MKII BULLET CAMERA
The MKII Bullet Cam is Chilli Tech’s compact Full HD (1080p) bullet camera for cyclists with a removable battery.
This page is the online manual for MKII owners. It covers how to charge it, record, set the time and date, choose and format an SD card, mount it, get your footage off it and fix the common problems, with short videos along the way.
The MKII Bullet Cam is discontinued. We no longer sell it, but this guide is here to help if you still use one. Looking for a new camera? See our current cameras for cyclists, including the RecordMax and the Bullet Cam WiFi.
Got the WiFi Bullet Cam? If your camera connects to a phone app, use the Bullet Cam WiFi how-to instead. The MKII Bullet Cam has no WiFi or app.
Watching our older Bullet Cam videos? The original Bullet Cam (2018–2020) had its switches the other way round. If a video tells you to put the switch to the left to charge, it’s for the older camera. On the MKII, the switch goes to the right to charge.
Jump to: What’s in the box · SD cards · Charging · Recording · Time and date · Downloading footage · Mounting · App or WiFi · Troubleshooting · Specs · Help · FAQs
What was in the box with the MKII Bullet Cam?
- USB data cable. This charges the camera and connects it to your computer.
- Helmet mount: a Velcro bracket that holds the camera, with Velcro pads for the helmet.
- Handlebar mount with silicone straps.
- Rear cap with holes. If you have this cap, fit it when you want to record sound, because the microphone is at the back of the camera.
Keep the cable that came with the camera. It’s a data cable, and not all USB cables carry data. A charge-only cable will charge the camera, but it won’t let you set the time or see your files.
Which SD card does the MKII Bullet Cam take, and how do I fit it?
Use a Class 10 Micro SD card of 32GB. That’s the size the camera is made for, and the one we use ourselves (SanDisk Class 10). You can use a 64GB or 128GB card, but only if you format it to FAT32 first with extra software, because Windows won’t format cards that big to FAT32 on its own.
- Best choice: a 32GB SanDisk Class 10 Micro SD card. Cheaper or slower cards may not keep up with the video and can make the camera switch off mid-ride.
- Format: FAT32, with an allocation unit size of 32KB (not 16KB).
- 64GB or 128GB: format the card to FAT32 (32KB) with a free partition tool such as AOMEI Partition Assistant (others are available). Only do this if you’re comfortable with it, and make sure you pick the SD card, not your computer’s hard drive.
- Cards bigger than 32GB that aren’t formatted to FAT32 won’t work. The camera switches on and then off again.
- Formatting wipes the card, so copy off anything you want to keep first.
Fitting the card: push the card into the slot, then use your fingernail to push it the last bit until it clicks into place. A fingertip alone usually won’t push it far enough. To take it out, push it in again with your nail and it pops out. The video below shows which way round the card goes.
The 256GB limit and automatic exFAT reformat on our newer cameras don’t apply to the MKII Bullet Cam.
How do I charge the MKII Bullet Cam?
Slide the right-hand switch at the back to the right, then charge from a computer or a standard 5V USB plug. The button on top flashes red while it charges and stays solid red when it’s full. Don’t use a fast charger. Slide the switch back to the left before you ride.
- Slide the right-hand switch to the right (Motion Record).
- Plug the supplied USB cable into the camera.
- Plug the other end into a computer or a 5V USB mains plug, like a standard phone charger. Don’t use a fast charger or a fast-charging cable rated above 5V.
- The button on top flashes red while it’s charging.
- When the button stops flashing and stays red, it’s fully charged.
- Slide the right-hand switch back to the left (Cycle Record) before you ride.
Blue or green light instead of red when you plug it in? The switch is to the left. In that position, the camera takes power from the cable so it can record while plugged in, but the battery doesn’t charge. Slide the switch to the right and the red light will flash.
Charging with the SD card out: if you take the SD card out, the camera charges with the switch in either position. With the card in, the switch must be to the right.
Battery life: a full charge records for several hours (around 4 hours is typical). The battery is removable, so a charged spare is handy for longer rides.
How do I turn the MKII Bullet Cam on, record and switch off?
Put the right-hand switch to the left (Cycle Record) and the other switch on video, then hold the top button for 3–4 seconds. The camera vibrates, and when the light flashes it’s recording. Press once to stop recording, and hold for about 2 seconds to switch off.
- Check a Micro SD card is in the camera.
- At the back, set the right-hand switch to the left. That’s Cycle Record, the symbol that looks like a recycling sign.
- Set the other switch to video, not photo.
- Hold the button for 3–4 seconds. The camera vibrates and the light comes on.
- When the light flashes, it’s recording.
- To stop recording: press the button once.
- To switch off: hold the button for about 2 seconds.
Blue or green light? Earlier MKII cameras have a blue light and later ones have a green light. They work the same way.
