As a user of Ring products, it’s essential to understand how the video history feature works, especially in terms of how long your footage is stored. Your Ring doorbell provides a sense of security and convenience, capturing video footage of events that occur in front of your home. This footage is stored in the cloud, and its retention period is determined by the specific subscription plan you choose.
With a Ring Protect Subscription Plan, your Ring doorbell videos can be stored for up to 180 days in the United States. You have the flexibility to manage these settings, allowing videos to be kept for a shorter duration if preferred. The default storage time for videos is set to 60 days, which provides a substantial window to review and download important events that your Ring security cameras have recorded. Without a subscription, access to recorded videos is not available, and you are limited to viewing the live feed only. It’s important to regularly check and save any footage you might need before the end of the storage period to ensure it is not permanently lost.
Understanding Ring Video Storage
Ring is designed to provide you with peace of mind by recording and storing important ring videos and footage of events captured by your home security devices. The footage is stored in the cloud, enabling easy access whenever you need it. The video storage time refers to how long your videos are kept in the cloud before they are deleted.
By default, Ring typically stores your video doorbells video history for 60 days. This duration ensures that you have ample time to review any events that might have been recorded. In some cases, you can extend your video history up to 180 days subject to regional regulations. To manage your video storage time:
On the Ring app:
- Tap the menu on the left side of your Dashboard.
- Access the ‘Control Center’.
- Navigate to ‘Video Management’.
- Select ‘Video Storage Time’ to adjust as per your preferences.
On a computer:
- Visit Ring.com and log in.
- Click on ‘Account’, then choose ‘Control Center’.
- Proceed to ‘Video Management’.
- Here you can change ‘Video Storage Time’.
User Tip: Always ensure you archive important clips and save them locally on your device to keep them beyond the specified storage period. This could prove critical if there’s footage you need to retain for longer than the normal period allowed by Ring.
Note that the options available for video storage time may vary based on your location, and changes to video storage policies can affect how long videos are stored. For the most current information, check with Ring directly or consult their official help resources.
Exploring Ring’s Subscription Services
To enhance your Ring device’s capabilities, understanding Ring’s subscription services is critical. These plans unlock advanced features on your Ring Video doorbell, including extended video history.
Ring Protect Plan Basics
With the Ring Protect Plan, you gain access to increased video storage time and additional functionalities. Without a subscription, you are limited to just the last captured image on your dashboard. However, subscribing allows you to retain your Ring doorbell’s video history, with a default setting of 60 days of video storage in the United States.
Subscription Tiers: Basic Vs Plus
Ring offers two main subscription tiers:
- Basic: The Ring Protect Basic Plan is the entry-level plan which covers a single Ring doorbell or camera. It includes video recording for the designated device, providing access to your video history.
- Plus: Ring Protect Plus extends coverage to all Ring devices in your home. Besides managing ring footage, it also offers additional features like professional monitoring for Ring Alarm, extended warranties, and 10% off select products on ring.com.
Ring Protect Subscription Plans
When choosing a Ring Protect subscription, consider the following:
- Trial: Newly set-up devices may come with a trial of the Ring Protect Plan, giving you the opportunity to experience the added benefits before committing to a subscription.
- Subscription Features: With a subscription, you can enjoy features such as two-way communication and motion alerts with video previews, enhancing your home’s security system.
- Management and Settings: Adjustments to your video storage time and subscription details can be managed directly through the Ring appon your mobile device by navigating to the ‘Control Center’ and selecting ‘Video Management’.
Remember, with a Ring Protect Plan, the reach of your Ring doorbell extends beyond a simple notification, providing a more robust and comprehensive security experience for your home.
Video History Duration and Access
When using a Ring Doorbell, your access to recorded video history is contingent upon subscription to a Ring Protect Plan. Without a subscription, you cannot access stored recordings. However, with an active Ring Protect Plan, your video recordings are retained for 60 days in most areas, allowing you to revisit footage from the past two months.
If you need to retain your footage for a longer period, the Ring system offers an option to extend this duration to 180 days for stored videos. It’s important to note that extending the video history duration requires you to update your account settings either via the app or a web browser.
Your interactions with the video history are primarily done through the Ring app or a web browser, providing a straightforward way to navigate your event history. The history tab on the dashboard serves as your central archive, where you can access, review, or share past footage.
Here’s a quick guide on how to access videos:
- Open the Ring app or log in on your web browser.
