Your Nextbase Dash Cam serves as an extension of your vehicle. It is a great way to document car accidents, interactions with law enforcement, and long road trips. However, when it doesn’t work, you might have concerns about its long-term functionality.
There could be a few reasons why the Nextbase Dash Cam isn’t recording. First, make sure that it’s fully charged. Users should also make sure that the device is fully updated. The secure digital (SD) drive might also be corrupted, making it difficult to save information.
Continue reading to learn more about why your dashcam isn’t recording. If a factory defect is the root of your issue, then you may have to contact Nextbase’s customer service or file a warranty claim.
Reasons Why Your Nextbase Dash Cam Isn’t Recording
If your Nextbase Dash Cam isn’t recording, the following are a few possible reasons why as well as troubleshooting steps you can try:
Check the Battery
First things first, check your device’s battery. If it is low, it may not record all the footage you would like.
The Nextbase Dash Cam is designed to last for about a week on a single charge. You could extend this timeframe if you buy the Nextbase battery pack.
Make Sure Your Camera’s Firmware Is Updated
Your device’s firmware is essential; this is what allows your camera to “talk” to third-party devices, like your phone and memory cards. Your firmware will need to be fully updated for you to record videos.
The specific instructions on checking for firmware updates will depend on what type of model you have. This involves downloading the update to your computer, plugging in your camera (with its SD card) to your computer, and completing the installation. Click here to find the best option that suits your device.
You Might Be Using the Wrong SD Card
Nextbase says that you need a U3 SD card to record and save information. You want an SD card that is optimized to capture CCTV and dashcam footage. Most SD cards that you buy from retailers are not designed for this purpose.
Luckily, you have the option of buying Nextbase’s line of SD cards. These devices are created to capture up to 16 hours of footage, depending on what type of card you buy.
Your SD Card Is Corrupted
If you’ve been using a compatible SD card with your Nextbase Dash Cam, the issue could lie with it being corrupted. This basically means that something is preventing the card from transferring information. This could make footage inaccessible or impossible to transfer.
The following things could have corrupted your dashcam’s SD card:
- Improper ejection
- Physical damage
- Viruses
- Ejecting the card while it was processing information
It could also be damaged if it was used interchangeably with multiple pieces of hardware.
These steps could help you “uncorrupt” your SD drive. If you don’t consider yourself tech-savvy, you’re better off getting a new memory card altogether.
You Might Need to Format Your SD Card
Ideally, you should format your SD card every time you take a new “shoot.” Realistically, you only need to do this a few times. When you format your card, you basically make a little folder that holds your digital media. For instance, you will want a digital camera image (DCIM) folder since this will hold your camera’s videos.
The steps to format your SD card will depend on your specific model; Nextbase has a how-to guide for this process here.
Note: Before formatting your SD card, make sure you transfer all existing data to your computer.
You Might Need to Perform a “Hard Reset”
To perform a hard reset, follow these instructions:
- Locate the reset button on the top of the camera.
- Hold down on it for about 10 seconds.
This should not affect the recordings you already have saved. It will restore your camera to its original settings, which you may need to reconfigure through its settings. You can learn more about conducting a hard reset by clicking here.
In Conclusion
There could be multiple reasons why your Nextbase Dash Cam isn’t recording; it could be an issue with its power supply, SD card, or its original manufacturing. If the steps mentioned above didn’t work, you can contact customer support or file a warranty claim.
To learn more about the functionality of your device, you can consult your user manual by clicking here.