Reolink NVR HDD not detected or showing 0GB: what to check

Separate an absent HDD from a detected disk showing 0GB, check power and connections, and avoid erasing recordings during diagnosis.

Quick answer

Open the NVR's Storage or Disk Info screen first. No disk listed and a disk listed as 0GB are different symptoms in Reolink's documentation. Record the displayed state before touching cables, changing settings or considering a format; formatting erases recordings and is not a harmless diagnostic check.

If the drive is absent

Reolink's no-HDD guide checks the recorder power supply, the disk's installation and its specification. With the NVR powered down, inspect and reseat the HDD connections as directed. An external eSATA drive also requires its own power. If the recorder supports multiple SATA connections, the guide suggests another interface or a compliant spare disk as an isolation test.

Reolink: HDD not detected

If a detected drive reports 0GB

The separate 0GB guide also starts with secure cable connections and a powered-off reconnection sequence. It then discusses firmware, formatting and testing another compliant HDD. Do not jump from a zero capacity reading to a conclusion that all footage is lost or that the disk alone is faulty. If preserving existing footage matters, stop before formatting and seek support on the recovery options for that disk.

Check your setup

Capture the Storage screen, the NVR model/hardware/firmware and the HDD label. Note whether this is the original disk, an internal replacement or an external enclosure. Keep passwords and remote-access credentials out of screenshots shared for diagnosis.
Check the recorder's specified power supply and, for an external disk, its separate supply. Follow the device instructions with the recorder off before reseating connections. Do not improvise power adapters or treat SATA as a hot-swap diagnostic step.
Recheck disk detection after restarting. If trying a known-compliant spare, identify both disks clearly and preserve the original. A successful spare-disk test is useful information for support, not a reason to erase the original drive.
If the drive is detected and a format is appropriate, use the formatting instructions for your interface only after accepting data loss or exporting required clips. If detection still fails, send Reolink the screenshots, connection method and results of each check.

What this does not establish

No software checklist can establish the physical health of your HDD or recover footage that has been overwritten. When a disk is recognized with usable capacity but new clips are missing, continue with the separate not-recording guide rather than repeating hardware replacement steps.

Official references