If the light turns red, flashes and the camera switches off, it’s almost always the SD card. See troubleshooting.
How loop recording works: in Cycle Record, the camera records continuously in short video files of 3–6 minutes. When the card is full, it records over the oldest files, so it never stops because the card is full. If you catch a close pass you want to keep, copy that file off the card before your next long ride (see saving a video on the go).
You can also record while the camera is plugged into power, such as a power bank, with the switch to the left.
Motion Record (switch to the right): for watching a bike shed, hotel room, etc.
- Switch on with the switch to the right. The camera goes into standby, shown by a red light with a quick flash of colour. Nothing is recorded yet.
- When something moves in front of the lens, it starts recording, and the flash slows down.
- It keeps recording until nothing has moved for about 1 minute, then stops and goes back to standby.
- Don’t ride in Motion Record. Move the switch back to the left when you’ve finished.
Photo mode: the other switch at the back changes between video and photo. Keep it on video for riding. If the camera just buzzes when you press the button and the light stays red, it’s in photo mode.
Can I turn off the microphone? No, the microphone can’t be switched off. If you don’t want the sound, mute or remove the audio in any video editor before you share the footage.
How do I set the time and date on the MKII Bullet Cam?
Plug the camera into your computer with the supplied data cable and open the camera’s SD card. Then double-click the Windows Update Time file (on a PC) or the MAC Update Time file (on a Mac). The camera copies your computer’s time and date. Make a quick test recording to check it worked.
- Make sure the SD card is in the camera.
- Connect the camera to your computer with the data cable that came with it.
- The camera’s SD card appears as a removable drive (a mass storage device). Open it.
- Double-click Windows Update Time if you’re on a PC, or MAC Update Time if you’re on a Mac.
- You should get a confirmation that the time and date have been set.
- Unplug the camera, make a short recording, and play it back to check the time and date on the video are right.
Good to know
- The time and date reset to the default if the battery runs completely flat or you take the battery out. If that happens, just set it again.
- If the camera doesn’t show up on your computer, try the supplied data cable. Charge-only cables won’t work.
- Windows 11: the time update for these older Bullet Cams has a known problem on Windows 11. If it won’t update, use a Windows 10 PC or a Mac.
No “Update Time” files on your card? The one-click time setting came with a firmware update for the MKII. If you don’t see the files, email us and we’ll help. If we’ve sent you an update file, here’s how to install it:
- Copy the update file onto the SD card, and put the card in the camera.
- Switch the camera on. The light flashes while the firmware updates and goes solid when it’s finished.
- Take the SD card out and delete the update file using an SD card adapter or a USB card reader. Don’t do this with the camera plugged in by its cable. While the file is on the card, the camera keeps updating.
- Put the card back in the camera and make a short recording. Then connect the camera to your computer, and you’ll see the Windows and Mac Update Time files.
Can’t change files on the card? If you’re using an SD card adapter and can’t delete files, check the small lock switch on the side of the adapter is pushed up. When it’s down, the card is locked.
How do I download and watch my footage?
Leave the SD card in the camera and plug it into your computer with the supplied cable. It shows up as a removable disk, and your videos are in the VIDEO folder. For playing videos, it’s quicker to put the card straight into an SD card adapter or a USB card reader.
- Keep the card in the camera and connect it to your computer with the USB data cable.
- Wait up to 30 seconds while the computer finds it. It appears as a Removable Disk (or as the SD card).
- Open it and go to the VIDEO folder.
- Copy the files you want to keep to your computer, then play them from there.
- Eject the camera before you unplug it.
Tip: the files are big, so playing them through the cable can stop and start. Copy them to your computer first, or use an SD card adapter or USB Micro SD card reader. If a file won’t play or the footage jumps, try the free VLC Media Player.
Using a Mac? To delete videos, move them to the Trash and then empty the Trash while the camera or card is still connected. If you don’t, the Mac leaves hidden copies on the card. It looks empty but is actually full, and the camera keeps switching off. We suggest VLC for playing the files on a Mac.
Saving a close-pass video on the go
The camera records over the oldest files when the card is full, so save anything important before it’s recorded over. On a long ride, you can copy a file to your phone at a café stop with a phone-compatible Micro SD card reader. Then copy it to another card or send it on when you get home. Make a note of when the incident happened, so you can find the right file.
Problems deleting files or editing the time file? (0:34)
How do I mount the MKII Bullet Cam?
The MKII fits on your helmet with the Velcro mount, or on your handlebars, stem or bike computer mount, or under your saddle with a Bullet Cam mount. Whichever you use, make sure the camera is firm and pointing at the road.
On a helmet
- Stick one of the Velcro pads on top of the helmet. On a vented helmet, you can cut a pad down the middle to fit.
- Fit the pad slightly back from the front of the helmet. When you ride, your head tilts down towards the road, so a camera set further back still points ahead.
