Why Does Lorex DVR Keeps Rebooting? (Here’s What to Do!)

When your Lorex DVR keeps rebooting, it’s a sign that something critical is failing behind the scenes of your security installation.

Whether it is the hard drive, power supply, or the DVR internal components, this guide will help you identify the cause and apply solutions before the problem compromises your security.

How to Fix Whenever the Lorex DVR Keeps Rebooting?

Note: Have you checked if the Lorex cameras shut down along with the DVR?

1. Unplug the Lorex DVR Power Supply

Your security installation is prone to reboots of the DVR, as this disrupts both motion detection and the recording of your cameras.

Suspending the power supply of the DVR can often solve temporary functionality issues by forcing a restart of the system.

Follow these steps to properly power cycle the Lorex DVR:

• Power off the Lorex DVR using the built-in Power button or switch.
• Unplug the power cable from the power supply and wait 30 seconds.
• Reconnect the cable and turn on the Lorex DVR to test for rebooting.

Monitor the DVR for at least several minutes after power cycling to determine if the rebooting stops.

Don’t forget to check if new recordings are being made and if you have access to the camera live feed.

If the issue is still there, it is probably related to the hard disk drive operation.

2. Temporarily Disconnect the DVR HDD

An improperly connected hard drive SATA or power cable can be the answer to “Why My Lorex DVR keeps rebooting”, often due to power supply insufficiency and recording problems.

Hence, reseating both of the cables ensures the drive is recognized by the DVR and functions properly. 

Here’s how to reach, inspect, and reconnect the HDD cables:

• First, power off the Lorex DVR and unplug all cables from the system.
• Uninstall the bottom panel by removing the 6 screws with a screwdriver.
• Locate the hard drive (HDD) in its slot, usually in the right or left corner.
• Firmly reconnect the SATA and power cables to the HDD on both ends.
• Secure the HDD in its slot, reassemble the panel, and power on the DVR.

While the bottom panel is removed, check if any of the HDD’s cables have sustained damage in any way.

Overheating can often fray the internal wires of the DVR, so check thoroughly.

3. Test the DVR Without Any Peripherals

Malfunctioning peripherals could often cause issues with the DVR startup or result in power loss midway through recording.

The peripherals of your Lorex DVR include 5–10 security cameras and a monitor that grants you access to the Reolink client and recording settings. 

We recommend disconnecting each of the Ethernet and video cables from the back of the DVR while the device is off, and then attempting to start up the system.

Follow these steps to test the DVR without external devices:

• Power off the Lorex DVR and unplug all cameras and the monitor.
• Next, turn the DVR back on with only the power cable connected.
• Monitor the DVR for ~10–15 minutes to check if it is still rebooting.

If the DVR starts up successfully with no other devices plugged in, reconnect each peripheral one by one to identify the faulty device.

If a particular device is causing issues with the DVR, consider a brand-new replacement or get in touch with Lorex customer support. 

4. Use an Alternative Electrical A/C Source

An unstable power source can be why the Lorex DVR keeps restarting, as it disrupts the functionality of essential internal components.

So, ZontSound recommends testing the DVR while connecting to an alternative electrical source to determine if the problem is power-related. 

Reconnect the Lorex DVR to a different wall outlet or use a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to provide consistent power.

Then, monitor the device for rebooting over the next half an hour to check if the issue is resolved. 

Warning: Only use the original power adapter supplied with the purchase of your Lorex DVR!

5. Check for Overheating of the Lorex DVR

Well, overheating can cause your Lorex DVR to reboot, as the system shuts down to prevent damage when temperatures get too high.

The overheating factors often include poor ventilation, dust buildup, or faulty cooling components. 

You will know that the Lorex DVR is overheating if the top, side, or rear panels are excessively hot to the touch or the noise produced by the internal coolers becomes extremely loud (RPM).

We have prepared several different methods to address the DVR overheating!

Method #1: Check for Dust Accumulation:

First, clean all dust or debris on the surface of the DVR airflow vents to improve the ventilation.

Position the DVR in a cool environment and use a dryer or compressed air to clean all dust from inside the DVR. 

Method #2: Relocate the Lorex DVR:

Position your Lorex DVR away from direct sunlight, heaters, or other heat sources to preserve proper operating temperature.

Avoid placing the device in enclosed spaces such as cabinets to ensure the surrounding temperature remains cool. 

Method #:3 Inspect the DVR Cooling Fans:

A potentially malfunctioning cooling fan might be allowing the DVR temperatures to increase past the overheating margin, which causes the device to reboot. 

So, replace the faulty fan with a compatible one (like a 140mm PC fan if it is compatible with the power plug) or attempt moving it around to determine if it is obstructed. 

Warning: In case of overheating, disconnect the DVR immediately and wait for ~10–15 minutes!

6. Manually Update the Lorex DVR Firmware

One of the reasons why the Lorex DVR keeps restarting is often an outdated firmware version, which can introduce various system bugs or compatibility issues.

Updating the firmware version (periodically released on the Lorex website for free) via USB or cloud can potentially resolve underlying system issues with the DVR.

6.1 Update Firmware via USB

• Contact Lorex Technical Support at 1-888-425-6739 for the new OS.
• Provide them with the DVR model number and email for feedback.
• Now, on your Lorex DVR, go to Main Menu → Settings → System.
• Access “Config Backup” and connect a USB flash drive to the DVR.
• Then, select “USB flash drive (A)” at the top and click “Format (B)”.
• Set FAT32 as the formatting mode and eject the USB when told to.
• Download the firmware (.bin file) from the emailed link by Lorex.
• Insert the USB drive and head to Settings → System → Upgrade.
• Select USB Upgrade, choose the firmware file, and press Start.

6.2 Update Firmware via Cloud

• Connect the Lorex DVR to your network over Ethernet.
• Go to Main Menu → Settings → System → Upgrade.
• Click Check for Updates to check for a new OS version.
• Proceed with a potentially newer update for the DVR unit.
• Enable Automatically Check for Updates and click “OK”.

Note: Your account must have signed up for a cloud subscription in order to use cloud updates!

7. Use an Alternative DVR Power Adapter

An unstable or faulty power adapter might be the reason why your DVR keeps rebooting at random times.

Using a new 12V-5A power adapter can prevent power interruptions that cause the DVR system to crash and eliminate the rebooting once and for all.

• Try a replacement 12V-5A power adapter from the Lorex equipment collection page available on their website, and make sure it matches the power requirements. 

If the DVR is no longer rebooting, then the issue was with the original adapter of the Lorex DVR.

In case the DVR is still not working as intended, we recommend one final factory reset…

8. Reset the Lorex DVR to Default Settings

If your Lorex DVR keeps rebooting due to underlying issues with the software, performing a clean factory reset can restore the default settings and eliminate the problem.

However, all settings, stored recordings, and customized data on the DVR will be erased permanently.

Here’s how to reset the DVR if you are confident about losing this information:

• Plug in the Lorex DVR and make sure it is powered on.
• Tap the Panic button until the Lorex screen shows up.
• Wait for a few seconds until the factory reset completes.
• Allow the DVR to restart and check if the rebooting stops.

After the reset, reconfigure the DVR settings through the Lorex mobile application and test the system.

If the rebooting persists, then it is almost certain that the DVR’s hardware is failing, and you must get in touch with Lorex technical support for professional assistance.