Ring Doorbell Video Storage: The Complete Guide to Local and Cloud Options

Do you wish to know what ring doorbell video storage is good for you? Yes, As a homeowner, if you have a Ring doorbell and do not have a Ring Protect plan, Ring does not record or store your videos

How much video can you store from your Ring doorbell? This was a question I struggled with after buying my first Ring camera.

As a busy mom trying to keep my kids safe, I was alarmed when I got notifications that my Ring’s storage was almost full after just a few weeks!

I didn’t want to risk missing any important security events, but I also didn’t want to pay a lot for a subscription plan.

After doing more research, I figured out how to optimize my Ring storage between the device memory, cloud storage, and an external hard drive.

In this post, I’ll explain everything I learned to help you never miss a moment while avoiding unnecessary storage fees!

Let’s dive in!

Ring Video Storage Plans from Ring

As mentioned in the introduction, Ring offers both cloud and local storage options for saving footage from your Ring doorbells and security cameras.

For those who want centralized, hands-off storage that can be accessed from anywhere, Ring’s paid cloud storage plans are a good option to consider.

Ring currently offers three ongoing subscription plans that include cloud storage for videos:

• Ring Protect Basic – This is Ring’s most affordable cloud storage plan, starting at just $3 per month per device. With the Basic plan, you get 60 days worth of video storage in Ring’s cloud servers. One downside is that the Basic plan only covers storage for one Ring device – so if you have multiple cameras, you’ll need to upgrade for additional storage.
• Ring Protect Plus – For more robust cloud storage, the Ring Protect Plus plan costs $10 per month. However, this plan covers unlimited Ring devices at a single address. So you can add several doorbells and security cameras without needing to pay for each one individually. Like the Basic plan, Ring Protect Plus provides 60 days of video storage in the cloud.
• Ring Protect Pro – At $20 per month, this is Ring’s premium storage plan, but it packs the most features. In addition to supporting unlimited devices, the Protect Pro plan gives you 120 days of video storage – double the length of time compared to the other plans. One unique aspect is that Protect Pro must be paired with Ring’s Alarm security system and monitoring service. So it really aims at customers who want the full home security package.

Some key things to keep in mind with Ring’s paid cloud storage subscriptions:

• The higher-tier plans offer more storage time for your videos, with Protect Basic at 60 days, Protect Plus at 60 days, and Protect Pro giving you 120 days worth of storage.
• Once the time limit is reached, Ring will automatically delete your oldest recordings to clear space for new motion-triggered videos. This happens on a rolling basis, you don’t suddenly lose everything after 60/120 days.
• You can adjust the exact number of days to store motion events within the Ring app, if you don’t necessarily need the full duration offered by your plan. 30 days is the default retention setting.
• Upgrading your subscription plan is the only way to increase your available cloud storage beyond the base 60 or 120 day limit. Adding local storage doesn’t change the cap.
• In addition to more video storage, the higher-tier plans also include advanced features like professional monitoring, cellular backup for Ring cameras if WiFi goes down, extended warranties, and discounts on Ring products. So you’re paying for more than just storage.

The costs can add up, but for security peace of mind and hands-off video storage without having to manage local drives or memory cards, Ring’s paid cloud plans are worth considering if those features are valuable to you.

Having enough storage time to look back through past security events is critical.

Storing Ring Videos Locally

In addition to cloud storage plans, Ring also gives you the option to store video recordings strictly locally on the device itself.

This avoids any monthly fees for cloud storage subscriptions. One handy method for local Ring video storage is using a microSD card.

A microSD card is a tiny, removable flash memory card that slides right into a slot on compatible Ring devices. Here are some key advantages and considerations for storing your Ring videos onto a memory card:

• Supported on most Ring cameras – Nearly all Ring doorbell and security camera models allow for local storage onto a microSD card. Specific exceptions are the original Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Stick Up Cam Battery. As long as your model has a slot for a microSD card, this storage method should work.
• Insert directly into the device – Setup is as easy as physically sliding the memory card into the slot on your Ring device. No need for any special cables, drivers or configuration. Just insert the card and the device will begin saving recordings onto it automatically.
• Provides local storage only – Using a memory card gives you local storage within the device itself. But unlike the cloud, you have no remote access to videos and no backup either. The recordings are only accessible by physically removing the card.
• Have to remove card to view videos – Since microSD recordings are only stored locally on the device, you’ll need to remove the memory card anytime you want to view stored footage on your computer or another device. This makes ongoing access less convenient than cloud storage.
• Storage capacity limits – The available storage depends entirely on the maximum capacity of the memory card. A 32GB card might only hold a few days of HD video from your Ring doorbell while a 128GB card could store weeks worth of recordings. So card size is a limitation.
• Purchase cards separately – While convenient, using microSD cards does require purchasing them separately if you don’t already have cards on hand. Prices vary based on capacity but a multi-pack of 32GB cards costs around $15. Higher capacity 128GB+ cards cost more.

