Am I using Local or Cloud Storage?

Are you trying to view clip backups?

If you have a Blink Subscription Plan, clip backups are video files created every 24 hours and stored on a USB plugged into your Sync Module 2. The Blink app doesn’t display or let you replay clip backups. You must first safely eject your USB flash drive from the Sync Module 2 and then plug it into a PC to view your clip backups.

Learn more by visiting How do I view backup clips?

Additional troubleshooting

Is your system armed with one or more cameras active?

To capture motion clips, your camera system must be armed and at least one camera must have Motion Detection enabled. Learn more about arming your system.

Do you have any active filters applied?

Landscape view

Viewing your clips should resize to the width of your screen. If your screen rotation is locked, the clips won’t resize to fill the screen. Check the screen rotation lock in your device settings.

• iOS - Change or lock the screen orientation on iPhone - Apple Support
• Android - How to automatically rotate your screen - Google Help

Where are my Local Storage clip thumbnails?

Thumbnails are only available in the Clip List for Cloud Storage clips. Local Storage clips display as play icons, with the camera name and recorded timestamp information.

My camera is recording motion clips when there isn’t any motion.

If your camera is recording motion clips when no movement occurs, you may need to adjust the camera or its settings. Consider these factors for optimal motion clip capture.

• Thermal detection. The motion sensor detects changes in temperature in the camera field of view. Big sources of heat or cold can cause false triggers. Try moving the camera to a different location. This will isolate any environmental factors that may be triggering the motion sensor.
• Retrigger time. Increase the Retrigger Time to 15 seconds. Learn more about Retrigger Time.
• Location. Is your camera located where it will get the view you want?
  • If your camera is placed outdoors, it’ll be more prone to false motion notifications. When it’s outside, changing temperatures or moving objects (at slightly different temperatures) can trip the motion sensor.
  • Angle the camera to avoid viewing random motions, bright spots from reflections, blowing trees or high traffic areas.
  • Learn more about how to properly place your cameras for Motion Detection.
• Sensitivity. Each camera has a setting to control how responsive it is to motion.
  • Low Sensitivity means the camera is less responsive to motion, so it takes more motion to trigger an event.
  • High Sensitivity will respond to just about any motion, like blowing leaves or rain.
  • Set the Sensitivity so that your movement is detected, then use Activity Zones to block out areas of random motion or reflections.
  • Learn more about adjusting Sensitivity for your Blink camera.
• High motion areas. Is there a regular source of motion in the camera view?
  • Active roads, moving shadows, flocks of birds and neighbourhood pets can all cause a motion event.
  • Activity Zones can be set to block out motion in a certain area. Learn more about Activity Zones.
• Network. If the camera has a weak connection to your wireless router, it may cause the camera to record false motion clips. Increasing the Retrigger Time should resolve this issue. You can also move the camera closer to your wireless router.  
• Power cycle. Power cycling the camera may also resolve this issue. Try removing and then reinserting the batteries or the USB cable connection.

One or more of my clips were deleted. How can I recover them?

If you’re using a USB drive (for Sync Module 2) or a MicroSD card (for Sync Module XR), insert the USB drive or MicroSD card into a computer to check whether your clips have been backed up. Learn more about Clip Backup.

Why are some of my clips missing?

There are several possible reasons why your clips may be missing:

1. Auto-deletion: Clips stored in Cloud Storage are automatically deleted after a set timeframe, depending on your settings. The default auto-delete period is set to 60 days, but it can be adjusted to 3, 7, 14 or 30 days (EU and UK users have a maximum of 30 days). Once a clip is deleted, it is permanently erased from Blink’s servers and cannot be recovered by Blink Support.
2. Manual deletion: An authorised user with access to your account may have deleted the clips.
3. Removable storage issue: Your USB drive or MicroSD card may have become corrupt, resulting in data loss.

Note: Local Storage clips that are automatically backed up to your USB drive don’t auto-delete. However, if you’ve reached maximum storage capacity on that drive, backups are no longer created and more storage space must be made available for clip backup to resume.

How do I change my auto-delete storage settings?

The default auto-delete period is set to 60 days, but it can be adjusted to 3, 7, 14 or 30 days (EU and UK users have a maximum of 30 days).

Note: If your Blink Subscription Plan expired and you have a new plan, your auto-delete Storage Setting will keep the setting from your expired plan.

There are two ways to access the auto-delete setting to change the length of time before auto-delete occurs.

From App Settings

1. From the Home screen, tap Settings > Device and System Settings > Cloud Clip Storage.
2. Tap Auto Delete After and select the desired period to change your auto-delete period length.

