Troubleshooting

DashcamSorter runs in your browser and relies on your system's codecs and APIs. If something isn't working, check below.

Which dashcams are supported?

DashcamSorter reads GPS and event data straight from your MP4 files. Viofo cameras (Novatek chipset) are fully supported. Emergency detection works for other brands too.

  • Viofo (A129, A139, etc.) - GPS, event detection, emergency folder (RO/) - fully supported
  • Vantrue - emergency detection (Event folder), video playback, no GPS parsing yet
  • Thinkware - emergency detection (evt_rec/sos_rec), video playback, no GPS parsing yet
  • Garmin - emergency detection (100EVENT), video playback, no GPS parsing yet
  • BlackVue - emergency detection (filename suffix), video playback, no GPS parsing yet
  • Other brands - video playback and categorization work, GPS may need to be implemented. Send me a sample file!

Your dashcam missing? Send a short sample file (30 seconds is enough) to info@develojo.com and I'll add support.

Reading your SD card on PC

How to best access your dashcam recordings:

  • Use a USB card reader - much more reliable and faster than connecting the camera via USB.
  • Most dashcams save videos in a DCIM folder or a subfolder like Movie/. Normal recordings and emergency clips are often in separate folders.
  • Tip: In DashcamSorter, select the parent folder (e.g. DCIM or Movie) - subfolders like RO/ are automatically included.
  • Always eject the SD card via “Safely Remove Hardware” before unplugging. This prevents corrupted files.

Video stays black / won't play

Cause

Dashcam videos use HEVC/H.265. Chrome doesn't ship its own HEVC decoder. It uses your GPU instead. Without current GPU drivers, the video stays black. Chrome before version 131 couldn't hardware-decode anything above 1920x1088, which includes the 2560x1440 most dashcams record at.

Diagnosis

  1. Open chrome://gpu and look for "Video Decode"
  2. Does it say "Software only. Hardware acceleration disabled"? Then GPU drivers are missing.
  3. Open chrome://media-internals, play a video and check the error message.

Solution: Install GPU drivers

Especially on laptops with two graphics cards (Intel iGPU + NVIDIA/AMD dGPU), the driver of the GPU driving the display must be installed, usually the Intel graphics.

1
Install Intel graphics driver

Check in Device Manager if "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" is shown instead of an Intel/NVIDIA/AMD driver. If so:

2
Install NVIDIA/AMD driver (if available)
3
Restart computer and Chrome

After driver installation, the laptop needs to be restarted. Then close Chrome completely (including background processes) and restart.

Alternative: Install HEVC codec

If the GPU doesn't support HEVC hardware decoding (very old graphics cards before 2014), the software codec from the Microsoft Store may help:

  • Free version: "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" (ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9n4wgh0z6vhq) or via sideload
  • Alternative: HEVC Video Extensions ($0.99) in the Microsoft Store

Linux: Special case

On Linux, HEVC in Chrome only works via Intel VAAPI. NVIDIA GPUs are not supported (Chrome does not use NVDEC). AMD may work if Mesa VA-API drivers are correctly installed. There is no software fallback.

macOS

On macOS Big Sur (11.0) and later, HEVC works via Apple's VideoToolbox, including a software fallback. Usually no issues.

Event detection / audio track not working

Cause

Audio analysis uses the WebCodecs AudioDecoder API, which also depends on system codecs. Missing GPU drivers can block audio processing too.

Solution

Same fix as for video problems. Installing GPU drivers usually fixes both.

GPS data not showing

GPS parsing currently only works for Viofo cameras with Novatek chipset. For other brands, the map will not be displayed.

  • Cold starts: After powering on, the dashcam needs 30–90 seconds for a GPS fix. Clips from this phase contain no coordinates.
  • Garage/underground parking: Without a clear view of the sky, there's no GPS reception - this is normal.
  • Other dashcam brands store GPS data in different formats. I'm working on supporting more formats.

Browser Compatibility

DashcamSorter is built for Chrome and Edge. Firefox, Safari and other browsers don't support the File System Access API, which means major features won't work.

What doesn't work in other browsers

  • No writing to the SD card. Files cannot be renamed, moved or sorted into folders directly. Export is only possible via download or a generated shell script.
  • No session restore. The folder has to be reselected on every visit because the browser can't save the access.
  • No renaming. Categories cannot be written into filenames.
  • No HEVC support. Firefox cannot play HEVC/H.265 videos. Most dashcams record in this format, meaning videos may stay black.
  • No metadata embedding. Categories cannot be written directly into the MP4 file.

Bottom line: other browsers can play videos if the codec works, but sorting, renaming and categorizing won't. Use Chrome or Edge.

Keyboard Shortcuts

All keyboard shortcuts work globally - the player does not need to be focused. As long as no text field is active, the app responds to the following keys:

Playback

Space / KToggle play / pause
←Skip back 5 seconds
→Skip forward 5 seconds
,One frame back (auto-pauses)
.One frame forward (auto-pauses)

View & Audio

FToggle fullscreen
MToggle mute
+Zoom in on video
-Zoom out on video
0Reset zoom
?Toggle shortcut help

Mouse Controls

  • Single click on video: play / pause
  • Scroll on video to zoom (up to 10×)
  • When zoomed: drag to pan the video
  • Double-click on video to reset zoom

Tip: Press ? in the player to show an overview of all shortcuts directly in the app.

General Tips

  • Desktop recommended - the app is optimized for use on a PC or laptop. On smartphones and tablets, some features like video zoom, drag & drop, and keyboard shortcuts are not available.
  • Keep Chrome up to date - HEVC support was added in Chrome 107+
  • Check hardware acceleration - chrome://settings/system → "Use hardware acceleration" must be enabled
  • Connect SD card directly - USB card readers work better than the camera as USB device
  • Large folders - with many files (100+), initial loading may take a few seconds

What happens to my files?

Short answer: Nothing leaves your computer.

  • DashcamSorter runs locally in your browser. No server, no upload, no cloud. Your videos are read from your hard drive or SD card and stay there.
  • The browser asks once for permission to access your folder. Chrome remembers it, so the folder reopens on your next visit.
  • No cookies, no tracking, no analytics. It's a static site with no backend.

Using dashcam footage as evidence

Dashcam recordings can be used as evidence in many jurisdictions. A few things to keep in mind:

  • Preserve the original - always work with copies, never the original on the SD card. DashcamSorter copies files by default.
  • Don't alter metadata - GPS data and timestamps are part of the evidence. DashcamSorter does not modify these.
  • Save promptly - most dashcams overwrite old recordings in a loop. After an incident, remove the SD card immediately.
  • Continuous recording laws vary by country. Check your local regulations regarding dashcam usage and privacy.

This is not legal advice. Consult a lawyer in case of an actual incident.