Support

How to Download CCTV Footage for Police or Insurance

When CCTV footage is needed for police or insurance, the biggest mistakes are usually not technical. They are picking the wrong time, exporting the wrong channel, failing to keep an untouched original copy, or not noting the recorder clock and timezone properly.

Recording Support

Summary

Use this guide when you need to export CCTV footage cleanly for evidence, review or a claim.

Applies to

NVR and DVR exports
Police and insurance evidence requests
Single and multi-camera systems

Difficulty and time

Difficulty: Moderate

Estimated time: 15 to 30 minutes

What you will need

USB drive if exporting locally
Exact incident date and time if known
Knowledge of which camera matters
A way to keep a second copy safely

What this guide covers

Getting the right date, time and channel first
Exporting locally and keeping an original
Timezone and daylight-saving notes
Avoiding common evidence mistakes

If the footage matters, the first job is to preserve it and document it properly. That means less guessing and more discipline around dates, channels and copies.

Before you start

Write down the exact incident time as carefully as possible.
Check whether the recorder time appears correct.
Work out which camera or cameras actually matter.
If the storage is nearly full, export sooner rather than later.

Step 1: Confirm the correct date, time and channel

Do not start exporting from memory alone if the incident window is uncertain.

Check whether the event happened according to local time, daylight saving, or another recorded reference.
Search the most likely channel first and confirm you are looking at the right person, vehicle or event.
If needed, export a slightly wider time range rather than clipping it too tight.

Step 2: Export locally if possible

Local export from the recorder is usually the cleanest evidence path.

Use a known-good USB drive where the recorder supports it.
Select the correct channel and time window.
Export the original file set first before making edits or copies elsewhere.
Keep note of the file type and whether a dedicated player may be needed later.

Step 3: Keep the original and make a second copy

Once the export succeeds, protect it properly.

Keep the original exported file set unchanged.
Make a second working copy for viewing, emailing or sharing.
If the footage may go to police or insurance, note the export date and who handled it.

Step 4: Record context that helps later

Evidence is easier to use when the surrounding notes are clear.

Note the recorder timezone and whether daylight saving was active.
Note the camera name or channel number used.
If the clip required a player, keep that with the working copy where possible.

Worked example

After-hours vehicle damage claim

Situation: A business needed a clip for an insurance claim but only had a rough time window.

Solution used: The owner searched a broader window, confirmed the right camera and exported the original clip set locally, then made a second copy for sharing.

Why this was chosen: It protected the original and reduced the risk of sending the wrong file.

Installation notes: Time and channel notes matter almost as much as the export itself.

Common mistakes

Exporting the wrong channel or wrong time window.
Overwriting the first copy instead of preserving it.
Ignoring timezone or daylight-saving differences.
Trying to rely on app snippets when the recorder export is the stronger evidence path.

Related support guides

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