How Long Does Ring Doorbell Footage Last

Ring doorbells have become one of the most popular smart home security devices in the UK, allowing homeowners to monitor activity at their front door and view live footage from anywhere. But one of the most common questions users ask is how long Ring doorbell footage actually lasts. Understanding how long your video clips are stored, what affects storage duration, and what options you have for saving important footage is essential for anyone relying on a Ring device for home security.

The length of time that Ring stores your footage depends primarily on whether you have a Ring Protect subscription, what plan you are on, and how your device is configured. This article explores every detail about Ring doorbell footage retention, how the storage system works, what happens when clips expire, and how to manage your videos to ensure you never lose important recordings.

How Ring Doorbell Footage Works

Before diving into how long footage lasts, it helps to understand how the Ring system records and stores video. When your Ring doorbell detects motion, someone presses the doorbell button, or you activate Live View from the app, the camera records a short video clip. This clip is then uploaded to Ring’s cloud servers, where it is securely stored for a limited time depending on your plan.

Each clip includes audio and video and can usually be played back through the Ring app or web portal. Cloud storage allows you to access your recordings from any device, but it also means they are not stored locally on the doorbell itself. This is important to understand, as your Ring doorbell does not have built-in storage capable of holding long-term footage. Without cloud access, recordings will not be saved beyond live viewing.

How Long Ring Doorbell Footage Lasts with a Subscription

If you have a Ring Protect subscription, your footage is stored in the cloud for a specific retention period. In the UK, Ring currently offers two main subscription tiers: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus.

With the Ring Protect Basic plan, your doorbell’s video recordings are stored for 180 days. This means that any video clip created within that period can be viewed, downloaded, or shared before it automatically expires. The 180-day limit can also be adjusted within the app if you prefer a shorter retention period for privacy reasons, such as 30 or 60 days.

The Ring Protect Plus plan provides the same 180-day storage limit but extends coverage to all your Ring devices in the same location rather than just one. This makes it ideal for users with multiple cameras or doorbells. Both plans allow you to manually download videos before they expire to keep them permanently on your phone or computer.

It is important to note that once footage passes the retention period, it is automatically deleted from Ring’s servers and cannot be recovered. To preserve important clips such as incidents, deliveries, or suspicious activity, you must download them before they are removed.

What Happens Without a Subscription

If you do not have a Ring Protect subscription, your doorbell will still send motion alerts and allow live viewing, but it will not store any recorded footage in the cloud. This means you can see what is happening in real time, but you cannot go back and replay events later.

Without a subscription, the Ring app displays notifications and lets you answer calls through the two-way audio feature, but recordings disappear once the live session ends. For many users, this limitation makes a subscription worthwhile, especially for security purposes.

However, even without a plan, you can still take screenshots or record the screen manually during Live View using your phone’s functions if you wish to keep a visual record. That said, this is far less convenient than having automated cloud recordings.

How the 180-Day Retention Period Works

The 180-day storage duration begins from the time each clip is created. For example, if your doorbell records an event on 1 January, that particular clip will remain available until 30 June, after which it will be automatically deleted. Newer clips are added continuously as new events occur, but older ones will be removed on a rolling basis once they reach their expiry date.

If you choose to shorten the retention period in your app settings, the system will automatically delete older clips accordingly. For instance, if you reduce your retention setting from 180 days to 60 days, any clips older than 60 days will be removed immediately. This gives users greater control over privacy and storage management.

How to View and Manage Your Footage

You can access all recorded footage through the Ring app or the Ring website. Within the app, go to your device dashboard and select the “Event History” tab. Here, you will find a chronological list of events such as motion detections, doorbell rings, and live views. Each entry can be tapped to replay or download the clip.

The same functionality exists through the Ring website, where you can log into your account and manage all recordings across devices. The interface also allows you to filter videos by date or event type, which is helpful when searching for a specific recording.

Downloading is simple: tap the share or download icon next to the video and save it to your chosen location. Once downloaded, the clip is yours to keep permanently and will not be affected by Ring’s automatic deletion schedule.

File Sizes and Storage Limits

Ring does not impose a total cloud storage size limit for subscribers. Instead, it operates on a time-based system, where clips are stored for a set number of days regardless of their size. However, understanding file sizes can help you manage bandwidth and data usage.

A typical Ring video clip lasts 20 to 60 seconds and ranges from 3 to 15 megabytes depending on resolution and length. If your doorbell records frequently throughout the day, it can generate thousands of clips each month. While this does not affect storage capacity on Ring’s end, it can use up a noticeable amount of broadband data, particularly for households with data-limited internet plans.

If you are concerned about data usage, you can adjust your video quality settings in the app. Lowering the resolution from HD to standard reduces both file size and bandwidth requirements without significantly affecting detail for most users.

What Happens When Footage Expires

Once your video clips exceed the 180-day storage period, they are permanently deleted from Ring’s cloud. Ring cannot restore or recover expired videos, even if you contact support. This automatic deletion process ensures compliance with privacy and data protection regulations, which prevent companies from storing unnecessary personal footage indefinitely.

