How to Save Camera Footage to a USB Drive
Hikvision DS-9632NI-M8 Recorder — Easy Guide for Front-Desk / Local Staff
No technical experience needed — just follow the pictures below.
|
Item |
Why |
Notes |
|
USB flash drive |
This is where the video will be saved |
4 GB or larger is usually enough for a few hours of one camera |
|
Mouse |
Used to click through the recorder's on-screen menu |
Usually already connected to the recorder |
|
Recorder login |
Some recorders ask you to log in before opening the menu |
Ask your IT contact if you don't have this |
Good to know: If someone asks you to "pull footage" or "send a video clip," this is the process — you're saving a copy of the recorded video from the recorder onto a USB drive so it can be emailed, copied to a computer, or handed to police/insurance.
Meet Your Recorder
This is the recorder (NVR) box connected to your cameras and TV/monitor. It has 2 USB ports on the front — you can use either one to plug in the thumb drive for backup.
The recorder's front panel, with its 2 USB ports circled.
Step 1 Plug in a USB Drive
Push a USB flash drive into either of the 2 USB ports on the front of the recorder box (the black box connected to the TV/monitor). It doesn't matter which of the two you use.
Insert the USB drive into the front USB port.
Step 2 Open the Menu
Move the mouse over the live camera screen and right-click (click the right mouse button). A small menu will pop up — click Menu.
If a login box appears, type in the recorder's username and password, then press OK. (Ask your IT contact if you don't know this login.)
Right-click on the screen, then choose "Menu."
Step 3 Open File Management
In the main menu, click the icon labeled File Management. (On some recorders this is labeled Backup or Export instead — look for a folder or disk icon.)
Click "File Management" in the main menu.
Step 4 Choose the Camera, Date, and Time
Tick the box for the camera you need footage from. Then set the Start time and End time for the period you want to save — for example, 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Click Search.
Select the camera and time range, then click "Search."
Good to know: Only pick the time range you actually need. A shorter time range exports faster and takes up less space on the USB drive.
Step 5 Select the Clips and Export
The recorder will show a list of matching video clips. Tick the ones you want to save, then click Export.
Tick the clips you want, then click "Export."
Step 6 Pick the USB Drive
A small window will show the USB drive you plugged in, along with how much space is free. Click on it to select it, then click Export.
Select the USB drive, then click "Export" to start.
Step 7 Wait, Then Remove the Drive Safely
A progress bar will show the export happening. Do not unplug the USB drive while this is running. When it says Export complete, click OK, then you can safely remove the USB drive.
Wait for "Export complete," click OK, then remove the drive.
Quick Reference
Insert USB → Right-click → Menu → File Management → pick camera + time → Search → tick clips → Export → pick USB drive → Export → wait for completion → remove drive.
Good to know: The video files that come out are playable video clips (usually .mp4). You can open them on almost any computer, or attach them straight to an email.