Many Ring doorbell users want to save their motion-triggered videos without having to pay for a subscription.
While a Ring Protect subscription plan unlocks additional features, such as longer video storage and comprehensive monitoring, you can still save videos without subscribing.
In this article, you’ll discover ways to save your Ring doorbell videos without the need for a subscription service.
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Reasons for Saving Ring Doorbell Videos
There are several reasons you might want to save the video footage from your Ring Doorbell without a subscription. These reasons typically revolve around safety, security, and convenience.
Let’s explore some of the most common motivations for homeowners to save videos from their Ring video doorbells.
Theft Prevention
One of the primary reasons to save Ring Doorbell videos is to prevent theft. By having a video record of your home’s perimeter, you can deter potential thieves and better monitor your property.
If a crime happens in your neighborhood, your saved video footage may provide valuable evidence that could help police identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for the thefts.
Additionally, you can use the saved video footage to review any suspicious activity around your home, allowing you to take appropriate action to improve security and avoid becoming a victim of theft yourself.
Police Evidence
Another reason to save videos from your Ring Doorbell is to provide evidence in case of criminal activity. If a crime occurs on your property or nearby, your saved video footage can be shared with the police to aid their investigation.
This can help identify suspects, track their movements, and ultimately increase the likelihood of a successful investigation.
In some cases, Ring Doorbell videos have even played a role in solving other unrelated crimes in the area, as the footage can sometimes capture incidents that homeowners may not have been aware of.
Monitoring Visitors
Your Ring video doorbell not only serves as a security tool but also allows you to monitor visitors coming to your property. Saving your video history can be helpful for tracking deliveries, maintenance visits, or interactions with neighbors.
This can be especially useful if you need to verify the arrival or departure times of service providers, babysitters, or other visitors to your home.
Furthermore, video footage can help you manage and track visitors while you’re away from home, ensuring that your home remains secure and that any unexpected or unwelcome guests can be easily identified.
Understanding Ring’s Subscription Plans
As a Ring Doorbell user, it’s essential to be familiar with Ring’s subscription plans to make an informed decision about saving videos without a subscription.
Ring Protect Basic Plan
The Ring Protect Basic Plan is catered to individual device users. It offers the following features:
- Video history for 60 days
- Video saving and sharing
- Snapshot capture
- Two-way talk
- Customizable motion zones
This plan is priced at $3 per month or $30 per year for each eligible device. When considering video storage without a subscription, remember that this is the most affordable option for a single device.
Ring Protect Plus Plan
If you have multiple Ring devices at your location, the Ring Protect Plus Plan may be the right choice for you. With this plan, you will benefit from the following:
- Video history for 60 days
- Video saving and sharing
- Snapshot capture
- Two-way talk
- Customizable motion zones
- 24/7 professional monitoring for your Ring Alarm system
- Extended warranties on your devices
- 10% discount on select Ring products
For the Ring Protect Plus Plan, the cost is $10 per month or $100 per year, covering an unlimited number of Ring devices at one location. It’s crucial to weigh this option against the free methods mentioned later in this section.
Free Trial and Other Options
Upon purchasing a new Ring device, customers are eligible for a 30-day free trial of the Ring Protect Plan. This trial enables you to temporarily enjoy the benefits of video saving, sharing, and history without committing to a subscription.
Alternatively, you can resort to other options, such as using screen capture software or recording videos locally to save video without a subscription. However, these options may require more effort on your part.
As you have a clearer understanding of Ring’s subscription plans, you can now better assess which choices align with your needs and decide how to save Ring doorbell videos without a subscription.
Saving Videos Without a Subscription
To save Ring Doorbell videos without a subscription, you can use a few different methods to keep the recordings for future reference. In this section, we will discuss three primary techniques: screen recording, using local storage, and considering alternative smart doorbells.
Screen Recording
One effective way to save your Ring Doorbell videos is by recording your smartphone or tablet’s screen while the video is playing.
Most Android and iOS devices come with built-in screen recording features, and you can also download third-party screen recording apps if necessary.
To get started, open the Ring app on your device, go to the “History” section, and tap on the desired video:
- For Android, swipe down from the top of the screen to access the “Control Center” and tap on the “Screen Record” icon. If you don’t see this option, check your device settings to enable it or download a third-party app from the Google Play Store.
- For iOS, access your “Control Center” by swiping down from the upper-right corner of your iPhone or swiping up from the bottom of your iPad. Then, tap on the “Screen Recording” icon. If it’s not already present in your control center, you can add it via the device’s settings by navigating to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls > Add Screen Recording.
