As a homeowner, you want to ensure that your property is secure and protected at all times. One way to achieve this is by installing a smart doorbell with a camera, such as Ring. These devices allow you to monitor your home’s entrance remotely and receive notifications when someone approaches or presses the doorbell. However, one common concern among Ring users is whether the device will continue to record footage if the WiFi connection is lost. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of Ring’s recording capabilities and what happens when the WiFi is down.
How Ring Doorbells Work
Before we dive into the specifics of Ring’s recording capabilities, it’s essential to understand how these devices work. Ring doorbells are connected to your home’s WiFi network, which allows them to transmit video footage and receive notifications. When someone presses the doorbell or triggers the motion sensor, the device sends a notification to your smartphone or tablet, allowing you to view live footage and communicate with the visitor.
Ring doorbells also come with a built-in battery or are hardwired into your home’s electrical system, ensuring that they remain powered even during a power outage. However, the device’s ability to record and transmit footage relies on a stable WiFi connection.
Ring’s Recording Capabilities
Ring doorbells are designed to record footage continuously, but the device’s recording capabilities are affected by the WiFi connection. When the WiFi is stable, Ring doorbells can record and store footage in the cloud for a specified period, depending on your subscription plan. The cloud storage allows you to access and view recorded footage remotely, making it easier to monitor your home’s security.
However, if the WiFi connection is lost, Ring doorbells will continue to record footage locally on the device. This means that the device will store the recorded footage on its internal storage, but it won’t be able to transmit it to the cloud or send notifications to your smartphone.
Local Recording vs. Cloud Recording
It’s essential to understand the difference between local recording and cloud recording. Local recording refers to the device’s ability to store recorded footage on its internal storage, while cloud recording refers to the storage of footage on Ring’s servers.
When the WiFi connection is stable, Ring doorbells use cloud recording, which allows you to access and view recorded footage remotely. However, if the WiFi connection is lost, the device switches to local recording, which stores the footage on the device’s internal storage.
What Happens When WiFi Is Down?
So, what happens when the WiFi connection is lost, and your Ring doorbell can’t transmit footage to the cloud? In this scenario, the device will continue to record footage locally on the device. However, there are some limitations to local recording:
- Storage Capacity: The device’s internal storage has limited capacity, which means that it can only store a certain amount of footage. If the storage capacity is reached, the device will overwrite older footage to make room for new recordings.
- No Remote Access: Since the footage is stored locally on the device, you won’t be able to access or view it remotely. You’ll need to physically access the device to view the recorded footage.
- No Notifications: When the WiFi connection is lost, your Ring doorbell won’t be able to send notifications to your smartphone or tablet. This means that you won’t receive alerts when someone presses the doorbell or triggers the motion sensor.
How to Ensure Continuous Recording
While Ring doorbells can continue to record footage locally when the WiFi connection is lost, it’s essential to ensure that your device is always connected to a stable WiFi network. Here are some tips to ensure continuous recording:
- Check Your WiFi Network: Ensure that your WiFi network is stable and secure. Restart your router regularly to prevent connectivity issues.
- Use a WiFi Range Extender: If you have a large home or a lot of interference, consider using a WiFi range extender to boost your network’s signal strength.
- Hardwire Your Ring Doorbell: If possible, hardwire your Ring doorbell into your home’s electrical system. This will ensure that the device remains powered even during a power outage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ring doorbells can continue to record footage locally on the device when the WiFi connection is lost. However, local recording has its limitations, including limited storage capacity, no remote access, and no notifications. To ensure continuous recording, it’s essential to maintain a stable WiFi connection and consider using a WiFi range extender or hardwiring your Ring doorbell.
By understanding how Ring doorbells work and what happens when the WiFi connection is lost, you can take steps to ensure that your home remains secure and protected at all times.
| Feature | Cloud Recording | Local Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Depends on subscription plan | Limited internal storage |
| Remote Access | Yes | No |
| Notifications | Yes | No |
By comparing the features of cloud recording and local recording, you can see the benefits of maintaining a stable WiFi connection to ensure continuous recording and remote access to your Ring doorbell’s footage.
