Reolink HDD Cannot Be Formatted

If you encounter a message requiring you to format the HDD while playing back NVR recordings, or if the prompt to format appears again after formatting the HDD, please refer to this article for troubleshooting.

Applies to: Reolink NVRs

Symptoms of Reolink HDD Format Failed

1. The HDD status or playback interface shows “HDD not formatted”.

2. The HDD prompts for formatting again after you have successfully formatted HDD.

Troubleshooting Steps for Reolink Hard Drive Not Formatting

If you are using the original HDD, please follow these steps:

Restart the NVR and then format the HDD again.
Update NVR to the latest firmware version. Find the latest firmware for the NVR in Download Center – Reolink and manually upgrade it following How to Manually Update Firmware for Reolink Devices.
Replace the HDD. If you have another HDD that meets the specifications, refer to How to Choose HDDs for Your NVR and test with the new HDD.

If you are using the 3rd-party HDD, please follow these steps:

Ensure HDD specifications meet the required type and capacity. For guidance, see How to Choose HDDs for Your NVR.
Restart the NVR and then format the HDD.
Ensure your NVR is using the latest firmware. Find and manually upgrade it in the Download Center – Reolink following How to Upgrade Firmware for Reolink Products.
Replace the HDD. If you have another compatible HDD, test with the new one. Refer to How to Choose HDDs for Your NVR for specifications.
Swap SATA Ports. If your NVR supports multiple hard drives, try connecting the HDD to a different SATA port to check if it can be recognized.

If the issue persists, please provide the following information when contacting Support:

Photos of NVR's power adapter and both sides of the third-party HDD. (If using the original HDD, photos are not needed.)
The System Information page of your NVR, including the model, hardware version, and firmware version. Refer to How to Find out System Information (Firmware Version) via Reolink Software.