Missing Blink camera clips: where to look first

⚡ Fast fix

• Clear the filters—The clip may be hidden, not gone.
• Check the storage source—Cloud clips and local clips don’t always appear in the same place.
• Look at auto-delete—Older cloud recordings can disappear on schedule.
• Still can’t find the video?
  Get 24/7 expert support for the tech you rely on.

You open Blink™ looking for a clip from yesterday and it’s nowhere in sight. Before assuming the camera failed to record—or that the video disappeared into the smart-home void—it’s worth checking how the Clips screen is currently filtered and where that recording was stored.

Asurion Experts help people troubleshoot smart home cameras every day. With Blink, “missing” videos can mean several different things, and some are much easier to fix than others.

Start on the Clips screen

Open Clips in the Blink app and clear any filters for cameras, event types, or dates. A filter can make clips disappear from the list even though they’re still stored.

If the setup uses more than one storage type, also check the storage selector. Blink keeps cloud and local recordings where they were originally created; switching storage types later does not move old clips into the new location.

Older cloud clips may have auto-deleted

Blink cloud recordings are not stored forever. In the U.S., Blink currently lists a default cloud retention period of up to 60 days, and users can choose shorter auto-delete periods. Once a clip is deleted, Blink says it cannot be recovered by Support.

To check the setting:

• Open Settings > Device and System Settings > Cloud Clip Storage > Auto Delete After.
• You can also open Clips, scroll to the bottom of the list, and tap Change next to the auto-delete period.

Local Storage and Clip Backup are easy to mix up

With supported Sync Modules, direct Local Storage clips can be viewed from the storage selector in the Blink app. Clip Backups are different: cloud clips backed up to USB or microSD are meant to be viewed on a computer rather than directly in the app.

If local recordings have stopped appearing, check the Sync Module’s status and removable storage. A full or disconnected drive can stop new local clips from being saved.

Missing new clips? Check whether the camera is recording

If yesterday’s clips are there but nothing new is showing up, that’s no longer a storage hunt. Make sure the Blink system is armed and Motion Detection is enabled for the camera. Blink requires both for normal motion recording.

Our guide to fixing Blink motion detection can help if the camera is no longer capturing events at all.

Don’t reset the camera to recover old video

A reset won’t bring back a clip that has already been manually deleted or removed by cloud retention. Check filters, storage type, auto-delete settings, and the removable drive first.

If the camera itself is offline or behaving unreliably too, our article on fixing a Blink camera that isn’t working is a better next step.

FAQ

Are Blink clips deleted automatically?

Cloud clips can be. Blink currently uses auto-delete settings for cloud storage, with up to 60 days as the standard U.S. retention window unless a shorter setting is chosen.

Can deleted Blink videos be recovered?

Nope. Blink says a deleted clip is permanently erased from its servers and cannot be recovered by Blink Support.

Why are my Blink clips missing from the app?

Check filters and the selected storage source first. Local Storage, cloud storage, and Clip Backups are handled differently.

Can I view Blink Clip Backups in the app?

Not the backup copies stored on USB or microSD. Blink says those are viewed on a computer.

Why did Blink suddenly stop saving new motion clips?

Make sure the system is armed, Motion Detection is on, the camera is online, and the active storage location has room available.