity for your specific Yale camera model (e.g., 32GB, 128GB, 256GB). Using a card larger than the maximum supported size will not work.
- Brand Reputation: Always use high-quality cards from reputable brands like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston. Avoid unbranded or suspiciously cheap cards, as they are often counterfeit and unreliable.
## Step 2: Format the SD Card Correctly
Even a compatible card needs to be formatted properly to work with the camera. The best practice is to always format the card inside the Yale app.
Warning: Formatting will erase all data currently on the card.
- Ensure the microSD card is securely inserted into the camera.
- Open the Yale app and navigate to your camera's settings.
- Find the Storage or SD Card menu.
- Select the Format option and confirm.
This process ensures the camera sets up the correct file system (usually FAT32) and directory structure it needs to save recordings. If the in-app format fails, try formatting the card on a computer to FAT32 first, then try the in-app format again.
## Step 3: Check Recording Settings
It's possible the camera is working fine, but the recording settings are not configured to save clips.
- Enable Motion Recording: In the camera's settings, ensure that motion detection is turned on and that the recording schedule is active. Some settings allow for 24/7 recording, while others only record when motion is detected.
- Check Detection Zones: If you have set up motion detection zones, make sure they cover the areas you want to monitor. If an event happens outside of an active zone, it won't be recorded.
- Sensitivity Levels: If the motion sensitivity is too low, the camera may not be triggering recordings. You may need to increase it slightly.
## Step 4: Reboot and Update
Sometimes, a simple glitch can prevent the camera from saving correctly.
- Reboot the Camera: Power cycle your Yale camera by unplugging it from its power source for about 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. This can clear any temporary errors.
- Check for Firmware Updates: Manufacturers release firmware updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Check within the Yale app for any available firmware updates for your camera and install them.
If you have tried all of these steps with a known-good SD card and the camera still refuses to save recordings locally, there may be a hardware fault with the camera's SD card slot. In this case, you should contact Yale customer support for further assistance.