- Go to the History tab to view your Event History.
- Utilize the Events dropdown menu to filter by event type and find specific recordings.
The Event History also includes a video timeline feature, enabling you to locate and view specific video snapshots easily. Remember, snapshots are only stored for a shorter duration of 7 days.
| Access Point | Duration | Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Ring App | 60 days | View, share, and archive video recordings |
| Web Browser | 60 days | Similar access as the app |
| Extended Option | 180 days | Optional extension of video history access |
To manage and safeguard important videos, you can download and store a ring video recording on your local device, ensuring their preservation beyond the allocated cloud storage period.
Customization and Control
In managing your smart doorbell video history, you have the ability to adjust default settings to better suit your needs and preferences. Take control of how long your videos are stored and how you manage them through the app’s settings.
Adjusting Video Storage Settings
Your Ring device’s Event History timeline is a crucial feature as it allows you to view all recorded events. By default, videos are stored for up to 60 days in the United States, with the option to manually adjust this within the Ring app. Under the menu, navigate to Devices > Device > Video Recording Length to customize the retention period. Should you wish to keep your recordings longer, employing the Control Center will allow you to tweak these settings to extend up to 180 days, depending on your subscription plan.
Video Management Options
The Ring app grants you granular control over your video management. Access the Menu > History to work with your video history timeline. You have the liberty to filter events such as Ring alerts, motion triggers, or live views. It is possible to manually delete individual events, or you can opt for the default setting which automatically removes them after the predetermined period. Remember, these functionalities are contingent upon having an active Ring Protect Plan subscription, which enhances your video management capabilities with additional options in the app.
Managing and Sharing Your Video History
Your Ring Doorbell’s video history is an important feature, allowing you to download, share, and manage your videos. Here, you’ll find out how to handle videos within your account, ensuring you always have access to your footage, regardless of changes in ownership.
Downloading and Sharing Videos
To download videos, sign in to your Ring account on ring.com or use the Ring app. Navigate to History and select the videos you wish to save. You can download a single video or up to 50 videos at once by choosing Manage in your Event History. When it comes to sharing, generate a share link by selecting share and choosing the destination. This link can be sent directly to family, friends, or law enforcement as needed.
Handling Ownership Changes
If your Ring device is replaced or you become a new owner of a Ring device, updating the device ownership is crucial. For the former, simply add the new device to your Ring account. If you’ve acquired a used Ring device, ensure the previous owner has cancelled their subscription or removed the device from their account. If you are transferring ownership, you should perform a factory reset on the device and remove it from your account so the new owner can set it up as theirs.
Shared Video Management
Shared Video Management is a feature accessible within the Ring app that enables you to manage who can view your videos. Go to the Control Center, then to Video Management. Here you can edit your shared video preferences, designate which individuals have access to your videos, and control whether they can download or merely view them. It’s essential for maintaining the privacy and security of your video history.
Remember to review your video storage settings regularly to ensure they meet your security and privacy needs.
Additional Features Affecting Video History
Your Ring Doorbell’s video history is influenced by various additional features that expand its functionality. These features include the ability to take snapshots and offer enhanced access and filters for viewing events.
Snapshot Capture Functionality
Snapshot Capture is a feature that takes recurring photo snapshots throughout the day, which are then accessible in your Event History. This function enhances the comprehensiveness of your video history by filling in the gaps between motion-activated recordings. It gives you a more complete picture of the activity around your home, even when motion events are not detected.
Live View and Event Filters
The Live View feature allows you to check in real-time what is happening at your doorstep. You can access this feature by selecting Live View on the app, which allows you to use the live view feature. Additionally, Event Filters in your Event History simplify locating specific types of events. By clicking on the events dropdown menu, you can filter events by motion events, answered rings, person detected, and missed ring. Icons and an easy-to-use interface facilitate scrolling through the timeline to show all events, ensuring you can pinpoint any moment with ease.
Maximizing Video Storage Utility
To fully leverage your Ring doorbell’s capabilities, it’s crucial to understand and optimize video storage settings. This ensures access to crucial recordings when you need them and helps manage your cloud storage capacity effectively.
Optimizing Storage Space
Record Settings: You can adjust your Ring device to record only when motion is detected, which can significantly reduce the amount of storage space used. To change these settings, navigate to your Ring app and fine-tune the motion sensitivity.
