Understanding Storage on Your Somfy Security Camera
If you've recently purchased a Somfy security camera, you might be looking for the SD card slot to set up local storage for your video recordings. However, you won't find one. Somfy has designed its security ecosystem, including the Somfy Indoor Camera and Somfy Outdoor Camera, as a cloud-first system. This means that all video clips are securely stored online rather than on a physical card in the device.
This guide explains Somfy's approach to video storage, the benefits of using their cloud service, and what it means for how you access your recorded footage.
Why No Local Storage? The Cloud-First Approach
The decision to omit local storage is a deliberate one, centred around security and accessibility. Storing footage in the cloud provides several key advantages that are not possible with a local storage solution.
- Enhanced Security: If a burglar were to break in and steal or damage your camera, any footage stored on a local SD card would be lost forever. With cloud storage, the video clips are instantly and safely uploaded to a remote server. This ensures that the evidence is preserved, no matter what happens to the camera itself.
- Remote Access: Your video clips are available to you from anywhere in the world via the Somfy Protect app on your smartphone or tablet. You don't need to be at home or physically access the camera to review important events.
- No Risk of SD Card Failure: MicroSD cards can fail. They have a limited lifespan, can become corrupted, or can stop working due to power fluctuations. Cloud storage eliminates this point of failure, providing a more reliable and robust recording solution.
- Easy Sharing: Sharing a video clip with family or law enforcement is as simple as downloading it from the app. There's no need to remove a card and find a reader to transfer the files.
Managing Your Recordings with Somfy Protect
All your camera's recordings are managed through the Somfy Protect service. When your camera detects motion, it records a short video clip and uploads it to your personal, secure cloud account.
How to Access Your Videos
- Open the Somfy Protect app on your mobile device.
- Navigate to the "My Videos" or "Timeline" section.
- Here you will see a chronological list of all recorded motion events.
- Tap on any event to watch the video clip.
- From here, you have the option to download the clip to your phone's local storage or delete it.
Subscription Plans and Storage Duration
Somfy offers different subscription plans that determine how long your video clips are stored in the cloud. A free basic plan is often included with the camera, which typically stores clips for 24 hours before they are automatically deleted. For longer storage options (e.g., 7 days or 30 days), you will need to subscribe to one of Somfy's paid Protect plans. These plans provide peace of mind that your footage will be available for an extended period.
What if the Internet Connection is Lost?
This is a critical point to understand about any cloud-based camera system. If your home's internet connection goes down, the camera cannot upload new video clips to the cloud. The camera does not have internal memory to store recordings during an outage. Therefore, any events that occur while your Wi-Fi is offline will not be captured. Maintaining a stable and reliable internet connection is essential for the continuous operation of your Somfy security system.
While the absence of an SD card slot may seem unusual at first, Somfy's cloud-based approach provides a more secure and accessible way to manage your security footage, ensuring your data is safe and available when you need it most.