Frequently Asked Question
Why is the time on my TP-Link VIGI camera or NVR recording wrong?
QUICK ANSWER
Check time zone, clock synchronisation and daylight-saving settings on the recorder and cameras. Correcting the phone's clock alone will not correct recorded timestamps.
Applies to: VIGI NVRs and supported cameras. The System/Time menu depends on the NVR GUI and firmware version.
Work through these checks
- Compare the live image overlay, NVR system clock, playback timeline and viewing phone/PC. Record the difference and whether it is exactly one or several hours.
- Open the recorder's date/time settings and select the installation's actual time zone. For Singapore use UTC+08:00 and leave daylight saving disabled.
- Enable a reliable NTP source if the recorder can reach it. Check DNS and gateway settings if synchronisation fails. On an isolated network, use an approved local time source or set the clock deliberately.
- Check camera time synchronisation settings as well. An embedded camera timestamp and the NVR timeline can differ if the devices use different time zones or clock sources.
Confirm the result
Create a short new recording and compare its overlay and playback position with the correct local time. Changing the clock does not rewrite timestamps already embedded in old video.
Before going further: For an incident or evidence request, export the relevant footage and record the original time offset before changing the clock.
If you need help
Include these details in your ticket: NVR/camera models and versions, time zone, NTP result and screenshots of the overlay and system clock.
Updated 261107