Overall, microSD cards offer an affordable way to store Ring videos locally without any monthly fees.

But you do have to deal with limited capacity, manual video access, and no remote viewing or backup capabilities.

For these reasons, many choose to use cloud storage or external hard drives for more robust storage options. But for lightweight local storage, a microSD card in your Ring device definitely does the trick.

Connect an External Hard Drive

Another method to store your Ring recordings locally is by connecting an external USB hard drive. This requires using either the Ring Chime or Chime Pro accessory.

The Ring Chime and Chime Pro act as indoor bases that your Ring doorbell or cameras connect to via WiFi. Once paired, you can plug an external hard drive into the USB port on these Chime devices.

This will allow video recordings from your Ring devices to be stored locally on that connected drive.

Here are some advantages and considerations when using an external drive for Ring storage:

• Much larger storage capacity – Whereas a microSD card may only hold weeks of video, an external hard drive can store months or even years worth of recordings depending on its size. For example, a 2TB drive could store over a year of HD video from a Ring doorbell camera.
• Existing drive can be used – If you already have an unused external USB hard drive, you can easily pair it with a Ring Chime to get up and running. No need to purchase any new equipment.
• Easy USB connection – Pairing an external drive just involves plugging it into the USB port on the Chime or Chime Pro using the included cable. The device will automatically configure storage onto the drive.
• Still local only – As with a microSD card, storing recordings onto a hard drive keeps the videos local only. There is no cloud backup or ability to remotely access footage from the drive.
• Have to unplug drive for access – To view stored videos, you’ll need to disconnect the external drive from the Chime and plug it directly into a computer. This makes ongoing access less seamless.
• Requires Chime accessory – The external drive method only works if you have a Ring Chime or Chime Pro. So factor in this additional cost if you don’t already have one.

Overall, connecting an external USB hard drive to a Ring Chime allows for abundantly large local storage for your Ring camera footage.

But it comes at the cost of less convenient video access and the requirement of buying extra accessories. For a set-it-and-forget large capacity approach, external hard drive storage is a solid local storage choice over microSD cards.

Use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) Device

For large-scale local storage of Ring video that is accessible from multiple devices on your home network, a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is an option worth considering.

A NAS is an external hard drive enclosure that connects directly to your router via Ethernet cable. This allows it to exist as a storage location that any device on your local network can access.

Setting up a NAS for Ring video storage works as follows:

• Purchase a NAS enclosure and insert storage hard drives. Multi-bay enclosures allow using multiple drives for increased capacity.
• Connect the NAS to your home router with an Ethernet cable to put it on your local network.
• Configure the NAS software on your computer to allow access with a username/password combo.
• On suitable Ring devices, change the video recording settings to store onto a network device using the NAS access credentials.

Using a NAS for local Ring video storage has some notable benefits:

• Abundant centralized storage – NAS enclosures allow installing multiple high-capacity hard drives for terabytes worth of storage availability. All recordings are stored securely in one place.
• Accessible from any local device – Unlike external drives, the NAS is available as a network location for any authorized device on your WiFi. So you can easily view stored videos without unplugging drives.
• More secure than cloud – Your videos remain within your home, instead of on third-party servers. NAS also allows encrypted storage for added security.
• Automatic backup capabilities – Many consumer NAS units feature automatic backup to duplicate recordings onto a second drive for redundancy.
• Cost for hardware – On the downside, you have to purchase the NAS enclosure and hard drives upfront. Expect to spend $200+ for an entry-level 4-bay NAS device.
• Complex initial setup – NAS requires more technical know-how to install drives, configure network connectivity and set user permissions compared to plug-and-play options.

With a bit more complexity but far greater capabilities, a NAS is the ultimate option for robust local storage of Ring video recordings. The abundance of networked storage makes this method stand out.

