We’ve enhanced the design of the Clip List in the Blink app. If the steps listed in this article do not match your current app version, view the updated design.

Use this article for understanding how the Sync Module 2 works with Local Storage.

Video clips are stored locally using the Sync Module 2's USB port with a compatible USB flash drive. Once the Sync Module is added to your Blink account and you've carefully inserted the USB drive into it, clips recorded by all cameras attached to the Sync Module is managing are saved to this drive.

The Sync Module 2 will use the USB drive in one of two ways:

1. Local Storage - If you are not subscribing to a Blink Plan, motion clips are saved to the drive and it is used as a local storage device. The motion clips are viewable from the Blink app.
2. Clip Backup - If you are subscribing to a Blink Plan, motion clips are backed up to the drive every 24 hours from the moment it was plugged in. We refer to these types of clips as backup clips.
   • Note: Backup clips are not viewable in the Blink app. Learn more about how to view backup clips.

USB drive requirements

• Any type-A, self-powered USB flash drive formatted to ExFAT (preferred), FAT32, or FAT
  • If necessary, the Blink app can reformat the drive when it is first inserted into the Sync Module 2.
• Minimum storage size: 1 GB
• Maximum storage size: 256 GB
• More than 375 MB of free space available

Local Storage with or without a Blink subscription plan

Depending if you are subscribed to a Blink plan or not, your local storage method is handled differently. Use the following to understand how each situation interacts with the Sync Module 2 equipped with local storage.

Local Storage with Early Notification setting

• If you're using Local Storage with Early Notification on and access a motion notification, clip recording stops immediately.
• If you're using Local Storage with Early Notification off, the entire motion clip saves to the USB drive before you can use Live View. 
• Clip length and Early Notification can be adjusted in Camera Settings.

Why aren't my Motion Clips appearing in my local storage Clip List?

Have you waited long enough?

When you want to view clips stored on USB, they need to be downloaded from the Wi-Fi network at the location, to the Blink servers, and then to your device running the Blink app. When many users are active on a Wi-Fi network, performance may slow or stop. You should have a download speed of 2MB per second or greater for general use by Blink systems, but many things can affect the network speed at the camera's location. Other users on your network can impact the Blink systems that transmit data to our servers.

Is your system connected to a Blink Subscription Plan or a Trial subscription?

When a system is associated with a subscription plan, motion clips are Clip and clip backups are saved to the USB drive. Clip backups do not appear in the Clip list. To view these clips, you must safely eject the USB drive and move it to a computer or similar device.

When you set up a Blink Wired Floodlight, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) camera, you get a trial subscription to the Blink Plus plan where Motion Clip and Live View sessions are saved to cloud storage. All cloud-based clips are displayed together and the Filter option is used to display clips from a certain system or camera. Blink Plus plan saves clips from all your devices

When the trial subscription ends or a subscription expires, the video clips are automatically saved to the inserted USB drive as local storage. Clip storage clips are displayed in Clips by their special icon  .

Did you use local storage and then set up a new camera?

If you were using the Sync Module with a USB drive inserted to store Motion Clips and then set up a new camera, you've received a trial of the Blink Plus plan. With a Blink Plus plan, your clips are saved to Cloud Storage. Check under the Clip icon in the clip list for new clips.

Is the USB drive full?

When a USB key has less than 375 MB of available storage, it is considered "Full". You are warned and no more clips are stored until more disk space is available.

How to remove Clips from the Clip List:
iOS : Drag the selected clip to the left and tap Delete.
Android : Press the "Delete" button in the clip playback window.

How to delete clips from USB flash drive:
1. In the Blink app, tap the Sync Module banner, then tap Local Storage.
2. On the Local Storage screen, tap the Safely Eject button.
3. You will be notified when the drive is ready, then you can move the USB drive to your computer or similar device, to directly access the files.

Learn more about accessing your clips from a PC.

Does your system have older cameras?

Legacy Blink cameras XT, XT2, and Indoor (1st Gen) cannot make use of Local Storage or Clip Backup with a Sync Module and USB flash drive. However, these cameras continue to receive 7200 second of cloud storage. When these cameras reach their 7,200 seconds limit, the oldest clips are deleted as new ones are stored in the cloud.

If you're still having trouble accessing your clips and need more help, visit Troubleshooting Motion Clips Saved in Local or Cloud Storage.

Learn more

Troubleshooting Motion Clips stored in Local or Cloud Storage

Troubleshooting a USB drive

Accessing clips on your USB drive from a PC