If your Garmin Varia RCT715 still gives radar alerts but no video shows up, check whether recording is disabled, the camera has been switched off, or the memory card is reporting a problem. The radar and the camera work independently, so working radar does not prove the camera is recording. The camera status LED tells you which case you have.
Work through the causes in this order: check the recording mode, read the camera LED, move any footage you need off the card, and only then reformat or replace the microSD card. Formatting erases the card, and a new card will not help if the camera was simply turned off.
Quick Fix Checklist
- In the Varia app, confirm the recording mode is Continuous, not Off or On Radar Activity.
- Check whether the camera was turned off by a 4-second hold on the camera button.
- Look at the camera status LED: solid red indicates loop recording; flashing amber signals a card problem, while alternating red and amber indicates poor card performance or low space.
- Save or download any clip you need before you format anything.
- Confirm the card is 8 to 128 GB and rated Class 10 or higher.
First, Check Whether Recording Is Enabled
The RCT715 has three recording modes, and two of them can leave you without footage. Off disables the camera while the radar keeps sending data, and On Radar Activity records only when a connected compatible radar detects a vehicle. Holding the camera button for 4 seconds also turns the camera off.
To check the mode, open the Varia app and go to the device icon at the top of the home screen → Camera Configuration → Recording Mode.
Garmin: Changing Your Recording Mode
| Recording mode | What the camera does | What you will see |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous | Records whenever the device is on | A continuous loop of every ride |
| On Radar Activity | Records only when a compatible radar connected to the Varia app detects a vehicle | Short segments; quiet stretches of road are not recorded |
| Off | Camera recording is disabled; radar data is still sent | Radar alerts but no video at all |
If you want footage of the whole ride, choose Continuous. If you control the light from an Edge bike computer, the recording mode can also be set under Sensors → Lights → your light → Camera Settings, although not every Edge model shows every setting.
The camera button is the other common cause. A 1-second hold saves a clip or takes a photo, but a 4-second hold turns the camera off. A long press while mounting the light, or a strap pressing on the button, can leave the radar running with the camera off.
Garmin notes that some jurisdictions regulate video and audio recording, so check the rules where you ride.
Read the Camera Status LED Before Changing the Card
Solid red means the RCT715 is recording to its video loop, so the camera is working. Red and amber alternating means the card is underperforming or nearly full, and flashing amber means the device has detected a problem with the memory card. Only the amber states point to the card itself.
| Camera LED | Garmin’s meaning | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Solid red | Recording to the video loop | The LED indicates loop recording. If clips are missing, check the gallery and whether unsaved footage was overwritten. |
| Flashing red | Saving a video or photo | Wait for the save to finish. |
| Red and amber alternating | Card underperforming or low on space | Offload saved clips, confirm the card meets Garmin’s requirements, then reformat. |
| Flashing amber | Problem with the memory card | Back up what you can, reseat and reformat the card, and replace it if the error returns. |
| Solid green | Card being formatted, or mass storage mode | Wait for formatting to finish, or disconnect from the computer when done. |
| Slowly flashing green | Powering on, or accessing the card | Wait a moment before judging the camera. |
| Flashing blue | Wi‑Fi sharing mode | The device is sharing files with the app; finish browsing the gallery. |
The RCT715 also has a separate device status LED. If that LED stays solid red during a ride, Garmin describes it as an error state; turn the device off and back on.
Find the Clip and Protect Footage Before Troubleshooting
Unsaved video is temporary on the RCT715. When the card fills, the device overwrites the oldest unsaved footage, so a ride from days ago may already be gone even though recording worked. Save or download any clip you need before formatting, because formatting erases the whole card.
In the Varia app, footage is split into folders:
- Unlocked: recent, unsaved footage that can still be overwritten.
- Locked: clips you saved, which are protected from overwriting.
- Downloaded: copies already on your phone.
To copy a clip to your phone, go to the device icon → Gallery & Storage → Gallery, open Locked or Unlocked, select the video, and choose Download. Download & Delete also removes it from the card. The camera stops recording while you browse the gallery, so a gap during that time is expected.
On a computer, the card’s DCIM directory holds four folders: 100EVENT for incident-triggered clips, 101PHOTO for photos, 102SAVED for clips you saved, and 103UNSVD for unsaved footage. If a clip is not in 100EVENT or 102SAVED, it only exists in 103UNSVD until it is overwritten.
