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Affected Roles: End Users, System Administrators
Related DW Software: COVA Web Client
Software Version: COVA Rev. 1.4.8.90076
Last Edit: September 4, 2026
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How to Export Video to a USB Drive in COVA
This article will outline how to log in via the local IP, select a channel, navigate to the footage, configure export settings, and play back the exported file.
Supported/Affected Devices:
- DW-COVA4 / DW-COVA8 / DW-COVA16
Resolution:
Tip: This export cannot be initiated from the local monitor. You must access COVA using the recorder’s LAN IP address. Insert the USB drive into the front or rear slot on the COVA recorder before starting the export.
Part 1 — Connect and Log In
- Navigate to the COVA local IP address. Log in using your admin credentials or your myDW email and password. Click Login.
Part 2 — Select a Camera Channel
- Double-click the desired camera channel to highlight it for export. Only one channel can be exported at a time.
Part 3 — Navigate to the Footage
- Click the panel expand arrow at the bottom center of the page to display the timeline.
- Use the timeline to navigate to the specific time frame you want to export. You can also use the History or IdentiSee tabs to locate the footage.
Tip: This step can be skipped if you already know the exact date and time of the footage.
Part 4 — Open Export to COVA Local USB
- Click Video Share.
- Click Export to COVA Local USB.
Note: The Export to COVA Local USB option is only available when accessing COVA from the local IP web client.
Part 5 — Configure Export Settings
- Set the Start and End time for the export using the +/– buttons or by entering the date and time directly in the field.
Tip: Avoid selecting large time ranges. Large files take longer to transfer and COVA automatically logs out after 30 minutes of inactivity. Export in short durations only.
- Select Main Stream or Sub Stream.
- Review the estimated file size and confirm your USB drive has sufficient storage.
Note: The export destination is fixed to the USB drive inserted in the COVA recorder. The only supported export format is AVI. The exported file is unencrypted.
- Click Start to begin the export.
Part 6 — Monitor and Complete the Export
- Monitor the progress percentage as the export completes. When the export is complete, click OK.
Part 7 — Play Back the Exported File
- Remove the USB drive from the COVA recorder and insert it into a PC. Locate the exported file. Files are named after the camera channel, date, and time of the export.
- Click Play to view the footage.
Note: If there are gaps in the recorded footage within the selected time range, they will be skipped during playback. This may cause the playback timeline to appear out of sync.
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