From the Clip List

1. From the Home screen, tap Clips.
2. Scroll to the end of your Clip List and you’ll find Clips auto-delete after __ days (default is 60).
   • If you have numerous clips saved, it may take some time to scroll to the end of your list.
3. Tap Change. 
4. Select the desired period to change your auto-delete period length.

What happens to my clips when I switch storage types?

When your primary storage type changes (i.e. switching from Cloud Storage to Local Storage or vice versa), all clips stay where they were created until they reach the auto-delete limit or get deleted manually. 

Local Storage switching to Cloud Storage 

• If you’re a first-time subscriber or are re-subscribing, once you begin subscribing, your motion clips will be stored in Cloud Storage by default. The Local Storage flash drive will be used to store a backup of the clips saved in Cloud Storage. Backup occurs once every 24 hours. 
• Clips on the USB drive aren’t subject to the auto-delete process. Delete single clips in the Blink app or safely eject the USB drive and access clips on your computer to delete clips all at once. When you reinsert the USB drive into your Sync Module 2, the remaining clips are recognised and Local Storage resumes. 
• If you aren’t using a USB drive for backups, Cloud Storage will be the only place your clips are saved. 

Cloud Storage switching to Local Storage 

If your 30-day trial runs out or your subscription ends or is cancelled, your clips will remain in Cloud Storage until they reach the auto-delete limit or get deleted manually.

Manifest Stale error

If you receive an error that says Manifest Stale when viewing your Cloud Storage clips, this means the Sync Module was unable to connect to the main Blink servers due to an unfinished update or a network error.

• Make sure your Wi-Fi network and equipment provide 2 MB per second or more download speed at all times.
  • Note: Upload speed is the speed at which you can send data from your location to Blink servers. Most ISPs have a big difference between download speeds (which they advertise) and upload speed (which you often have to research).
• Make sure the power to your Sync Module is still on.
• You may need to perform other Wi-Fi troubleshooting. Learn more about troubleshooting your Wi-Fi network.

Other network issues

Some Wi-Fi or other network equipment may be configured to allow only certain network communications. Certain network and firewall settings may block the ports and servers that Blink products rely on to communicate.

Blink products use port 443. It should always be available for these devices.

For more network troubleshooting, please visit our Wi-Fi Information and Troubleshooting Guide.

My USB drive or MicroSD card isn’t working.

If you’re experiencing issues with the removable storage device connected to your Sync Module (either a USB drive for Sync Module 2 or a MicroSD card for Sync Module XR), it may be due to one of the following reasons:

• The removable storage device is incompatible with the Sync Module.
• The removable storage device requires reformatting.
• The removable storage device is full.

First, verify that your USB drive or MicroSD card is properly connected to your Sync Module:

1. From the Home screen, scroll to the bottom of the camera thumbnail list and tap the Sync Module status indicator.
   • The Sync Module status indicator will show one of the following statuses:
     • Online: The Sync Module is connected to your Wi-Fi network.
     • Offline: Visit Sync Module Troubleshooting.
     • Local storage full: Visit Troubleshooting a USB Drive or MicroSD Card.
2. Tap Local Storage. 

If the message ‘USB Drive Connected’ or ‘MicroSD Card Connected’ is displayed, this indicates the removable storage device is connected. If a different message appears, visit Troubleshooting a USB drive or MicroSD card.

Why are Clip Backups not saving to my USB drive or MicroSD card?

If Clip Backups aren’t saving to your USB drive or MicroSD card, verify:

• You have an active Blink Subscription Plan or trial.
• You are using one of the following supported devices: Mini, Mini 2, Outdoor 4, Wired Floodlight, Video Doorbell or Indoor and Outdoor (3rd Gen).

If the requirements above are met and Clip Backup is still not saving, ensure that your USB drive or MicroSD card has at least 375 MB of free space.

1. From the Home screen, scroll to the bottom of the camera thumbnail list and tap the Sync Module status indicator.
2. Tap Local Storage.
3. From the Local Storage screen, view the available space on your USB drive or MicroSD card.

If the available space on your removable storage device is less than 375 MB, free up space or insert a new USB drive or MicroSD card. Learn how to delete clips from a USB drive or MicroSD card.

Why do Local Storage clips take longer to load?

Local Storage clips may take a few moments to appear in the Blink app as they’re being uploaded from your Sync Module. For optimal performance, we recommend an upload speed of at least 2 MB/sec. Learn more about Local Storage.

Cloud Storage, available with a Blink Subscription Plan, provides instant video access and thumbnail previews. Learn more about the benefits of a Blink Subscription Plan.