A Ring Doorbell saves footage on the cloud under a feature called Event History. If this is not working, more often than not, it is due to issues such as poor Wi-Fi connectivity, a faulty battery, or restrictions that come with the subscription plan you’re on.
Unfortunately, this problem can result in serious home security lapses if it isn’t rectified quickly. In this article, we will break down some of the common causes for these issues and how to resolve them.
Why Is My Ring Doorbell Event History Not Working?
If you are unable to access the event history on your Ring doorbell, the first thing you need to do is check the Ring subscription plan you’re on. Ring only offers the Event History feature through a Ring Protect plan.
So, if you do not have an active subscription to a Ring Protect plan, you will not be able to store and access old footage.
Another less common reason your doorbell's event history might not be working is improper settings. For example, settings such as motion zones and privacy blankets can hamper the doorbell's ability to take videos, resulting in the Event History feature not working.
Lastly, poor hardware can also be the root of the problem. The doorbell needs to be charged and connected to a stable Wi-Fi network to take and upload videos on the cloud.
If any of these aren't set up properly, the Event History feature will not function very well.
What Do You Need to Store Footage on Ring Doorbells?
Firstly, to store and access footage on your Ring doorbell, you need to be on a Ring Protect plan. Without a Ring Protect plan, you can still use the doorbell to view alerts in real-time, but you cannot record and save the footage for later.
The Ring Protect plans unlock the record-and-save capabilities for all Ring products so that you can access any old footage anytime. This footage is stored on Ring’s cloud for about 60 days before being deleted.
Another requirement for storing footage on the Ring doorbell app is a strong internet connection. The doorbell transmits the videos recorded over via Wi-Fi to a cloud server.
So, if your Wi-Fi connection is poor, your doorbell will have a problem recording and saving footage that might need to be reviewed in the future.
How to Manage Ring Subscription Plans
Subscribing for a Ring Protect plan is a reasonably straightforward process. Here's how you can activate one of their plans.
- Log into your Ring account using a web browser.
- Click on Unsubscribed Devices to display devices that are not covered by a plan.
- Select Subscribe.
- Choose the plan that you want and the devices you wish to cover under the plan.
- Select whether you want a monthly or annual subscription.
- Enter your payment information and purchase the plan.
There are several Ring Protect plans available. Choosing the right one depends on the number of devices you have in your home, your security requirements, and the warranty coverage you prefer.
Let's take a look at them:
Ring Protect Basic
The Ring Protect Basic plan is the cheapest plan Ring offers. It covers only a single device and unlocks video review, saving, and sharing capabilities.
It also provides a 1-year warranty for the device from the date of purchase. It costs $3 per month for the monthly subscription and $30 per month for the yearly subscription.
Ring Protect Plus
The Plus plan extends the capabilities of the Basic plan to multiple devices at one location. With this, you can review, record, and save videos from multiple Ring devices in your home.
This plan extends the device's warranty by a year and gives you a 10% discount on all Ring product purchases.
You can get this plan for $10 per month or $100 per year.
Ring Protect Pro
The Pro plan is a significant upgrade from the Basic and Plus plans. It also introduces additional security features such as professional monitoring and cellular backup for Ring devices in case of a broadband failure.
You can get this plan for $20 per month or $200 per year.
Alternative Ways to Check the Event History
If you have an active Ring Protect plan and you're still unable to view the Event History feature, it's time to consider other factors. Issues with both the hardware and software can also cause this problem.
Here’s how you can troubleshoot them:
Check Wi-Fi Connection
As we mentioned earlier, Ring doorbells need a strong Wi-Fi connection to record and transmit the videos wirelessly. If the Wi-Fi signal is weak, the doorbell will have trouble transmitting video, and you won't receive alerts from it.
Try restarting the router and reconnecting the doorbell to it if you're noticing this issue. Also, check the Wi-Fi signal strength under Device Health.
If the signal strength is below -60, move the router closer to the doorbell or get a Wi-Fi range extender.
Also, VPNs and firewalls on your network can affect your event history. They can block the doorbell from transmitting the videos.
So, make sure you configure your VPN and firewall to let Ring traffic through.
Check Battery Status
If the battery is low, the doorbell will freeze while recording, and it will regularly lose connection to the Wi-Fi. As a result, the doorbell will not send live alerts to you.
Check the battery percentage and voltage under Device Health. If it's low, remove the Ring doorbell and charge the battery.
Set Your Privacy and Motion Zones Properly
The privacy and motion zones controls allow your camera to detect and record live events. If they aren't set correctly, your doorbell will not be able to capture what's going on at your doorstep properly.
To configure them properly, you can follow this helpful guide from Ring.
Uninstall and Reinstall the Ring App
If you have trouble with your Ring app crashing or stopping while viewing live events, reinstalling it might be the best option.
Doing this will clear the app’s cache and data, which will hopefully resolve the issue.
Conclusion
Having access to old footage on your Ring doorbell is very important as it can prove to be helpful in many scenarios.
So, apply the tips we’ve provided to troubleshoot your device, and the Event History feature should be up and running in no time. This way, you will never be left wondering why your Ring doorbell’s event history is inaccessible.