- Put the camera in the Velcro bracket with the button on top, and press it onto the pad.
It stays put while you ride, but it will pull away from the helmet in a crash.
On the handlebars or stem
- Handlebar mount: strap the bracket to the bar with a silicone strap, then strap the camera into it.
- Stem mount: holds the camera in a clasp. There’s also a version that holds the camera underneath, so you can fit a Garmin or Wahoo computer mount on top.
Rear saddle mount, or a Garmin or Wahoo mount: slide the camera in so the clasp sits forward, towards the button end, not right at the back. It should take some force to move the camera, so road vibration won’t shift it.
Horse riding helmet: a strap that goes round a riding helmet can hold the Velcro bracket, with the button on the side.
Strap for a horse riding helmet (1:08)
Does the MKII Bullet Cam connect to an app or WiFi?
No. The MKII Bullet Cam has no WiFi and doesn’t work with a phone app. You set the time and date and copy your videos by plugging it into a computer with the USB data cable, or by putting the SD card in a card reader. It doesn’t have built-in GPS either, and it can’t add ride data from a Garmin or Wahoo.
If your camera shows up as a CHILLITECH WiFi network or works with an app, you have a different model. See the Bullet Cam WiFi how-to instead.
MKII Bullet Cam troubleshooting
Most problems with the MKII Bullet Cam come down to the SD card or a switch in the wrong position. With the card, it’s usually the wrong size, the wrong format, a slow card or a card that’s secretly full. Work through the checks below before anything else.
Why won’t my MKII Bullet Cam turn on or charge?
Usually the battery is flat because it was charged with the switch in the wrong position. Slide the right-hand switch to the right, charge until the red light stops flashing, then try again.
- Slide the right-hand switch to the right and charge from a 5V USB charger with the supplied cable (see charging). If you see a blue or green light instead of a flashing red one, it isn’t charging.
- Once it’s charged, slide the switch back to the left and hold the button for 3–5 seconds.
- Try switching on without the SD card. If it works, the card is the problem. Reformat it or try another one.
- Still nothing? Contact us.
Why does my MKII Bullet Cam switch off on its own, or mid-ride?
It’s almost always the SD card. Either it’s full (often with hidden files left by a Mac), it isn’t formatted correctly, or it’s too slow to keep up. Reformatting the card to FAT32 with a 32KB allocation unit fixes most cases.
- Check the card isn’t secretly full. If you use a Mac, the card can look empty but still be full of deleted files. Check the free space.
- Reformat the card to FAT32 with a 32KB allocation unit. Back up anything you want to keep first, because this wipes the card.
- Try a full format. If a normal format doesn’t fix it, untick Quick Format and format again. It takes longer but cleans the card more thoroughly.
- Use a good card. We recommend a 32GB SanDisk Class 10. Slower cards can’t keep up and make the camera stop early.
- Check the right-hand switch is to the left (Cycle Record). In Motion Record, the camera stops recording after about a minute without movement.
- Charge it fully before your ride.
Bullet Camera switching off mid-ride? Check this (3:28)
The light comes on, turns red and the camera switches off. What’s wrong?
The camera can’t use the SD card. Check each of these in turn:
- Is a Micro SD card in the camera, and clicked fully into place?
- Is it 32GB or smaller? If it’s bigger, it must be formatted to FAT32 with extra software, or it won’t work.
- Reformat the card to FAT32 (32KB).
- Does the card reformat without an error? If it does and the problem keeps happening, try a different card.
Why won’t my MKII Bullet Cam record?
Check the switches and the SD card. The other switch must be on video (not photo), and the right-hand switch should be to the left. The card should be a Class 10 card formatted to FAT32. If the camera isn’t recording properly, or isn’t recording over old files, reformat the card first.
- Set the switch to video, not photo. In photo mode, pressing the button just buzzes and the light stays red.
- Set the right-hand switch to the left (Cycle Record).
- Reformat the card to FAT32 (32KB), and use a Class 10 card (32GB recommended).
- If the camera freezes, switch it off and on again and try a different SD card.
Still having a problem clicking the Micro SD card in? (0:56)
Why can’t I find the WiFi or connect to the app?
The MKII Bullet Cam doesn’t have WiFi or an app, so there’s nothing to connect to. Use the USB cable or a card reader (see downloading footage). If your camera does have WiFi, it’s the Bullet Cam WiFi.
Why is the time and date wrong on my videos?
The camera’s clock resets if the battery runs completely flat or is taken out. Set it again from your computer (see time and date). On Windows 11, use a Windows 10 PC or a Mac instead.
My computer doesn’t see the camera. What should I do?
Use the USB data cable that came with the camera, because many cables only charge and don’t carry data. Leave the SD card in the camera, and give the computer up to 30 seconds to find it. If the camera starts recording instead of showing up as a drive, try the right-hand switch in the other position. You can also take the card out and use an SD card adapter or a USB card reader instead.