Considerations for Local Storage

While local storage options like microSD cards, external drives, and NAS devices allow storing your Ring videos without the cloud, these methods do come with some important considerations to keep in mind:

Requires purchasing hardware – With cloud storage, your videos are handled by Ring’s servers without you needing any physical storage media.

But local storage requires you to purchase microSD cards, hard drives, NAS enclosures, etc. Depending on storage size, expect to spend $50-500+ on the necessary hardware.

No remote backup or access – A significant downside of local only storage is having no backup of your footage and no way to access videos remotely outside your home.

If something happens to your local storage device or Ring camera itself, those recordings could be lost forever with no cloud redundancy.

Manual video access – Viewing stored videos on local storage is a much more manual process than cloud access, potentially requiring unplugging a device or memory card and plugging it into a computer to view footage in chunks. This fragmented access makes it harder to review historical events.

Relying on device health – With cloud storage, you don’t have to worry if a camera malfunctions. But with local storage, if your Ring device fails, you could lose access to recordings stored on it. Adding redundancy helps, but worth considering.

Extra steps to enable – Using microSD or external drives adds extra setup like inserting cards and plugging in drives. NAS has a steeper learning curve. Cloud storage works right out the box. So extra time and technical comfort is needed.

Storage limits – Local options have pre-defined storage capacities, from 32GB for microSD cards to 8TB for many consumer hard drives. Cloud allows flexible storage tiers. When local storage fills up, older footage has to be manually cleared.

Security considerations – Locally stored video could be physically stolen or accessed by someone hacking into your home network. Cloud storage puts videos on secure, third-party servers with encryption and redundancy.

While the lower costs and absence of monthly fees is enticing, the lack of redundancy and access limitations are key trade-offs to think through when weighing local vs cloud storage for your Ring cameras.

Both options have merits depending on your budget, technical skills, and security needs.

Video Storage Duration with Ring

In addition to the different storage locations like cloud or local, another key consideration is the duration that Ring will retain your videos – both on their cloud plans and locally.

Cloud plan storage duration

Ring’s paid cloud storage subscriptions provide the following maximum video storage durations:

• Basic Plan – 60 days
• Plus Plan – 60 days
• Pro Plan – 120 days

So the higher-tier plans offer longer storage of video recordings in the cloud before old events start getting automatically deleted.

It’s important to understand these are maximum limits though. Within the Ring app, you can customize the exact number of days to store motion-triggered video for each individual camera.

For example, even if you have the 120 day max on the Pro plan, you could set a specific doorbell to only store 30 days worth of recordings. This allows tailoring capacity for specific cameras depending on need.

Once footage exceeds the custom retention period set for that device, Ring will delete older videos to clear storage space on its servers for new recordings. This deletion happens automatically on an ongoing basis.

Local storage duration

For local storage like microSD cards or external hard drives, the available video storage duration depends entirely on the physical capacity limit of that storage device.

For instance, a 32GB microSD card might only be able to store one week of motion recordings from your Ring doorbell before hitting capacity. At that point, you’d have to start manually deleting old footage to clear space for additional recordings.

So the benefit of local is avoiding flat storage limits. But you do have to actively manage recording retention yourself based on your actual device capacity.

Cloud storage is simpler by automatically clearing old videos based on a consistent retention period. But local gives you full control over storage duration tied to physical capacity.

Video Storage Limits with Ring Devices

When considering the maximum video storage possible across the various options for Ring devices, the storage limits differ depending on whether you are using cloud storage or local storage.

Cloud storage limits

For Ring’s paid cloud storage plans, the video storage limits are defined by the tier of subscription plan:

• Basic Plan – Up to 60 days max of video storage
• Plus Plan – Up to 60 days max of video storage
• Pro Plan – Up to 120 days max of video storage

So the higher the subscription plan, the longer your video recordings are stored in the cloud before Ring starts automatically deleting old footage.

These limits apply no matter how many cameras you have linked to that account. The limit is based on the plan, not per device.

Note that within the Ring app, you can set custom retention periods below the max limit if you don’t need the full duration. But you cannot exceed the max cloud storage duration allowed on your tier of plan.

Local storage limits

For local storage using a microSD card or external hard drive, the storage limit is determined by the physical capacity of that storage media.

For example, one camera with a 32GB microSD card might store one week of footage, while a 2TB external hard drive connected to multiple cameras could store over a year of recordings before hitting capacity.

