Ring Alarm Pro - Reduce Backup Internet Data Usage

Purpose

Use this procedure when a customer wants to reduce cellular Backup Internet data usage on Ring Alarm Pro by adjusting camera recording and motion settings.

Customer Symptoms

Customer reports:

• Backup Internet data usage is high
• Cellular data is being consumed quickly
• Cameras are recording too often
• Too many motion events
• Excessive video recordings
• Need to reduce LTE data usage
• Backup Internet data allowance is being exhausted

Understanding Backup Internet Data Usage

When Alarm Pro uses Backup Internet, Ring cameras continue uploading recordings to the customer's Ring account.

Data usage is affected by:

• Number of cameras
• Camera placement
• Motion activity levels
• Recording frequency
• Video length
• Snapshot settings
• Smart Alert settings
• Linked Device settings

Optimize Camera Modes

Using Modes can significantly reduce unnecessary recordings.

Recommended Configuration

Turn off recording when the system is:

• Disarmed

Only enable recording when necessary during:

• Home Mode
• Away Mode

Configure Camera Modes

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Select Devices.
3. Select the camera.
4. Select Mode Settings.
5. Configure recording behavior for:
   • Disarmed
   • Home
   • Away
6. Save changes.

Reduce Linked Device Activity

Linked Devices can trigger additional camera recordings.

Recommendation

Only link cameras to critical events.

Avoid excessive camera-to-camera or alarm-triggered recording chains whenever possible.

Adjust Motion Sensitivity

Reducing motion sensitivity decreases the number of recordings.

Configure Motion Sensitivity

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Select the camera.
3. Open Motion Settings.
4. Reduce Motion Sensitivity.
5. Save changes.

Optimize Smart Alerts

Recommended Configuration

Use:

• Person Detection Only

Avoid:

• Other Motion
• All Motion Events

Person-only detection reduces unnecessary recordings and lowers data usage.

Configure Smart Alerts

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Select the camera.
3. Open Motion Settings.
4. Select Smart Alerts.
5. Enable Person Detection.
6. Disable unnecessary motion categories.
7. Save changes.

Create Motion Zones

Limiting monitored areas reduces unwanted recordings.

Configure Motion Zones

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Select the camera.
3. Open Motion Settings.
4. Select Edit Motion Zones.
5. Create zones only where activity should be monitored.
6. Exclude:
   • Streets
   • Sidewalks
   • Neighboring properties
   • High-traffic areas
7. Save changes.

Adjust Motion Frequency

Motion Frequency controls how often recordings occur.

Recommended Settings

• Regularly
• Periodically

These settings reduce duplicate recordings and unnecessary video uploads.

Configure Motion Frequency

1. Open Motion Settings.
2. Select Motion Frequency.
3. Choose:
   • Regularly
   • Periodically
4. Save changes.

Optimize Power Settings

Reduce Snapshot Capture

Snapshot Capture creates additional uploads between events.

To reduce usage:

1. Open Device Settings.
2. Select Snapshot Capture.
3. Reduce frequency or disable Snapshot Capture.
4. Save changes.

Reduce Video Recording Length

Shorter recordings use less data.

Recommended Configuration

Reduce recording length to:

• 15 seconds when appropriate

Configure Recording Length

1. Open Device Settings.
2. Select Video Settings.
3. Select Recording Length.
4. Choose the shortest practical recording duration.
5. Save changes.

Use Ring Edge Local Storage

Ring Edge can reduce cloud uploads by storing recordings locally.

Benefits

• Local video storage
• Reduced cloud activity
• Reduced Backup Internet data usage
• Optional encryption support

Important

Viewing locally stored recordings through the Ring app still consumes Backup Internet data.

Troubleshooting Steps

Data Usage Remains High

1. Review Motion Zones.
2. Reduce Motion Sensitivity.
3. Enable Person Detection only.
4. Shorten recording lengths.
5. Reduce Snapshot Capture frequency.
6. Review Linked Device triggers.

Cameras Recording Too Frequently

1. Adjust Motion Frequency.
2. Reduce Motion Sensitivity.
3. Exclude high-traffic areas.
4. Enable Smart Alerts.

Backup Internet Data Exhausted Quickly

1. Review all camera settings.
2. Reduce unnecessary recordings.
3. Enable local storage with Ring Edge if available.
4. Limit event-triggered recordings.

Expected Outcome

Ring Alarm Pro uses less Backup Internet cellular data by reducing unnecessary motion events, limiting recording frequency, shortening video lengths, and optimizing camera recording settings.