Are Your Ring Videos Not Saving to the Cloud?
Your Ring device's ability to record motion events and store them in the cloud is its most critical security feature. Without it, you have no record of what happened. If you've noticed that your event history is empty, videos are missing, or you're getting errors, it's crucial to resolve the issue quickly.
These cloud storage problems are almost always related to one of two things: your Ring Protect subscription or your device's Wi-Fi connection. This guide will help you diagnose and fix the problem.
Step 1: Verify Your Ring Protect Subscription
A subscription to a Ring Protect plan is required for video recording and cloud storage. Without an active plan, your devices can only provide a live view and send notifications.
- Open the Ring app on your smartphone.
- Go to the main menu and select Account.
- Look for Ring Protect Plan.
- Here you can see if your subscription is active, which devices are covered, and when your next billing date is.
- If your subscription has expired, you must resubscribe to enable cloud recording again.
Important: A subscription is tied to a specific location. If you have Ring devices at two different addresses, you will need a separate plan for each location.
Step 2: Check Your Camera's Wi-Fi Connection
For a video to be saved to the cloud, the Ring device must first record the event and then successfully upload the entire video file to Ring's servers. This requires a stable and reasonably fast internet connection.
- In the Ring app, go to your list of devices.
- Select the camera or doorbell that is having issues.
- Tap on Device Health.
- Look for the Network section. You will see a Signal Strength indicator (RSSI).
- An RSSI value between 0 and -60 is generally considered a good signal. If your RSSI is -65 or lower (e.g., -70, -80), your device has a weak Wi-Fi signal.
A weak signal can cause the video upload to fail, resulting in a missed recording. If your signal is poor, try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the Ring device or install a Ring Chime Pro, which acts as a Wi-Fi extender specifically for your Ring devices.
Step 3: Review Your Motion Settings
It's possible the camera is simply not being triggered to record in the first place.
- Check Motion Detection: In the device's settings, ensure that Motion Detection is toggled on.
- Review Motion Zones: Check your configured motion zones. If they are too restrictive, it's possible that events are happening outside the areas you have designated for detection.
- Adjust Motion Sensitivity: If the sensitivity is set too low, the device may not be picking up on the events you want to be recorded.
Step 4: Understanding Video Processing Time
After an event occurs, it can sometimes take a few moments for the video to be fully uploaded, processed, and then appear in your app's event history. This is especially true for longer recordings or when the Wi-Fi signal is weak. If a very recent event isn't showing, wait a few minutes and then pull down on the event history screen to refresh it.
If you have confirmed your subscription is active and your Wi-Fi is strong, but videos are still consistently failing to record, the final step is to try rebooting the device (by temporarily removing its power source) and your home router. If the problem persists, it may be time to contact Ring support.