Ring doorbell cameras have become a popular home security solution, allowing homeowners to monitor their property and communicate with visitors. However, sometimes crucial footage might accidentally get deleted or lost. Fortunately, there are proven methods to recover lost Ring videos.
In the following article, we’ll explain the steps to recover deleted Ring videos and the precautions you can take to prevent future data loss.
Table of Contents
Understanding Ring Videos and Cloud Storage
Ring offers a range of home security products, including video doorbells and security cameras. In this section, we will explore how Ring stores videos and the benefits of the Ring Protect Plan.
How Ring Stores Videos
Ring devices, such as video doorbells and security cameras, record and store videos in the cloud. When an event is detected, the Ring app sends a notification to your smartphone or tablet, allowing you to view the recorded video. These videos are stored using secure cloud storage, making it easy for you to access your Ring videos from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection.
To access your recorded Ring videos, simply open the Ring app on your smartphone or tablet and select the device from which you want to view the footage. You will be able to access videos that have been recorded within the storage duration, which varies based on your subscription plan.
Ring Protect Plan
In order to take full advantage of the cloud storage capabilities, users need to subscribe to a Ring Protect Plan. There are two tiers of subscription plans: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus.
| Ring Protect Plan | Ring Protect Plan Features |
|---|---|
Ring Protect Basic | Costs $3/month or $30/year per device Offers 60 days of video storage in the US (30 days in other countries) Allows you to review, share, and save your videos within the storage period |
Ring Protect Plus | Costs $10/month or $100/year per household Covers all Ring devices in the home Offers the same video storage benefits as Ring Protect Basic Includes 24/7 professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems Provides a 10% discount on future Ring device purchases |
By subscribing to a Ring Protect Plan, you can ensure that your Ring videos are securely stored in the cloud and accessible when needed. Additionally, the Ring Protect Plus plan offers enhanced features for an even more comprehensive home security solution.
Reasons for Deleted Ring Videos
Deleted Ring videos can occur due to several reasons, affecting users on both Windows and Mac systems. This article will explore the following common causes: Accidental Deletion, System Crash or Virus Attack, and Local Storage Corruption.
Accidental Deletion
One of the main reasons for deleted Ring videos is accidental deletion. This can happen when users unintentionally remove videos from their storage devices like hard drives, SD cards, or other local storage options. Accidental deletion may occur while organizing files, clearing storage space, or even from mistakenly pressing the delete button when viewing videos. Remember that the US privacy law requires Ring to automatically delete videos after a certain period.
System Crash or Virus Attack
Another common reason for deleted Ring videos is a system crash or a virus attack. In such cases, the system may become unstable, causing the data stored on your hard drive to be lost, including your Ring videos. Virus attacks can compromise your data integrity and potentially delete your video files. Regularly updating your software and having reliable antivirus protection can help prevent these situations.
Local Storage Corruption
Lastly, local storage corruption can lead to deleted Ring videos. Corruption refers to the damage caused to the storage device’s system, which may cause the data stored on it to become unreadable or inaccessible. Causes of corruption may include:
- Sudden power failure during file transfer
- Improper device ejection
- Hardware failure
Depending on the extent of the corruption, Ring videos and other data may become irrecoverable. To minimize the risk of local storage corruption, make sure you’re using reliable storage devices, regularly back up your data, and handle your devices with care.
Recovering Deleted Ring Videos
Using Data Recovery Software
To recover deleted Ring videos, you can use data recovery software like Disk Drill or EaseUS Data Recovery. To begin, download and install the data recovery program onto your computer. Be sure to install it on a storage drive separate from the one that contained your deleted Ring videos.
Open the data recovery software and select the storage device which contained your Ring doorbell’s missing footage. Click the “Scan for lost data” button and wait for the software to complete its scanning process.
Once the scan is finished, go to the “Videos” section to locate the deleted Ring videos you want to recover. You can preview them to ensure they are the right ones.
Select all the videos you want to recover and click the “Recover” button. Choose a safe recovery destination for the restored files and click “OK.” This process should help you recover your lost data and deleted Ring videos.
Recovering Videos through Police or Legal Proceedings
In case your Ring videos were deleted under suspicious circumstances or as part of criminal activity, you might be able to recover them through police or law enforcement agencies.
Police can use their tools and resources to gather evidence, including video recordings from Ring security cameras or video doorbells.
To request assistance from law enforcement, prepare a detailed history of your Ring device’s usage and any instances where you captured relevant footage.
Share this information with the police, and they might be able to recover the deleted Ring videos as part of an ongoing investigation. Keep in mind this route is typically only viable if there’s a legal case tied to the deleted videos.
In certain regions, such as the EU, government agencies may have the authority to request Ring to share video recordings tied to specific investigations. This process is not guaranteed, as Ring may need to comply with privacy laws and government requests on a case-by-case basis.
While recovering deleted Ring videos is not always possible, utilizing data recovery software or collaborating with law enforcement can help increase your chances of success.
Ring’s Privacy and Security Measures
Ring is committed to protecting the privacy and security of its users. This includes implementing strong encryption, adhering to privacy policies, and handling government requests in a transparent manner.
Encryption and Server Protection
Ring uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect video recordings and other data stored on its servers. Additionally, Ring employs SSL certificates to ensure secure communication between Ring devices, its servers, and user smartphones.
This end-to-end encryption helps safeguard user data and video footage against unauthorized access and potential intrusions.
Privacy Notice and Policies
Ring’s Privacy Notice outlines the company’s commitment to protecting user data and respecting user privacy. Key aspects of Ring’s privacy policies include:
- Transparency: Ring clearly informs users about the data it collects, the purposes for which the data is used, and how long it retains the data.
- Data minimization: Ring collects and processes only the data necessary for its intended purpose and avoids collecting unnecessary information.
- User control: Ring provides users with the ability to manage and control their data, including the ability to delete video recordings and other data.
Handling Government Requests and Warrants
Ring has established guidelines for responding to government requests and warrants for user data. These guidelines ensure that any information disclosed to law enforcement or government agencies is only provided when required by law.
By implementing robust privacy and security measures, Ring seeks to build trust with its users and protect their personal data while maintaining accessibility and functionality of their devices.