Blink Can't Save Locally? A USB Storage Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting Blink's Local Storage Feature

One of the key benefits of the Blink Sync Module 2 is the ability to store motion clips locally on a USB flash drive, offering an alternative to the cloud subscription plan. However, when this feature doesn't work as expected, it can be a source of confusion.

This guide will help you diagnose and solve the most common issues preventing your Blink system from saving clips to your local USB storage.

## Understanding How Blink Local Storage Works

Before troubleshooting, it's important to understand the two ways local storage functions:

1. Direct Local Storage (No Subscription): If you do not have an active Blink subscription plan, motion clips from your cameras are saved directly to the USB drive. You will see a "Local Storage" icon in the app, but you cannot view these clips directly in the app's clip roll. You must eject the drive and view them on a computer.
2. Clip Backup (With Subscription): If you have a subscription, clips are saved to the cloud as normal. Then, once every 24 hours, the system creates a backup of all new cloud clips onto your USB drive. These clips are still viewable in the app via the cloud.

The most common point of confusion is for users without a subscription who expect to see their clips appear in the app's timeline. This is not how the feature works.

## Prerequisite Checklist

For local storage to function at all, you must have the following:

• A Blink Sync Module 2. This feature does not work with the older, first-generation Sync Module.
• A compatible USB 2.0 flash drive.
• The drive's capacity must be between 1GB and 256GB.
• The drive must be formatted to a compatible file system (ExFAT is highly recommended).

## Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

If you're having trouble, follow these steps in order.

### 1. The USB Drive is Not Recognised

If you insert the USB drive into the Sync Module 2 and the app shows an error, or doesn't acknowledge it at all, the problem is almost always the drive itself.

• Solution: Reformat the Drive
  1. Remove the USB drive from the Sync Module 2.
  2. Insert it into a Windows PC or Mac.
  3. Back up any important files that are already on the drive.
  4. Format the drive. On Windows, right-click the drive in File Explorer, choose 'Format', select 'ExFAT' as the file system, and click 'Start'. On a Mac, use the Disk Utility application to erase and format the drive as ExFAT.
  5. Once formatting is complete, safely eject the drive from your computer.
  6. Re-insert the drive firmly into the Sync Module 2's USB port. The app should now recognise it.

### 2. Clips Are Not Saving to the USB Drive

You've formatted the drive, the app recognises it, but no new clips are being saved.

• Check Your Subscription Status: Remember how the system works. If you have no subscription, clips save directly. If you have a subscription, they are only backed up once a day. Don't expect to see clips appear instantly on the drive if you have an active plan.
• Power Cycle the Sync Module: Unplug the Sync Module 2 from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This can often resolve temporary glitches.
• Ensure the System is Armed: No clips will be recorded if your system is in the 'Disarmed' state. Make sure it is 'Armed'.

### 3. How to View Your Locally Stored Clips

This is not a problem, but a point of clarification. For users without a subscription plan:

1. Open the Blink app.
2. Navigate to the Sync Module settings.
3. You will see an option to 'Safely Eject USB'. You must tap this before physically removing the drive to prevent data corruption.
4. Once the app confirms it is safe, remove the USB drive from the back of the Sync Module 2.
5. Insert the USB drive into your computer.
6. Open the drive's folder. You will find your video clips (as .mp4 files) stored inside, usually in a folder named blink_camera_[camera name]. You can now watch, copy, or delete these files as you wish.

By ensuring your USB drive is correctly formatted and understanding the specific workflow for viewing clips, you can effectively use Blink's local storage feature and maintain control over your security footage.