Does Ring Record If WiFi Is Down?
Ring doorbells can still record events even if the WiFi is down, but only if you have a Ring Protect Plan that includes cloud storage and cellular backup. The device will use cellular data to upload the recordings to the cloud. However, if you don’t have a plan or cellular backup, the device will not be able to record events or send notifications when the WiFi is down.
It’s essential to note that the cellular backup feature is only available on certain Ring models, such as the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and the Ring Video Doorbell Elite. If you have a different model, you may not have this feature. Additionally, the cellular backup feature may not work in areas with poor cellular coverage.
How Does Ring Store Recordings When WiFi Is Down?
When the WiFi is down, Ring doorbells with a Ring Protect Plan and cellular backup will store recordings locally on the device. The recordings will then be uploaded to the cloud when the WiFi connection is restored. This ensures that you don’t miss any important events, even if your internet connection is down.
It’s worth noting that the local storage capacity of Ring doorbells is limited, so it’s possible that some recordings may be lost if the WiFi is down for an extended period. However, this is unlikely to happen, as most internet outages are short-lived. Additionally, you can always check your device’s storage capacity in the Ring app to ensure that you have enough space for recordings.
Can I Still Receive Notifications When WiFi Is Down?
If you have a Ring Protect Plan and cellular backup, you will still receive notifications when the WiFi is down. The device will use cellular data to send notifications to your phone or tablet, so you can stay informed about events at your door. However, if you don’t have a plan or cellular backup, you will not receive notifications when the WiFi is down.
It’s essential to note that the type of notifications you receive may vary depending on your device and plan. For example, you may receive notifications about motion events, doorbell presses, or other alerts. You can customize your notification settings in the Ring app to suit your needs.
How Long Does Ring Store Recordings In The Cloud?
Ring stores recordings in the cloud for a certain period, depending on your plan. If you have a Ring Protect Basic plan, recordings are stored for 60 days. If you have a Ring Protect Plus plan, recordings are stored for 60 days, and you also get additional features like extended warranties and 24/7 monitoring. If you have a Ring Protect Pro plan, recordings are stored for 60 days, and you also get additional features like cellular backup and Alexa integration.
It’s worth noting that you can download and save recordings to your device or computer if you want to keep them for longer than the storage period. You can also share recordings with others, such as law enforcement or neighbors, if needed.
Can I Use Ring Without WiFi?
While Ring doorbells can still record events and send notifications when the WiFi is down, they do require a WiFi connection to function fully. Without WiFi, you won’t be able to live stream video, receive notifications, or access certain features like motion detection and alerts. However, if you have a Ring Protect Plan and cellular backup, you can still use some features of the device without WiFi.
It’s essential to note that using Ring without WiFi may impact the device’s performance and battery life. The device may use more cellular data, which can increase your phone bill. Additionally, the device’s battery life may be shorter without WiFi, as it will need to use more power to connect to cellular networks.
How Do I Check My Ring Device’s WiFi Connection?
You can check your Ring device’s WiFi connection in the Ring app. To do this, open the app and go to the device settings. Look for the WiFi signal strength indicator, which will show you the strength of your connection. If the signal is weak, you may need to move the device closer to your router or restart your router to improve the connection.
It’s also a good idea to check your internet connection speed to ensure that it’s fast enough to support your Ring device. You can do this by running a speed test on your computer or phone. If your internet connection is slow, you may need to upgrade your plan or contact your internet service provider for assistance.
What Happens To My Recordings If I Cancel My Ring Protect Plan?
If you cancel your Ring Protect Plan, you will no longer be able to access your recordings in the cloud. However, you can still download and save recordings to your device or computer before canceling your plan. If you don’t download your recordings, they will be deleted from the cloud after a certain period, depending on your plan.
It’s worth noting that canceling your Ring Protect Plan will also impact other features of your device, such as motion detection and alerts. You may still be able to use some features of the device, but they may not work as fully as they did with the plan.