Power and PoE
Check the lights on the recorder, the PoE switch and the camera's cable port.
A dead port or a loose plug is a common find.
Troubleshooting Guide
CCTV Camera Not Working or Not Recording? Causes and What to Check
Most CCTV faults come from power, the network, the hard disk or settings, and many take minutes to check. This guide goes in order, from quick checks anyone can do to the faults that need a technician.
Written Quotation Since 2018 Abu Dhabi & Al Ain
In short: when a CCTV camera stops working or stops recording, check in this order: power or PoE to the camera and the recorder, the cable and connectors, the network (especially after a router change or a power cut), the recorder's hard disk and recording schedule, and the date and time. A full or failed hard disk, a changed IP address and a power cut are among the most common causes. Cameras record locally, so they can work without internet; only remote viewing needs it. If the recorder shows a disk error or several cameras are down at once, call an installer instead of opening the equipment. Emirtech repairs and maintains CCTV in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Symptom, likely cause and what to check first
| Symptom | Likely cause | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| No picture on any camera | The recorder or the network switch has no power, or the switch is down. | Check the recorder's power light, the PoE switch and the socket or UPS feeding them. |
| One camera shows black | No power or PoE to that camera, a loose or damaged cable, or a failed camera. | Check the cable ends and the PoE port light; swap the cable or port to see whether the fault follows. |
| Pictures show but nothing is recorded | The hard disk is full or has failed, or the recording schedule is off. | Look at the recorder's disk status and schedule; a disk error needs a technician. |
| Recording stopped after a power cut | The recorder did not restart properly, the disk was damaged or the clock reset. | Restart the recorder, check the disk status and the time; a UPS avoids a repeat. |
| Camera offline after a router change | The camera's IP address changed or it is on another network range. | Check that the cameras and recorder share a network range; fixed addresses prevent this. |
| Works on site but not on the phone | The internet is down, the app login or cloud service has a problem, or remote settings changed. | Test the internet on site, then check the app account and the recorder's remote access settings. |
| Night picture white, hazy or dark | Infrared glare from a dome or nearby wall, dust, insects or a failed infrared light. | Clean the lens and dome, check what is close to the lens and compare day and night views. |
| Footage time is wrong | The clock or time zone reset, or time synchronisation is off. | Set the time zone and switch on time synchronisation on the recorder. |
Quick checks anyone can do safely
Cables and connectors
Look for loose, wet or damaged connectors and cables bent sharply.
Outdoor connectors need sealing against rain and dust.
Network
Check that the recorder and cameras are on the same network after any router change.
Fixed IP addresses stop cameras dropping offline.
Hard disk and recording
Open the recorder's status page for disk health, free space and the schedule.
A disk error means footage may be at risk: stop and call for help.
Date, time and settings
Confirm the clock, the time zone and that recording is set the way you intended.
A wrong time makes footage hard to use as evidence.
Lens, dome and housing
Clean the lens from the ground, check for insects and dirt, and look for glare from walls or lights.
Do not open sealed housings or the recorder yourself.
Fix it yourself or call an installer
The line is simple: look and restart yourself; leave opening equipment, mains work and resets to a technician.
Safe to try
Restarting the recorder once, checking lights, cables and sockets, cleaning a lens from the ground and checking the clock and the schedule.
Call an installer
Several cameras down, a disk error, repeated dropouts, a recorder that will not start, or a camera that needs a ladder.
Do not attempt
Opening the recorder or power supplies, working on mains cabling, or resetting a recorder to factory settings, which can erase recordings.
Emirtech is an independent integrator in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, ADMCC-approved for security systems in the Abu Dhabi emirate. We repair and maintain CCTV in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and are not a brand partner or distributor. We have no office in Al Ain, so visits there are by appointment.
Have this ready when you call us
- The number of cameras and the recorder brand and model, if you know them.
- When the fault started and whether anything changed first (a power cut, a new router, a storm).
- Which cameras are affected and what the recorder's screen shows.
- A photo of the recorder's front lights and of any error message.
- Whether you watch the cameras on a phone, and which app you use.
- Any warranty or maintenance contract details.
This page is general information about CCTV faults. Always follow the equipment maker's instructions and avoid working on mains power. Brand names are trademarks of their owners; Emirtech is not a brand partner or distributor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my CCTV camera suddenly not working?
The usual causes are no power or PoE, a loose or damaged cable, a network change such as a new router, a full or failed recorder disk, or a camera that has failed. Check the lights and cables first, then the recorder's status page. If several cameras stopped at once, look at the switch and the recorder before the cameras.
How do I reset my CCTV camera?
Try a normal restart first: switch the camera's power or PoE port off and on, or restart the recorder once. A factory reset removes settings, and on a recorder it can erase recordings, so do it only on your installer's advice and after the footage has been saved.
What does it mean if there is no red light on a CCTV camera?
Many cameras show no visible light in daylight, and infrared lights switch on only in the dark, so no light does not prove a fault. Check the picture on the recorder or app. If there is no picture and no light, check the power or PoE to that camera.
Can CCTV work without internet?
Yes. Cameras and a recorder record locally without internet. Remote viewing on a phone, cloud alerts and time synchronisation need the internet, so you can lose those while recording carries on, and you can still view on the recorder's own screen. See how to monitor your CCTV on a smartphone.
Why did my CCTV stop recording after a power cut?
A sudden power loss can leave a recorder unable to restart recording, reset its clock or damage its hard disk. Restart it, check the disk status and the time, and consider a UPS so the recorder is protected. A disk error needs a technician.
Why is my camera offline after I changed the router?
Cameras and the recorder talk over IP addresses. A new router often hands out a different address range, so the recorder can no longer find the cameras. Fixed IP addresses, or putting the cameras back on the recorder's network, restore the link. An installer can set this up in a short visit.
How long should CCTV footage be kept?
It depends on the site and the rules that apply to you, and storage needs depend on the number of cameras, the resolution and how long you keep recordings. See CCTV footage storage and retention in the UAE and the bandwidth and storage calculation guide.
Does the summer heat affect CCTV in the UAE?
Yes. Direct sun and high temperatures can shorten the life of cameras and recorders, cause overheating and spoil the picture with glare. Shade, ventilation and the right camera settings help. See CCTV in extreme UAE heat.
Should I repair or replace an old CCTV system?
If cameras fail one at a time and the recorder is healthy, repair is usually sensible. If the recorder or disk keeps failing, the cameras are low resolution or the cabling is old, replacing parts or upgrading may serve you better. We assess the system on site first. See CCTV camera repair in Abu Dhabi and analog vs IP cameras.
How do I get CCTV repair or maintenance in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain?
Send a WhatsApp message or use the request form with the details above. We reply the same working day, assess the system on site and send a written quotation before any work. For regular checks see annual maintenance contracts.
CCTV not working or not recording?
Tell us what the recorder shows and when the fault started. We reply the same working day, assess on site and send a written quotation.
Need a free site survey or quote in Abu Dhabi?
Talk to Emirtech's engineers — we reply the same working day across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. CCTV, security, IT, AV and smart-building solutions.
Mon–Sat 8AM–7PM · [email protected] · Since 2018 · ADMCC-approved for security systems