Troubleshooting Skybell Cloud Storage Issues
A key feature of your Skybell video doorbell is its ability to record video clips of events and store them in the cloud. This allows you to review who was at your door, even if you missed the live notification. When you discover that your video history is empty or that new events aren't being saved, it can be a major security concern.
This guide will walk you through the common causes of Skybell cloud storage problems and how to resolve them, ensuring your recordings are saved reliably.
## The Foundation: A Working Subscription
Before diving into any technical troubleshooting, you must confirm the status of your cloud storage plan.
Skybell requires an active subscription to record and store videos.
Without a plan, your doorbell may function for live viewing and sending notifications, but no video clips will be saved to your account history.
- How to Check: Open the Skybell app and navigate to your account settings or subscription management section.
- Resolution: Verify that your subscription is active and your payment information is up to date. If your plan has expired, you must renew it to re-enable cloud recording. This is the most common reason for recordings to suddenly stop appearing.
## Common Causes for Recording Failures
If your subscription is active but videos are still not being saved, the issue is likely technical. Let's break down the possibilities.
### 1. Poor Wi-Fi Connectivity
This is the leading cause of cloud storage problems. While your live view might seem to work, the sustained upload bandwidth required to send a full video clip to the cloud is much greater.
- Symptoms: Your event history is sporadic, with some recordings missing. You receive motion alerts, but when you check, there is no corresponding video.
- Diagnosis: In the Skybell app, go to the Device Settings and look for a 'Device Health' or 'Connection Status' section. This will often show you the Wi-Fi signal strength (RSSI). A weak signal can easily lead to upload failures.
- Solution:
- Reboot Your Router: Unplug your Wi-Fi router for 60 seconds and plug it back in. This can resolve temporary network glitches.
- Improve Signal: If the signal is consistently weak, try moving your router to a more central location in your home, closer to the doorbell.
- Use an Extender: If moving the router isn't possible, install a Wi-Fi extender or mesh node near your front door to boost the signal to the Skybell.
### 2. Incorrect Motion Detection Settings
If your video history is completely empty, it's possible the device simply isn't being triggered to record.
- Symptoms: You know there has been activity at your door, but there are no recordings at all in your history.
- Diagnosis: Review your motion detection settings in the Skybell app.
- Solution: The motion sensitivity may be set too low. Try increasing the sensitivity to a medium or high setting and test it by walking in front of the doorbell. Ensure that motion detection is not completely turned off.
### 3. Server-Side or App-Related Glitches
Occasionally, the issue may not be with your device or network but with the Skybell service itself.
- Symptoms: Your device and network appear healthy, but recordings are still not appearing. You may see error messages in the app.
- Solution:
- Check for App Updates: Make sure you are running the latest version of the Skybell app from your phone's app store.
- Re-login: Sign out of the Skybell app and then sign back in. This can sometimes refresh the connection to the servers.
- Check for Outages: Visit Skybell's official website or social media pages to see if they have reported any service outages or ongoing maintenance. If there is a widespread issue, you will simply have to wait for them to resolve it.
By systematically checking your subscription, Wi-Fi connection, and app settings, you can solve the vast majority of cloud storage issues and restore your Skybell's recording functionality.