So with local storage, the limiting factor is the size of the physical storage device used, not any fixed duration set by Ring. Storage is tied directly to real-world capacity.

Cloud and local storage combined

When using both cloud and local storage together, the effective limit is the greater of the two options.

If your plan has a 60 day cloud limit, but locally you have 6 months of capacity on a large hard drive, your full storage duration would be those 6 months until the local drive hits capacity.

So combining cloud and robust local provides the advantage of having the cloud maximum, along with the flexible overflow of local hardware – giving you the most possible storage.

Adjusting Video Storage Settings

To optimize your Ring video storage, it’s important to know how to adjust the storage settings for individual devices in the Ring app.

Tweaking these settings allows you to customize storage duration, quality, and functionality.

Within the Ring app, tap on the specific camera or doorbell device you want to configure. Then go to:

Device Settings > Video Settings

In the Video Settings you’ll see various options to manage storage and recordings:

Choose cloud or local storage

If your device supports microSD local storage, you can pick between saving videos to the cloud or locally to the memory card. Choose where you want new recordings saved.

Set custom retention period

Specify how long you want the device to store motion events before deleting them. You can pick any number of days up to the limit set by your cloud plan (30 days default). This lets you override the max duration if you don’t need it.

Enable pre-roll

Pre-roll captures extra video seconds before motion is triggered, so you get the full event. Turning this on will take more of your storage capacity.

Adjust video length

Shorten or lengthen the duration that your Ring device records after detecting motion. For example, reduce to 15 seconds if you don’t need a full minute of footage.

Change video quality

On supported devices, you can have Ring store videos in lower 720p definition instead of full 1080p to save storage space if video clarity isn’t as essential.

Live view settings

Manage aspects of live viewing like status indicators and microphone toggles. Doesn’t affect storage but related to video.

Video encryption

Encrypts your video files for added security. Doesn’t impact storage capacity or settings.

Snapshot capture

Configure settings around capturing photo snapshots when motion events occur. Similar to videos, this affects storage usage.

Take the time to thoroughly review and tweak the video settings for each Ring device tied to your account based on your specific needs.

Optimizing these settings is crucial to make sure you have adequate and cost-effective storage capacity.

FAQs About Ring Video Storage

Does Basic Ring Storage Go Away After a Year?

With the basic Ring Protect cloud storage plan, your videos are stored in the cloud for up to 60 days. It does not expire after exactly 1 year.

The 60 day retention period is ongoing – as new videos are recorded, the oldest videos beyond 60 days are automatically deleted by Ring to make room. So you have a rolling 60 day window of cloud storage at any point in time.

For example, a video recorded today would be available in the cloud for the next 60 days before getting deleted. A video from 62 days ago would be deleted tomorrow when the 60 day mark is crossed.

As long as your basic subscription is active, you’ll continuously have access to the last 60 days of videos, not just for one year. Ring Protect does not delete all your videos after 365 days. The 60 day rolling deletion continues year after year.

Can I Download Ring Videos To My Computer?

Yes, the Ring app allows you to download copies of your video recordings from the cloud to a mobile device or computer for backup purposes.

In the Ring app, tap on the video clip you want to save locally. Tap the “Download” button. This will save a copy of that video to your device’s local storage.

However, there is no option to bulk download your entire video archive all at once from the cloud. You can only save videos individually. So it is not feasible to create a complete local backup of your cloud library.

But downloading select important video clips locally can serve as a way to back them up from Ring’s cloud servers if needed. Just keep in mind you can only download videos one by one, not the full set all at once.

How many Ring cameras can be on one account?

There is no limit to the number of Ring cameras and devices you can have active on a single Ring account using the same login credentials. You can continue adding more Ring devices as you want to expand your setup.

However, the Ring Protect Basic cloud storage plan will only cover storage for one camera. If you want to add more devices beyond the first, you would need to upgrade to the Ring Protect Plus plan to get storage for unlimited cameras at one address.

So while your account can handle any number of devices, you may need to upgrade the cloud storage plan tier to ensure adequate video storage capacity as you add more Ring cameras to your home security system. But there are no hard limits on devices per account.

Does Ring store video indefinitely if you have a subscription?

No, even with an active Ring cloud storage subscription, videos are not stored indefinitely. There are maximum retention periods based on your plan:

• Basic plan stores up to 60 days of video
• Plus plan stores up to 60 days
• Pro plan stores up to 120 days

Once videos exceed the retention period, Ring automatically deletes the oldest recordings to clear space for new videos being added. This rolling deletion of old footage continues as long as your subscription is active.

