In this guide we will provide instructions on how to setup a brand new microSD card inserted into an IP camera as the card needs to be initialized (formatted) for the first time use. The procedure is the same if you use the iVMS-4500 app (or Guarding Vision).
Hikvision IP cameras that support microSD cards are very convenient since you can use them standalone, not necessarily tied to a NVR. The footage will be recorded on the microSD card and you can playback or back via the phone (or laptop).
There are a few ways to initialize the microSD card, here we will show an easy and fast method: formatting the microSD card via the Guarding Vision app which is a phone app used by Hikvision OEM devices (branded or non-branded).
Note: Make sure to buy a reliable microSD card for your security camera. The bigger the size of the microSD card, the longer more footage will be stored for future playback.
Initialize the microSD card on a Hikvision IP camera via the Guarding app
Step 1. Open up the phone app, select ‘Guarding Vision’ on the bottom left and slide the device name to the left and select the icon.
Step 2. Once on the device settings page select the “Storage Status”.
Step 3. On the storage status page, select “Memory Card” which will take you to the “Initialize Storage” page. It should be marked there as “normal”, anything different means the microSD card is not properly inserted or detected by the IP camera.
Step 4. In the initialize storage page, select Initialize. This will format or initialize the microSD card and after that the card should be ready for recording.
Once formatted the microSD card will start to store the recordings automatically. By default it’s set on the continuous recording mode, meaning it will record all the time (24 hours a day).
However, it’s recommended to set the camera on motion detection, that way you’ll save space on the microSD card and recorder for longer time frames.
