In today's article, we will go over different ways to delete security camera footage.
Plenty of people think deleting footage is hard. But, on the other hand, some believe it is easy, like in the movies. Well, which one is it?
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes. If you wish to delete footage, it should be your own and not someone else's. Keep in mind that deleting essential footage or evidence can be a crime.
Is it possible to delete security camera footage?
The quick and straightforward answer is YES! If you own the camera, of course.
You can do it yourself or even automatically if you wish.
Why do you need to delete security camera footage?
There are various reasons why someone may want to delete footage. One of them is privacy.
However, remember that nothing on the internet is 100% safe. Including your camera's recordings!
This is why cameras should NEVER be installed in bathrooms and bedrooms. Wherever you place a camera, you can expect no privacy.
Additionally, the camera can be shared with other people, so be cautious of what you do in front of it.
The most common reason to delete security camera footage is to allow more space in the DVR ton store video. You can think about it like a Ferris wheel.
A Ferris wheel goes around filling up with people. Once full, someone has to get off for someone else to get in. Cameras that record on DVRs are the same.
After a certain amount of time, when the DVR is full, the oldest videos need to be deleted, so there is space for new ones.
Usually, it is within a time frame—for instance, a month. After 30 days of recording, the 1st day will be deleted to make room for the 31st day. So on and so forth.
By doing this, you can keep using the storage space you already have and save money instead of buying even more!
The four ways to delete security camera footage.
There are four ways to get rid of your recordings. Let's go over them:
Deleting security camera footage from DVR/NVR
This is the fastest and most straightforward way to delete camera footage. You will need to connect and log in to your DVR or NVR using a monitor.
Once you have connected, head on over to "Device Settings" and locate the disk management. From there, you can view your camera's history and delete what you do not want.
Deleting footage from an SD card
Some cameras utilize an SD card to store videos of your camera. However, it is easy to delete.
For removal of selected clips of your footage, you will need to remove the SD card from your camera and use a card reader to connect the chip to your computer.
To delete the footage, you will need to open the micro SD card's information and select "Format." From there, you will have access to all the files on the card.
Feel free to pick and choose what you want to cut out from your recordings.
When you are done, you can return the SD card to the camera once again. You can do this as often as you want, as the camera will continue to record and function normally.
Deleting footage from a PC
Many people have their IP cameras recording and storing the footage into a computer or laptop, rather than a DVR or NVR.
If this applies to you, you will have to delete the footage using the PC.
Once the cameras are all connected to the PD, you will need to find the file where the cameras are storing the footage. Then you can select and delete the footage you want.
Deleting security camera footage from the cloud storage
The cloud is one of the best methods to make sure you have all your data backed up and do not risk losing your footage.
Not only does it make your files and data super secure, but it also adds convenience.
Using the cloud allows you to see your recordings wherever you are and pause/play, fast-forward, download, and even delete your files remotely.
It is of great convenience for anyone that wants to access their cameras anywhere at any time.
To delete footage from the cloud, you will need to log in to your account, using the app and company in which your camera saves your footage.
Some camera brands offer this service for a small monthly fee that allows easy access.
After logging in, locate the recording page to check out the recorded videos your camera has stored; you can choose the ones you do not want anymore and delete them.
Keep in mind that each cloud storage application is different. A quick search can guide you through how to delete the footage on your application, depending on which one you have.
Can CCTV footage be recovered?
A very crucial part is the recovery of videos that are deleted. Of course, losing a vital video can feel dreadful.
But worry not; security camera footage that has been deleted can still be recovered.
Deleting a video does not permanently erase the footage. Think about this as a garbage can.
If you throw away an important paper that you need later but did not take out the trash, the paper remains there. The same applies to your footage.
You can search online for instructions to recover your footage depending on the model and method you are using for storage.
Depending, you can also contact the company that you use to store your recordings in the cloud.
The bottom line
Overall, there are definitive ways to delete your footage regardless of how you store your recordings.
It will benefit you dramatically to delete your older recordings and replace them with new ones instead of purchasing more space for storage.