- Linked Devices: If you have multiple Ring cameras or security devices, consider using the Linked Device feature. It allows you to initiate recording across devices when one detects motion. This ensures comprehensive coverage without redundant recordings from multiple angles of the same event.
- Video Compression: To save space, ensure your Ring device is using an efficient video compression setting, balancing quality and file size.
Review and Delete: Regularly review your footage and delete unnecessary videos. This manual pruning keeps your storage from becoming cluttered with irrelevant recordings.
Understanding Storage Limits
Storage Duration: By default, Ring doorbells in the US store videos for 60 days, while in the UK and Europe the limit is 30 days. You have the option to adjust this setting up to a maximum of 180 days.
- Cloud Storage Plan: Access to extended storage on Ring’s servers comes with subscription to a Ring Protect plan. This service allows customization of your video storage duration through the app or website.
Retention Policy: It’s essential to know Ring’s retention policy—videos beyond the storage limit are automatically deleted. If you need to keep a video longer, download it to a local storage device before the expiration date.
By managing these settings, you can maximize your doorbell’s video storage utility, ensuring that your security footage is there when you need it, without unnecessary waste of cloud resources.
International Considerations
When considering the video history of your Ring Doorbell, your location plays a pivotal role in determining how long your footage is stored. Different regions have varying default storage durations and availability based on local regulations and Ring’s service policies.
Availability of Ring Services by Region
Your access to certain Ring services, including how long your video history is retained, is influenced by regional differences. Here’s a breakdown by region:
- United States: By default, videos are stored for 60 days.
- United Kingdom and European Union: The default storage time is 30 days.
- Latin America, Middle East, Asia: These regions typically have a default storage period of 60 days as well.
For regions not explicitly specified such as Africa, Ring’s services and video history storage times are subject to local regulations and could align with either of the delineated defaults or have bespoke terms, which would be clearly outlined on Ring’s official help resources or within user agreements.
Beyond default settings, Ring offers Protect subscription plans which may allow you to extend the retention period for your videos. It’s important for you to review your subscription plan details or contact Ring support for specific information regarding video history retention based on your plan and location.
Troubleshooting Common Video History Issues
When reviewing your Ring Doorbell video history, you may sometimes encounter issues where your footage isn’t accessible or doesn’t play back as expected. Understanding how to tackle such problems is crucial for maintaining uninterrupted access to your doorbell’s history.
Technical Support and Reset Procedures
If you experience lapses in your event history or find that previously recorded videos are no longer available, your first step should be to check the default settings. By default, Ring stores your doorbell footage for 60 days before it expires and is permanently deleted. For any issues outside this timeframe, you may need to explore further troubleshooting procedures.
Reset: A straightforward solution for many technical issues with your device is to perform a reset. Here’s how to reset your device:
- Tap ‘Devices’ in the Ring app.
- Select your device.
- Go to ‘Device Health’.
- Choose ‘Reboot This Device’ and confirm your selection.
Event History: To ensure your Ring Doorbell captures and stores events properly:
- Check that your device has a stable Wi-Fi connection, as this can affect the recording and storage of events.
- Verify new settings in the Ring app that may alter how footage is stored or the duration for which it is kept.
If these steps don’t resolve your issues, contacting Ring’s customer support for personalized technical assistance is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, you’ll find concise answers to common queries regarding the storage duration and accessibility of video footage from your Ring Doorbell device.
What is the duration for which Ring video footage is stored with a Ring Protect plan?
With a Ring Protect plan, your video footage is typically stored for up to 60 days. However, in some regions like the US, you can opt to have videos saved for up to 180 days.
Is continuous video recording a feature available with Ring Doorbells?
No, Ring Doorbells do not offer continuous video recording. They are designed to record footage based on motion detection and doorbell presses.
Can stored Ring video footage be accessed after 60 days?
Without adjustments, stored video footage is not accessible after 60 days. To retain access, you would need to adjust settings or download important clips.
What happens to my Ring video footage if I don’t have a subscription?
If you don’t subscribe to Ring’s services, the doorbell will not record or save the video footage. You only receive real-time notifications and live view without a subscription.
Is there a way to retrieve video footage from Ring beyond the typical storage period?
Once the typical storage period expires, the video is permanently deleted and cannot be retrieved. To prevent loss, you should download and archive videos of importance.
What are the steps to view previously recorded videos on a Ring device?
To view previously recorded videos, open your Ring app, go to the main menu, select ‘History,’ or access the ‘Event History’ within your device’s profile page to view the video history for that specific device.