Why You Can’t View Your Security Camera Recordings: Common Causes & Fixes
If you're unable to review video recordings on your security system, it typically comes down to one of two issues: a faulty hard drive or an incorrect system date. Understanding the cause can help you restore your system’s functionality faster and avoid potential data loss.
The hard drive inside your recorder is what stores your video footage. If it's failing or already bad, your system won't be able to save or play back any recordings. One common sign of a hard drive issue is a beeping noise coming from the recorder—many systems are designed to alert you with a sound when there’s a storage failure.
Our Tip: We always advise our customers to periodically check their recorded footage—don’t wait until something happens. Spotting a recording issue early can help avoid missing important footage.
The Fix: A hard drive replacement is necessary if it has failed. We can perform a remote check to confirm the issue or schedule an on-site service call if needed.
If your system’s date is wrong, playback won’t work as expected. You may not be able to locate the footage you're looking for—even if it was recorded. Two common reasons for incorrect dates include:
Dead Internal Battery: This battery keeps the time even when the recorder reboots. If the date resets to something like 1970, 2000, or even 1900 after a power outage, it's likely the battery is dead.
No Internet Time Sync: Without NTP (Network Time Protocol) enabled, your system won’t automatically correct its date and time via the internet.
The Fix:
Enable the NTP server setting in your system to ensure it always syncs the time online.
If the battery is dead, we recommend replacing it to prevent future date issues.
We offer free remote support to check your system if you're experiencing issues. Just note: we’ll need access to your computer to assist remotely.
If your system was installed over a year ago, a service call fee may apply for on-site visits. Otherwise, we’re happy to help you resolve the problem quickly and efficiently.
Need to schedule service or request remote support?
Contact us at customersupport@hdssfl.com and we’ll take care of the rest.