I can’t delete files or change the time file
If you’re using an SD card adapter, push its small lock switch up. When it’s down, the card is read-only.
MKII Bullet Cam specifications
| Spec | MKII Bullet Cam |
|---|---|
| Video resolution | 1920 × 1080p (Full HD) |
| Frame rate | 30fps |
| Recording | Continuous loop recording in 3–6 minute files (Cycle Record), plus Motion Record mode |
| Photos | 3840 × 2160, JPG |
| Lens | 8 megapixel, 170° wide angle |
| Memory card | Micro SD, Class 10, up to 32GB (64GB or 128GB if formatted to FAT32 with extra software). Not included |
| Battery | 5V / 1000mAh rechargeable lithium, removable and replaceable |
| Battery life | Several hours (around 4 hours is typical) |
| Connection | USB 2.0 (charging, time setting and file transfer) |
| Microphone | Yes, at the back (can’t be switched off) |
| WiFi / app | No |
| GPS | No |
| Status | Discontinued |
Replacing the battery: the battery can be replaced. Please recycle the old one properly and don’t put it in household waste.
Need help with your MKII Bullet Cam?
Email us at [email protected] with a short description of the problem (and your order number if you have it). We’ll help you work out what’s wrong. Some cameras sent back to us weren’t faulty at all, just charged with the switch in the wrong position or using an SD card that needed reformatting, so it’s worth trying the troubleshooting steps first.
All Chilli Technology products have a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects. Full details are on our returns, refunds and warranty page.
Looking for a new camera? The MKII Bullet Cam is discontinued. See our current cameras for cyclists, including the RecordMax and the Bullet Cam WiFi.
MKII Bullet Cam FAQs
Is the MKII Bullet Cam still available?
The MKII Bullet Cam is discontinued, but this guide is here to help existing owners. For a new camera, see our current cameras for cyclists, including the RecordMax and the Bullet Cam WiFi.
How do I set the time and date on the MKII Bullet Cam?
Connect it to your computer with the supplied data cable, open the SD card and double-click “Windows Update Time” (on a PC) or “MAC Update Time” (on a Mac). Then make a test recording to check the time and date. If those files aren’t on the card, email us and we’ll help.
Why does my MKII Bullet Cam keep switching off?
It’s almost always the SD card. Reformat the card to FAT32 with a 32KB allocation unit, use a 32GB SanDisk Class 10 card, and if you use a Mac, empty the Trash while the card is still connected.
What size SD card does the MKII Bullet Cam take?
A 32GB Class 10 Micro SD card. You can use 64GB or 128GB, but only after formatting the card to FAT32 (32KB) with extra software.
Does the MKII Bullet Cam record over old footage?
Yes. In Cycle Record it records in 3–6 minute files, and when the card is full it records over the oldest files. Copy any clip you want to keep off the card before it’s recorded over.
Why is my MKII Bullet Cam showing a blue or green light and not charging?
The right-hand switch is to the left, where the camera runs from the cable’s power but doesn’t charge. Slide it to the right and the button will flash red while it charges.
How do I know when the MKII Bullet Cam is charged?
The button on top flashes red while it’s charging and stays solid red when it’s full. Charge it with the right-hand switch to the right, using a 5V charger, then move the switch back to the left.
Is the MKII Bullet Cam light blue or green?
It depends on when your camera was made. Earlier MKII cameras have a blue light and later ones have a green light. They work the same way.
How long does the MKII Bullet Cam battery last?
Several hours on a full charge, with around 4 hours typical. The battery is removable, so you can carry a charged spare for longer rides.
Does the MKII Bullet Cam have WiFi or an app?
No. Use the USB data cable or a card reader to set the time and copy your videos. The WiFi model is the Bullet Cam WiFi.
Why is the time and date wrong on my videos?
The clock resets if the battery runs completely flat or is taken out. Set it again from your computer. Windows 11 has a known problem with this, so use a Windows 10 PC or a Mac.
What does the switch with the recycling symbol do?
To the left, it’s Cycle Record, which you use for riding. To the right, it’s Motion Record, where the camera waits and only records when something moves in front of it, then stops about a minute after the movement stops. The right-hand position is also the one for charging.
Can I turn off the microphone?
No. Mute or remove the sound in a video editor before you share your footage.
Can I still get help with my MKII Bullet Cam?
Yes. Email [email protected] and we’ll help you work out what’s wrong.
All MKII Bullet Cam how-to videos
Watch the full Bullet Camera how-to playlist on YouTube. Some older videos in the playlist are for the original Bullet Cam, which had its switches the other way round.
More help: Bullet Cam WiFi how-to · Returns, refunds and warranty · Cameras for cyclists