--- title: "CCTV Footage Overwritten Too Soon in Kenya: Retention Fixes | Qyvea" url: https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-footage-overwritten-retention-kenya description: "Went to check an incident and the footage was gone? How CCTV retention works, how many days you get, and how to keep footage longer with bigger drives, H.265 and motion recording." updated: 2026-10-17 --- > Markdown copy of https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-footage-overwritten-retention-kenya for AI assistants. Prices and stock change; check the live page. 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How to Keep Recordings Longer Why footage disappears and how to keep 30+ days. Every day this stays broken costs you more than the repair would. Read on: it takes a few minutes and could save you a lot more than that. **In this guide you will see:** - Recorders overwrite the oldest footage when full. - More cameras and higher resolution fill drives faster. - H.265+ can cut storage use dramatically versus H.264. Quick answer CCTV recorders overwrite the oldest footage when the drive is full. If you only get a few days, the drive is too small for the number and resolution of cameras, or everything records continuously at full quality. Bigger surveillance drives, H.265+ compression and motion- or event-based recording can multiply retention. Businesses should set a retention target (often 30 days) and check it on every service visit. [Photo: Alan J. Hendry / Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/KNt4zd8HPb0) Why act on it now ## A fault you ignore is a fault that grows. ### If you wait - Working around the fault for another week - A small problem turning into a replacement - Nobody checking the rest of the system ### What you get - The likely cause found fast, with the checks in this guide - A technician who fixes it properly if the checks do not - A system you can rely on again [Hikvision DS-2CD1023G0E-I 2MP Bullet](/products/hikvision-ds-2cd1023g0e-i-2mp-bullet-network-camera-132 "Hikvision DS-2CD1023G0E-I 2MP Bullet Network Camera")[Dahua HDCVI 2MP Dome](/products/dahua-hdcvi-2mp-dome-camera-14357 "Dahua HDCVI 2MP Dome Camera")[Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 16CH 4K](/products/hikvision-ds-7616ni-q2-16ch-4k-nvr-189 "Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 16CH 4K NVR") [Get my free quote on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/254113301244?text=Hi%20Qyvea%2C%20I%20read%20your%20guide%3A%20CCTV%20Footage%20Already%20Overwritten%3F%20How%20to%20Keep%20Recordings%20Longer.%20I%20want%20CCTV%20sorted.%20Can%20you%20help%3F)Reply usually within 30 minutes. Free site survey in Nairobi and nearby counties. Real products, live prices, in stock now ## Key takeaways - Recorders overwrite the oldest footage when full. - More cameras and higher resolution fill drives faster. - H.265+ can cut storage use dramatically versus H.264. - Motion recording extends retention. - Export incident footage immediately. ## Quick checks you can do first 1. **Check the oldest recording**: Play back the earliest date available. That's your real retention. 2. **Check compression**: Switch to H.265 or H.265+ if supported. 3. **Review recording mode**: Continuous on key cameras, motion on quiet areas. 4. **Check drive size**: Compare with your retention target. 5. **Export incidents now**: Save important clips to USB as soon as you know about an incident. **Important**: Switch off and isolate power before opening any equipment. Batteries, inverters and mains wiring can cause serious injury; leave internal work to a qualified technician. ## What usually causes it | Symptom | Likely cause | Fix | | --- | --- | --- | | Only 3–7 days | Drive too small | Bigger drive or second drive | | Retention dropped suddenly | Resolution raised or drive failing | Review settings, test drive | | Missing hours | Recording schedule gaps | Fix schedule | | Gaps after power cuts | No UPS | UPS for recorder | | Huge files | H.264 at max bitrate | H.265+, tune bitrate | ## When to call a technician - You need a set retention for compliance or insurance. - Footage for an incident is needed now. - Recorders need upgrading to H.265. - Many sites need consistent settings. **When to call a professional**: Qyvea technicians diagnose and fix this on site across Nairobi and Kenya. Call [0113 301 244](tel:+254113301244) or [WhatsApp a technician](https://wa.me/254113301244?text=Hi%20Qyvea%2C%20I%20need%20a%20technician%20for%20CCTV%20retention). Running this across several sites or branches? A [Qyvea maintenance contract](https://qyvea.co.ke/maintenance-contracts-for-business-kenya) catches these faults on scheduled visits, with a written report after each one. ## Parts that fix it ## Frequently asked questions How many days of CCTV footage should a business keep? Many businesses aim for 30 days; banks and some sectors keep longer. Set it by your risk and any client or insurer requirements. Does motion recording miss things? It can if poorly set. Keep continuous recording on entrances and tills. Can footage be backed up off-site? Yes, to cloud or another site, if the upload bandwidth allows. ## Why customers choose Qyvea **Genuine brands**: Manufacturer warranty on what we sell, so you are not gambling on the box. **One team, start to finish**: The people who advise you also install and support it. **Fast answers**: WhatsApp replies usually within 30 minutes, and delivery within 24 hours in Nairobi. **Easy to buy**: Pay by M-Pesa, bank transfer or card. Free delivery in Nairobi on orders over KES 5,000. **Risk taken off you**: 7-day returns and exchanges on products, and a workmanship warranty on installations. **Customers say so**: Rated 4.6/5 from 57 Google reviews. **Your next step takes one minute:** send us a photo of the place on WhatsApp and we will tell you what it needs. ## Related articles [CCTV · Troubleshooting DVR 'HDD Error' or 'No Hard Drive'? Your CCTV May Not Be Recording What HDD errors mean for your footage, and how to get recording back. 3 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/dvr-hdd-error-no-hard-drive-kenya)[CCTV · Troubleshooting CCTV Showing the Wrong Date and Time? Why It Matters and How to Fix It Wrong timestamps weaken evidence. Set automatic time sync and fix resets. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-wrong-date-time-kenya)[CCTV · Troubleshooting CCTV Camera Not Recording Live view works but there's no footage: the usual causes, from hard drives to recording schedules. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-camera-not-recording-fix-kenya) ### Related services [CCTV Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv)[Hikvision NVR & DVR Prices](https://qyvea.co.ke/hikvision-nvr-dvr-price-in-kenya)[Maintenance & Repair](https://qyvea.co.ke/maintenance) ### Related products [CCTV cameras in the shop](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-cameras-kenya) ### Related projects [Real Qyvea case studies](https://qyvea.co.ke/projects#case-studies) [← Previous**CCTV Explained: How a Complete CCTV System Works**](https://qyvea.co.ke/how-cctv-works-kenya)[Next →**: CCTV Image Blurry, Foggy or Washed Out? Causes and Fixes**](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-blurry-foggy-image-kenya) ## Still experiencing the problem? Qyvea can inspect and diagnose the system on site. Chat with us — 30 min response --- **Qyvea Limited** · Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya (delivery only, no walk-in pickup) · serving all 47 counties Phone/WhatsApp: [+254 113 301 244](https://wa.me/254113301244) · Email: info@qyvea.co.ke · Shop: [qyvea.co.ke/products](https://qyvea.co.ke/products) · Facts: [qyvea.co.ke/qyvea-facts](https://qyvea.co.ke/qyvea-facts)