So while paying for a subscription does provide ongoing cloud storage, Ring will eventually delete very old recordings after the set duration. This prevents unlimited indefinite storage. Video is stored on a rolling window up to the maximum retention days allowed per plan.

Does Ring Camera Store Video Without Subscription?

Yes, Ring cameras can store video recordings locally without an ongoing subscription. Options include using a microSD card in the camera itself or connecting an external USB drive to the Ring Chime accessory.

However, local storage requires purchasing the SD card or drive separately. There is also no cloud backup or remote access to videos stored locally. But it does avoid subscription fees.

How Do You Store Ring Doorbell Video?

There are a few options to store video from a Ring doorbell camera:

• Use a microSD card in the doorbell itself for local onboard storage.
• Connect an external USB drive to the Ring Chime and store videos on the drive.
• Pay for a Ring Protect cloud storage subscription plan to store videos in the cloud.
• Setup a NAS (network attached storage) device on your home network and configure Ring to save videos to the NAS.

How Do I Store My Ring Doorbell Video Without Subscription?

To store Ring videos without paying for a subscription, use a microSD card inserted directly into the doorbell camera or connect an external hard drive to your Ring Chime. This provides local storage within your home only.

How Long Does Ring Doorbell Store Video?

If using Ring’s cloud storage, they offer plans that store videos for:

• 60 days max on the Basic and Plus cloud plans
• 120 days max on the Pro cloud plan

For local SD card storage, the duration depends on the card’s capacity. A 128GB card may hold about 2 weeks of HD video before getting full.

Is Ring Worthless Without A Subscription?

Ring cameras will still function and record video to a microSD card or external drive without a paid subscription. So they are not worthless without the cloud storage plan.

However, you do lose features like cloud backup of footage, remote access to video, and extended warranty. So the subscription does add significant extra functionality.

Does Ring Store All Videos?

If you are using Ring’s cloud storage service, they do not store all videos indefinitely. Old recordings are deleted after your plan’s retention period (60 or 120 days). Only the newest videos within that timeframe are stored.

For local SD card storage, the doorbell camera will store videos until the card’s capacity is reached. Then you need to delete old footage manually.

Can You Get Ring Footage Past 60 Days?

With a basic Ring cloud subscription, once videos pass the 60 day retention period they are deleted automatically and cannot be retrieved. However, anything stored locally on a microSD card or external drive should still be available past 60 days.

To keep cloud videos beyond 60 days, you would need to upgrade to the Pro plan with 120 day retention or download clips for local backup within the first 60 days.

Do You Have To Pay For Ring Cloud Storage?

There are no options for free unlimited cloud storage from Ring. To store videos in Ring’s cloud servers, you need an active paid subscription to Ring Protect Basic, Plus, or Pro.

Without a paid plan, you are limited to local storage only using a microSD card or external hard drive connected to the Ring Chime accessory.

Do Ring Cameras Record All The Time?

By default, Ring cameras do not record continuously. They only capture video clips when motion is detected. This avoids filling up your storage with non-event footage.

You can enable pre-roll buffering to capture additional seconds before motion. But there is no setting for 24/7 continuous recording on Ring devices.

Is Ring Doorbell Storage Free?

There is no free storage directly from Ring. However, you can store video on a microSD card in the doorbell itself at no cost beyond purchasing the memory card. This provides free local storage, but lacks remote access or backups.

Can Police Recover Deleted Ring Videos?

If you delete video from the Ring cloud storage, police cannot recover it. However, if requested, police can obtain videos from Ring that are still available within your account’s retention period. Frequently deleting footage could prevent access.

For local Ring storage like SD cards, recovering deleted videos depends on whether that section of the card was overwritten with new footage. If not, forensic data recovery is potentially possible.

Conclusion

When looking at storage for your Ring doorbell camera, there are a few key points to remember. First, determine if local storage like microSD or external drives can meet your needs or if Ring’s cloud plans are required.

Calculate how much storage time you really need based on video quality and motion frequency. Finally, optimize settings in the Ring app like custom retention periods to maximize capacity.

With the right storage approach for your budget and security needs, you can rest assured knowing you can access critical video footage when you need it most.

Don’t wait until it’s too late – tackle your Ring storage plan today!