After recording the video, you will find the saved screen recording in your device’s Photos or Gallery app. Remember that this method records everything on your screen during the process, so make sure nothing sensitive is being displayed on the screen.
Using Local Storage
Another approach to save your Ring Doorbell videos without a subscription is by downloading them to your computer or another local storage device. Log in to the Ring website and navigate to the “History” section.
Select the videos you want to save, then download and save them to your local storage. This method is useful when you want to back up the videos on a PC, Mac, or external hard drive for added protection.
Alternative Smart Doorbells
If you are looking for a smart doorbell solution that includes local storage or more cost-effective cloud storage options, consider alternative devices.
Some examples of alternative smart doorbells include Eufy and SkyBell Video Doorbell. These doorbells offer features similar to those provided by the Ring Doorbell but may include local storage or more affordable cloud storage plans.
They can be a suitable option for those who want to save videos without a subscription while still enjoying the benefits of smart home security.
By using one of these methods, you can effectively save your Ring Doorbell videos without needing a subscription. Explore these options to find the best solution for your specific needs and keep your home safe without breaking the bank.
Accessing Ring Doorbell Features with a Free Plan
Even without a subscription, your Ring doorbell offers several useful features to help secure your home. In this section, we’ll discuss some of the key functions you can access with Ring’s free plan, including motion detection and alerts, two-way talk, real-time video, and live streaming.
Motion Detection and Alerts
Your Ring doorbell comes equipped with motion detection, allowing you to receive alerts when someone approaches your door.
To set the motion detection feature, open the Ring app on your device, select your camera, and navigate to “Device Settings.” From there, adjust motion sensitivity and establish specific zones for alerts.
With these settings in place, you’ll receive push notifications on your phone whenever there’s movement at your door.
Two-way Talk
By utilizing Ring’s two-way talk feature, you can communicate directly with anyone at your door, whether it’s a delivery driver, a guest, or someone unexpected.
To use this feature, simply tap on the microphone icon when viewing the live video feed from your Ring device. This will allow you to speak with the person at your door and hear their response.
Real-time Video and Live Streaming
The Ring doorbell offers real-time video and live streaming, enabling you to monitor your front door at any time. To access the live view, open the Ring app and select your camera. Then, tap the “Live View” button to see a live feed from your doorbell’s camera.
If your device supports snapshot capture, you can also view periodic still images for a quick visual update. This feature helps conserve battery life while still providing necessary information about your home’s security.
In conclusion, even without a subscription, you can still make use of the essential features offered by the Ring doorbell, such as motion detection and alerts, two-way talk, and real-time video and live streaming.
This ensures that you can maintain a certain level of security at your front door while deciding if a subscription-based plan is necessary for your needs.
Advanced Methods for Saving Ring Videos
In this section, we’ll cover some more advanced techniques you can use to save Ring Doorbell videos without a subscription, including creating a Ring Client API and using programmable solutions.
Creating a Ring Client API
To have more control over the storage and access of your Ring Doorbell video data, you can create your own Ring Client API. This custom API will allow you to interact with your Ring devices programmatically and save your video files on your local machine or in cloud storage without needing a subscription.
To set this up, follow these steps:
- Sign up for a developer account with Ring if you don’t already have one.
- Authenticate your account by providing your API key and secret.
- Implement traffic monitoring using a tool such as Hassio to keep an eye on your devices’ network usage.
- Decode the unencrypted data streams from your Ring devices using a programming language such as TypeScript.
- Utilize the Live Stream API to access real-time video feeds from your Ring Doorbell and other Ring devices.
- Save the video stream data to your preferred storage location.
Using Programmable Solutions
If you have coding experience, consider using programmable solutions to automatically capture and save your Ring Doorbell video.
By integrating your Ring devices with your chosen programmable hardware or software, you can trigger events to record or save footage from your indoor security cameras, doorbells, and other Ring devices.
Here’s how to implement this solution:
- Choose a programmable platform, such as a Raspberry Pi or Arduino, or a software solution like the open-source ring-client-api library.
- Write scripts or applications that can interact with your Ring Doorbell device and access its video streams. This may involve using libraries like ring-client-api to simplify the process.
- Configure your solution to detect specific events that you want to capture video from, such as motion detection, doorbell presses, or specific time intervals.
- Save the captured video data to your chosen storage location, either locally or in the cloud.
Regardless of the method you choose, it’s important to be aware of any impact on bandwidth, storage, and privacy. By utilizing these advanced techniques, you can save your Ring Doorbell videos without needing a subscription while maintaining control over the storage and access of your video files.