Why Won't My Lorex Camera Record?
- Recording schedule doesn't cover that time/channel
- Recording mode not set (continuous vs motion) for the channel
- Hard drive full with overwrite disabled
Problem Description
Your Lorex camera shows live video but isn't recording to the NVR - the playback timeline is empty or has gaps for that channel. Recording depends on the channel's schedule and recording mode, a healthy hard drive with overwrite enabled, and (for motion recording) correct motion/smart-detection settings. This guide covers checking the schedule, storage, and detection so the camera captures footage.
Why This Happens in Real Homes
A Lorex camera that streams live but doesn't record is a settings-or-storage problem, since live view and recording are handled separately. The first thing to check is the recording schedule: each channel has its own schedule and recording mode (continuous, motion, or a mix), and if the schedule doesn't cover the time in question - or the channel was never set to record - you get exactly this 'live works, no footage' result. Confirm the channel is enabled and its schedule and mode are set the way you expect.
Storage is the other half. A Lorex NVR records to an internal surveillance hard drive, and two drive issues stop recording: a full drive with auto-overwrite turned off simply stops once it fills (overwrite should be on so it recycles the oldest footage), and a failing or uninitialized drive can't store anything and often shows up as corrupt or missing segments in playback. Running a disk check and replacing a drive that reports errors with a surveillance-grade drive fixes storage-side failures. If you're relying on motion recording specifically, misconfigured motion or smart-detection settings mean the camera never triggers a recording even though everything else is fine - so verify detection is set up for the scene.
Symptoms
- Live view works but nothing records
- Playback timeline empty or has gaps
- Records continuous but not motion events (or vice versa)
- Some channels record, others don't
- Recording stopped after it was working
- No footage for certain times of day
- Motion events missed in recordings
- Playback shows corrupt segments
Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.
Common Causes
- Recording schedule doesn't cover that time/channel
- Recording mode not set (continuous vs motion) for the channel
- Hard drive full with overwrite disabled
- Hard drive failing or not initialized
- Motion/smart detection misconfigured for motion recording
- Channel disabled or not assigned to record
- HDD errors causing corrupt segments
- Firmware issue on the NVR
Most fixes happen in the first 3 steps.
Security cameras should be installed at least 8 feet high to prevent tampering. Check local laws regarding recording audio and video. Never aim cameras at neighboring private property. Outdoor cameras should be rated IP65 or higher for weather resistance.
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Step-by-Step Solution
Check the NVR hard drive status
On the NVR, go to Main Menu > Storage > HDD Manager (or Disk Management). The hard drive should show as Normal or OK with the capacity and usage percentage. If it shows Error, Uninitialized, or No Disk: the hard drive may have failed, become disconnected, or need initialization. Try initializing the drive from this menu (warning: this erases all recordings). If the drive consistently shows Error, replace it — Lorex NVRs use standard 3.5-inch SATA hard drives.
Check recording schedule settings
On the NVR, go to Main Menu > Storage > Schedule (or Record > Record Plan). Each camera channel has a recording schedule — a color-coded weekly grid. Blue typically means continuous recording, green means motion-only recording, and blank means no recording. If the schedule shows no recording windows for the camera in question, set the desired recording type for the time periods you want covered. Most users set continuous recording 24/7 or motion-only recording to conserve storage.
Verify motion detection is configured for motion recording
If the schedule is set to motion recording (event-based) but no recordings appear: the motion detection may not be configured for that camera. Go to Main Menu > Camera > Motion Detection. Select the camera channel. Enable motion detection and set the detection area (draw the zone on the preview image). Set the sensitivity (default medium). Test by moving in front of the camera — a motion icon should appear on the live view and a recording event should start.
Check storage overwrite settings
When the hard drive fills up, the NVR can either stop recording or overwrite the oldest footage. Go to Main Menu > Storage > General. Set Overwrite to On (Auto) so recording never stops. If Overwrite is Off and the drive is full, no new recordings are saved. With Overwrite On, the oldest footage is deleted automatically to make room for new recordings. For a 2TB drive with 4 cameras recording continuously at 4K, expect approximately 7-10 days of storage before overwriting begins.
Check if the camera stream is compatible
If a specific camera does not record but others do: check the camera encoding settings. Go to Main Menu > Camera > Encode. The camera must be set to a resolution and codec that the NVR supports. If the camera was recently updated or replaced with a different model, the encoding may be incompatible. Set the codec to H.265 (most storage-efficient) or H.264 (most compatible). If the NVR does not support H.265, switch to H.264.
Quick Solutions
Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.
Camera issues that start suddenly almost always trace back to an upload bandwidth drop — run a speed test before assuming hardware failure.
Set up activity zones to monitor only the areas that matter like your front porch and driveway and exclude the street. This dramatically reduces false alerts while ensuring you never miss an actual event at your property.
Live view problems that start suddenly usually trace back to an upload speed drop — the camera itself is fine, the bandwidth path to the cloud isn't.
- Recording schedule doesn't cover that time/channel
- Recording mode not set (continuous vs motion) for the
- Hard drive full with overwrite disabled
- Hard drive failing or not initialized
- Motion/smart detection misconfigured for motion recording
Before you go — try one of these (they fix most cases).
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Official Manufacturer Manual
Lorex provides official product documentation through their online manual rather than downloadable PDF. Access setup guides, troubleshooting steps, and product specifications for your Lorex Camera.
Source: lorex.com
Need More Help? Lorex Support
Note: The contact information below connects you directly to Lorex's official customer support team, not Trunetto. They can help with warranty claims, device replacements, and advanced technical issues.
