Help Centre / CCTV Help
CCTV Not Recording?
If your CCTV is not recording, the issue could be with the hard drive, recorder settings, camera signal, date and time, power, storage capacity or the recorder itself. It is worth checking quickly, because missing footage is often only discovered when it is needed.
Short answer
If your CCTV is not recording, it may be because the recorder hard drive has failed, the recording schedule has been changed, cameras are not being detected, the recorder has lost power, the date and time are wrong, or the system is not configured to overwrite old footage.
Some CCTV systems may still show live camera pictures even when they are not recording properly. That is why it is important to check playback, not just live view.
If you cannot find or play back recent footage, Sanders Secure can help with CCTV repairs, maintenance and fault finding across Plymouth and the surrounding area.
Live view and recording are not the same thing
A CCTV system can sometimes show live pictures while still having a recording problem. For example, the cameras may be working, but the recorder may not be storing footage because of a hard drive fault, schedule issue or recording setting.
The best way to check is to look at playback on the recorder or app and confirm that recent footage can be found, played back and exported if needed.
If footage is important for security, insurance, an incident or a business site, do not assume the system is recording just because the cameras appear live on screen.
Common reasons CCTV stops recording
The cause will depend on the recorder, cameras, cabling and settings. These are some of the most common recording problems we see.
Hard drive fault
Most CCTV recorders use a hard drive to store footage. If the hard drive fails, is not detected, or has errors, the system may stop recording or lose playback history.
Recording schedule changed
Some systems can be set to record continuously, on motion detection, on events, or only at certain times. If the schedule has changed, footage may not be recorded when expected.
Overwrite setting problem
Recorders normally overwrite older footage when the hard drive becomes full. If overwrite is disabled or misconfigured, recording may stop when storage is full.
Camera loss or signal problem
If a camera is not being detected by the recorder, there may be no footage for that camera. This can be caused by cabling, power, PoE, camera faults or recorder input issues.
Incorrect date and time
If the recorder date or time is wrong, footage may appear to be missing because it is stored under the wrong time period. This can be confusing when trying to search playback.
Recorder fault or power issue
A DVR or NVR that keeps rebooting, losing power, overheating or reporting system errors may fail to record reliably.
Why recording faults matter
A CCTV system is only useful if it records when you need it to. A camera picture on a monitor can give reassurance, but the real test is whether footage can be played back and exported.
Recording faults are often only discovered after an incident. By then, it may be too late to recover the footage.
For businesses, yards, communal areas, rental properties and commercial sites, regular CCTV checks can help spot hard drive, playback and camera issues before footage is needed.
What you can safely check yourself
Before calling an engineer, there are a few checks you can make without changing the system setup.
- Check whether live camera images are still visible.
- Open playback and check whether recent footage can be found.
- Check more than one camera, not just a single channel.
- Check the recorder date and time.
- Make a note of any hard drive, HDD or storage warning.
- Check whether the recorder is powered on and not repeatedly restarting.
- Check whether the cameras are missing locally or only on the app.
- Try playback from the local recorder if the phone app is unclear.
- Check whether the system has recently been unplugged or moved.
- Take photos of any warning messages shown on screen.
Tip: When checking playback, try looking for footage from earlier today, yesterday and a few days ago. This can help show whether recording has stopped completely or whether only certain times or cameras are affected.
What not to change without knowing the system
Some changes can accidentally delete footage, stop recording or make the issue harder to diagnose.
- Do not format the hard drive unless you are certain what you are doing.
- Do not factory reset the recorder.
- Do not change recording schedules randomly.
- Do not delete cameras from the recorder or app.
- Do not unplug network or camera cables without noting where they go.
- Do not ignore hard drive warnings.
- Do not assume old footage is recoverable if the hard drive has failed.
- Do not replace the hard drive with an unsuitable drive.
If footage may be needed for an incident, avoid making unnecessary changes. Check playback and seek advice before formatting, resetting or replacing storage.
When to call a CCTV engineer
You should arrange a visit if playback is missing, the recorder is showing a hard drive warning, cameras are not recording, footage cannot be exported, the system keeps rebooting, or you are unsure whether the system is recording correctly.
It is especially important for businesses, commercial sites, yards, communal areas and properties where CCTV footage may be needed for security, incidents or insurance purposes.
Hard drive warning
A hard drive warning should be checked quickly, as it can mean the recorder is not storing footage properly.
Missing playback
If recent footage cannot be found, the recording schedule, storage and camera inputs need checking.
Camera loss
A missing camera may mean there is no footage for that area, even if the rest of the system is recording.
Sanders Secure provides CCTV repairs, maintenance and fault finding, as well as CCTV system installation and upgrades for homes and businesses in Plymouth, South Devon and Cornwall.
How Sanders Secure can help
When we attend a CCTV system with recording issues, we check more than just the live camera view.
- Checking recorder health and error messages.
- Checking hard drive status and recording settings.
- Checking live view and playback across cameras.
- Checking date, time and search settings.
- Checking camera loss and signal issues.
- Checking whether footage can be exported.
- Checking recorder power and reboot issues.
- Checking app and remote playback where appropriate.
- Advising whether repair or upgrade is sensible.
- Testing the system after changes have been made.
If the recorder or hard drive is failing, we will explain the options. Sometimes a repair or hard drive replacement is enough. In other cases, an older CCTV system may be better upgraded.
Related help and services
If your CCTV is not recording, these pages may also be useful.
CCTV not showing on phone?
Useful if you can view locally but cannot see cameras remotely on your phone.
CCTV repairs and maintenance
For recording faults, hard drive warnings, camera loss, app issues and maintenance checks.
CCTV systems
For new CCTV systems, upgrades and modern app-controlled viewing options.
Commercial security systems
For commercial CCTV, alarms, access control, fire alarms and ongoing maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
These are some of the common questions we are asked when CCTV stops recording properly.
Need help with CCTV recording problems?
If your CCTV is not recording, playback is missing, cameras are offline or the recorder is showing a hard drive warning, contact Sanders Secure for practical CCTV support.
