Troubleshooting
The timestamp on footage is wrong
A wrong timestamp usually means the recorder's internal clock battery has failed, so the time resets after every power cut. It matters more than it sounds: footage with a wrong timestamp is far weaker as evidence and can be dismissed outright.
Last reviewed
Replace the clock battery
A small coin cell on the recorder board keeps the clock during power loss. It is inexpensive, and replacing it stops the time resetting every outage.
Set time sync
Recorders can sync from an internet time server. Where the system has a connection, enabling this means the clock is right permanently.
Check daylight and format
A recorder set to the wrong region can offset every timestamp by hours. Worth checking once, because everything recorded since is affected.
Why is the time wrong on my CCTV footage?
Does a wrong timestamp make footage useless?
It weakens it considerably. If you need footage for an insurance claim or a police matter, an obviously wrong time invites the whole recording to be questioned.
Can the timestamp be corrected afterwards?
No, and it should not be. Correct the clock going forward and note the offset for existing footage. Editing timestamps would destroy the footage's value entirely.
Should the recorder set its own time?
If it has an internet connection, yes. Time synchronisation keeps the clock right through power cuts and costs nothing to switch on. On a system with no internet the clock drifts a little every month, which is why it belongs on the maintenance checklist.
Need this doing?
Security camera repair covers cameras showing no image, recorders that stopped recording, footage you cannot retrieve, and systems that lost remote viewing. Most faults are power, cable or configuration rather than a failed camera. Diagnosis is free, and we quote a fixed price before doing any work.
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