If you anticipate needing a recording later, it is best to download it as soon as possible. Many users download footage of delivery disputes, trespassing incidents, or accidents for evidence. Once saved locally, the video file is yours and will not be deleted by Ring.

How to Download and Keep Recordings Permanently

To save a video permanently, open the Ring app and go to the Event History for your device. Tap the video you wish to keep, then select the download option. The clip will be saved to your phone’s gallery or computer, depending on the device you are using.

You can also download multiple videos at once using the Ring website. Log in, select the videos you want, and use the batch download feature to save them as files. This is particularly useful when exporting clips for insurance claims or law enforcement reports.

For long-term archiving, store downloaded clips on a secure hard drive, memory stick, or cloud backup service. This ensures you have a reliable record even if your Ring subscription lapses or footage is removed from Ring’s servers.

Subscription Costs and Value for Money

Ring Protect subscriptions are available on a monthly or annual basis. The Basic plan costs around £3.49 per month or £34.99 per year for a single device, while the Plus plan costs around £8 per month or £80 per year and covers all Ring devices in your home.

For most UK households, these prices are considered good value, given the peace of mind that comes with 180 days of retrievable footage. The ability to download and share recordings adds further utility, particularly for those who rely on video evidence for property management or neighbourhood security.

Some providers occasionally offer trial periods of Ring Protect, allowing new users to experience the benefits before committing to a plan. During the trial, you can access recorded videos, download clips, and review how the storage system works in practice.

Privacy and Data Protection

Privacy is a key consideration with any cloud-based security system. Ring stores all video footage using encryption, both in transit and at rest, meaning your recordings are protected from unauthorised access. Each account is also secured by login credentials and optional two-factor authentication.

As a UK user, your data is subject to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). Ring’s policy ensures that footage is retained only for as long as necessary and is automatically deleted once the retention period expires. Users have full control over their footage through the Ring app, with options to delete recordings manually at any time.

If you share access with family members or tenants, it is good practice to ensure everyone understands who can view recordings and how long they are kept. For landlords using Ring doorbells in rental properties, footage should not be used in ways that violate tenant privacy, and retention settings should be configured responsibly.

Ring Footage and Law Enforcement Requests

Occasionally, Ring footage may be requested by law enforcement if it captures evidence relevant to an investigation. Users can choose whether or not to share their recordings. Ring does not give police direct access to your videos; they must request them from you or through Ring’s official request system, which still requires your consent in most circumstances.

This means that even if footage has been deleted from your account after 180 days, it cannot be recovered later for official use. Therefore, if your doorbell captures anything significant, it is advisable to download the footage as soon as possible.

How to Extend the Life of Your Recordings

If you need to keep footage for longer than the standard 180 days, the simplest option is to download and back it up manually. Some users schedule regular backups every month to ensure they do not lose anything important.

Ring does not currently offer extended retention beyond 180 days for UK users, although business plans in other regions sometimes provide custom options. For personal use, manual archiving remains the best solution. You can also use third-party cloud services to store downloaded clips securely and access them from multiple devices.

Common Mistakes That Lead to Lost Footage

A common misunderstanding among new Ring users is assuming that footage will remain indefinitely as long as they have a subscription. In reality, the automatic deletion policy applies regardless of whether your plan is active or renewed. Another frequent issue occurs when users let their subscription lapse, believing old videos will still be available once they resubscribe. Once footage expires or is deleted, it cannot be recovered even after renewing the plan.

Failing to download important clips promptly is another reason for lost footage. If you notice an incident or delivery dispute, download the video right away. Leaving it too long risks losing it to the automatic deletion cycle.

Lastly, ensure your device is connected and functioning properly. If your Wi-Fi connection drops or the doorbell battery runs out, the camera will not record events, resulting in missing footage. Regularly checking device health through the Ring app prevents these issues.

Differences Between Ring Doorbell Models

The duration of video storage does not depend on the specific model of your Ring doorbell, as retention is managed by the subscription rather than the hardware. However, newer models with higher video quality, such as the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, create larger files that can affect upload speed and playback smoothness on slower networks.

Some advanced models also feature Pre-Roll video, which records a few seconds before motion is detected. These clips are stored and deleted according to the same retention rules but may slightly increase total data usage. Regardless of the model, the 180-day cloud limit applies equally to all Ring doorbells under a Protect plan.

Conclusion

How long Ring doorbell footage lasts depends entirely on your subscription and management habits. With a Ring Protect plan, your recordings are stored in the cloud for 180 days, giving you ample time to review, download, and save important clips. Without a plan, no recordings are kept beyond live viewing, making it crucial to consider whether a subscription suits your needs.

Understanding the retention system helps you take full control of your footage and avoid losing valuable evidence or memories. Regularly checking your event history, downloading significant clips, and keeping backups ensures that your recordings remain available when needed.

In an age when smart home technology is central to security, knowing exactly how your Ring doorbell handles video storage allows you to make informed choices about privacy, safety, and reliability. Whether you rely on it to monitor deliveries, deter intruders, or simply see who is at the door, managing your Ring footage wisely ensures that every important moment is captured, stored, and protected for as long as you need it.