Is Your Reolink NVR Not Recording? (Fix It Fast!)

When you depend on your security system to monitor visitors, deliveries, or potential intruders, discovering your Reolink NVR not recording is unacceptable.

This can expose your home or business to significant risks!

This issue often arises from loose hard drive connections, an incorrectly configured recording schedule, or problems with the overwrite functionality.

Continue reading to explore effective solutions to address this concern!

How to Fix When the Reolink NVR Not Recording?

Note: Have you attempted a power cycle on the Reolink NVR and Reolink cameras?

1. Check the Reolink NVR HDD Connections

Improperly connected hard drive SATA or power cable may inevitably prevent your NVR from saving the footage captured by your Reolink cameras.

So, the first step is to ensure the NVR recognizes the hard drive by reseating both cables firmly.

Locate the screws on the outer casing of the NVR and use a compatible screwdriver to loosen the panel.

Gently lift the panel upwards and remove it, then locate the HDD in the right or left corner socket, based on the model of your unit.

• Reconnect the SATA and power cables on both ends of the HDD to secure them firmly.

After plugging in the cables, check that the hard drive is seated correctly in the slot, then turn the NVR back on and let it start up all the way.

Open the Reolink app or look at the screen to see if the footage can be stored now.

2. Configure the NVR Recording Schedule

Your NVR may fail to save footage due to a misconfigured recording schedule of the Reolink security cameras.

You can configure the Reolink recording schedule both through the Reolink app and the Reolink client on your NVR.

Here’s how to configure the recording schedule via the NVR:

• On your NVR, head to NVR settings → “Surveillance”.
• Access the “Recording” tab from the NVR menu options.
• Activate “Enable Record” to allow the NVR to record.
• Head to “Schedule” and press on your Reolink camera.
• Set the “Schedule” button to “On” within the options tab.
• Select “Alarm” and allow the particular detection types.
• Drag the grids to set the motion detection hours below.
• Select a timer for continuous recording and exit the tab.
• Save all of your changes and test the Reolink NVR HDD.

Tip: You can reapply the schedule settings to other Reolink cameras once configured.

3. Enable the Overwrite HDD Function

The NVR may fail to store recordings due to a full hard drive, which stops it from deleting old files if “Overwrite” is not enabled.

You can customize the feature through the Reolink mobile application for cameras and the Reolink client for NVRs.

Follow these steps to enable “Overwrite” on your Reolink NVR:

• Log in to your Reolink NVR using the Reolink Client.
• Click the NVR Settings button to access the options.
• Navigate to the “Surveillance” → “Record” settings.
• Now, find “Overwrite Recordings” under “Record”.
• Set the overwrite interval if your model supports it.

Now, the oldest recordings on your Reolink NVR will be automatically replaced with new files captured from your cameras.

If you wish to prevent any file loss, you can back up the hard drive or upload files that you want to keep.

4. Update the OS Via the Reolink Software

So, the reason why your Reolink camera is not recording to the NVR might sometimes be due to an outdated firmware of the system.

This could prevent the NVR from recognizing footage from the cameras and disable other essential functions, such as the “Overwrite” feature.

Updating the operating system on your Reolink NVR or camera can help fix this issue and ensure smooth recording.

Method #1 Online Firmware Upgrade

• Connect all devices, NVR, camera, and computer, to the internet.
• Now, open the Reolink software and access the Upgrade Interface.
• Allow the NVR to check for any available firmware updates.
• Follow the on-screen steps to initiate the firmware update process.
• Turn on “Auto Update” to automatically update the NVR unit.

Method #2 Manual Firmware Upgrade

• Check your camera model and hardware version for compatibility.
• Access the Reolink Download Center and find the latest OS version.
• Next, compare the build numbers to confirm if an update is needed.
• Download the firmware zip file and unzip to get the OS update file.
• After that, follow the installation steps in the manual upgrade guide.

Note: Enable “Auto Update” or regularly check the Download Center for new firmware releases to keep your system up-to-date.

5. Check & Format the Reolink NVR HDD

The NVR might not record if the hard drive is full, corrupted, or not properly formatted, which stops it from saving footage.