To protect footage during a ride, hold the camera button for 1 second. On a compatible Edge, Save Clip keeps a 2-minute segment and Film Ride saves video manually.
Check the microSD Card’s Capacity, Speed Class, and Condition
Garmin specifies an 8 to 128 GB microSD card rated Class 10 or higher for the RCT715. A card outside that range, including a larger 256 GB card, falls outside the official specification. Garmin also notes that every memory card wears out and needs periodic replacement.
| Check | Garmin requirement |
|---|---|
| Card type | microSD |
| Capacity | 8 GB to 128 GB |
| Speed rating | Class 10 or higher |
| Condition | Cards have a limited life and must be replaced periodically |
A card that meets all three specifications can still wear out, especially after long periods of loop recording. That is why the next step is to reseat and reformat the card before buying a new one.
How to Reseat and Reformat the Card
Garmin’s replacement steps end with reformatting the card in the Varia app when needed, and formatting erases everything on the card. Back up first, then reseat the card and format it from the app. If the camera LED returns to solid red afterward, the card is working again. The fix takes 5 steps.
Garmin: Replacing the Memory Card
- Save or download every clip you want to keep, using the app or a computer.
- Open the card cover, slide the card holder toward the mount, lift it, and pull the holder open.
- Insert the card with the contacts facing the device, then close and latch the holder and the cover.
- Connect to the Varia app, open Gallery & Storage, and choose the option to format the memory card.
- Turn the device on and check that the camera LED shows solid red while recording.
When to Replace the Card or Contact Garmin
Replace the card if flashing amber or red-and-amber alternating returns after you format a card that meets Garmin’s 8–128 GB, Class 10 requirement. If a second, known-good compliant card shows the same error, the card is probably not the cause, and resetting the device or contacting Garmin Support is the next step.
- Error returns on the same card: the card is the likely cause. Replace it with a compliant card.
- Error on a second compliant card: reset the RCT715 by holding both buttons for 10 seconds until both LEDs turn off. This deletes pairings, so pair the app and Edge again afterward.
- Error persists after a reset: contact Garmin Support with your model and the LED pattern you see.
A Replacement Card That Meets Garmin’s Requirements
If you need a new card, pick one that stays inside Garmin’s 8 to 128 GB range and carries a Class 10 or higher rating. Cards made for continuous recording, such as dash cam and security camera cards, are designed for constant rewriting, which matches how the RCT715 loops video.
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The Samsung PRO Endurance 128GB (model MB-MJ128KA/AM) is a microSDXC card that Samsung positions for continuous recording devices such as dash cams and body cams. Samsung lists read speeds up to 100 MB/s and write speeds up to 40 MB/s. At 128 GB, it sits at the top of Garmin’s supported range.
Samsung: PRO Endurance 128GB specifications
Please check the Amazon product page for the latest price and availability.
Buy a card only after the steps above point to the card. If the recording mode was Off or the camera had been switched off, a new card will not change anything.
FAQ
Does the radar still work if the camera is not recording?
Yes. Garmin states that with the recording mode set to Off, the device continues to send radar data, so alerts on your Edge or phone are not proof the camera is recording. The radar improves awareness but does not replace watching the road yourself.
Can I use a 256 GB microSD card in the Varia RCT715?
Garmin’s specification covers microSD cards from 8 to 128 GB rated Class 10 or higher. A 256 GB card is outside that range. If you use one and see a card error on the camera LED, switch to a card within the supported range before troubleshooting further.
Why are my clips missing even though the LED was solid red?
Solid red means the camera was recording to its loop, but unsaved footage is overwritten when the card fills. Clips can also be missing if the mode was On Radar Activity, or if you were browsing the gallery, which pauses recording. Save important clips right after the ride.
How We Researched
This article is based on the Garmin Varia RCT715 Owner’s Manual (EN-US, September 2025 edition) and Samsung’s official product information for the PRO Endurance card. We have not conducted hands-on lab testing. We reviewed community forum posts but did not use them as evidence because the reports we could confirm were isolated. Any compatibility claims are attributed to Garmin or Samsung documentation.
Conclusion
When a Varia RCT715 stops producing video, check the cheap causes before the card. Confirm the recording mode is Continuous and the camera was not switched off, then read the camera LED. Solid red indicates loop recording; if clips are missing, check whether unsaved footage was overwritten or recording was paused while browsing the gallery. Flashing amber signals a card problem, while alternating red and amber indicates poor card performance or low space. Back up before reformatting, and replace a compliant card only if the error returns.