Refer to the steps below to check and format the HDD using the NVR interface, depending on your UI version.

New UI Format Process:

For RLN8-410 (N2MB02/H3MB18//N3MB01/N7MB01), RLN16-410 (H3MB18/N6MB01), RLN36, RLN12W:

• Log in to your NVR through the monitor and go to Settings.
• Head to the “Storage” page and select the HDD to format.
• Now, click the “Format” button to start formatting the HDD.
• Next, wait for the process to finalize and test the recording.

Old UI Format Process:

For RLN8-410 (H3MB02/H3MB16), RLN16-410 (H3MB02):

• Log in to your NVR via the monitor, and go to Menu.
• Go to Device, then HDD page, and select the HDD.
• Click the Init button to begin formatting the HDD.
• Allow the process to finish, then verify the recording.

You can check the HDD health by pressing the “S.M.A.R.T” in the recording settings.

Keep in mind that complete HDD formatting will erase all recordings stored on the NVR. 

6. Use the Original Reolink NVR Equipment

Using a power adapter that isn’t the original one that came with your NVR might sometimes disrupt the recording because of power insufficiency. 

So, make sure the NVR uses the original Reolink power adapter to keep the NVR running smoothly and recording as intended.

If you don’t have the original adapter, ensure that the one your NVR currently uses matches the voltage and amperage requirements to avoid any issues.

Plug in the correct adapter, power on the NVR, and confirm it’s recording properly through the Reolink client or monitor.

7. Configure the Reolink Motion Recording

The recording failure of your Reolink NVR might result from the motion detection settings not being properly configured for cameras connected to the Reolink PoE NVR.

Several essential settings define how and when the Reolink cameras record and send the footage to the NVR.

• To access the recording settings, log into your Reolink PoE NVR on the monitor, go to Menu → Recording → Schedule page, and select your Reolink camera.

7.1 Define the Motion Detection Area

First, you must specify the area for motion detection. Head to “Alarm” → “Motion” and outline the capture area for the selected Reolink camera.

7.2 Adjust Motion Detection Sensitivity

Fine-tune the sensitivity to reduce false alarms and ensure the Reolink camera captures only important events.

Then, right-click the Reolink camera and pick “Sensitivity” to set the level.

7.3 Enable Motion-Triggered Recording

On the Motion page, click “Set by Action”, enable the channel, and apply the changes.

This ensures the Reolink camera will record whenever there is a captured movement.

Note: Verify that the alarm schedule aligns with the motion recording schedule for best results!

8. Restore the NVR Settings to Default Values

Well, the Reolink NVR might not record due to system issues or a settings problem, which a factory reset can often resolve.

Follow the steps below to factory reset all Reolink NVR models: RLN8-410, RLN16-410, RLN36, and RLN12W.

Reset RLN12W via Reset Button

• Ensure the RLN12W NVR is powered on before starting.
• Next, locate the Reset button on the back of the NVR.
• Press and hold the reset button until you hear a “beep”.
• Wait for the Initialization Wizard to show on the monitor.

Reset RLN8-410, RLN16-410, RLN36 via Reset Button

• Power off the NVR and remove the outer case with a screwdriver.
• Power on the NVR and locate the reset button inside the hardware.
• Press the reset button for 10 seconds until you hear a “beep” sound.
• Next, check for the Initialization Wizard to finish the factory reset.

After resetting, the NVR will return to factory settings and prompt for initial setup.

Don’t forget to verify the reset by ensuring the “beep” sound is heard and the Initialization Wizard appears.

9. Test the NVR with Another Hard Drive

The reason why the Reolink NVR is not recording can often be traced to a faulty or incompatible hard drive, which prevents the system from saving video footage properly. 

Power off the NVR, remove the outer casing, and swap the current hard drive with another one that meets the Reolink compatibility requirements for your model.

• If you have a Reolink 8-channel model, you can use either a 4TB or 6TB HDD.
• If you have an older Reolink NVR model, it can only work with a 4TB hard drive.

Note: Do not reassemble the NVR right away; you can only use the SATA and power cable!