Video Clip Limits: How to Manage Recordings and Get More Clips
Your Brinks Home™ cameras save a video clip when a recording rule detects activity, and each video service plan includes a set number of clip uploads each month. If you are getting too many clips, approaching your monthly limit, or your cameras have stopped saving new recordings, this guide points you to the right fix.
Already reached your limit? Most recording rules pause until your next monthly cycle unless your video service is upgraded to include additional clips.
What are Brinks Home video clip limits?
A video clip limit is the number of event-triggered recordings your account can upload during a monthly cycle. A clip may be recorded when a camera detects activity based on one of your recording rules — for example:
- A person approaching your front door
- A vehicle entering your driveway
- An animal entering a selected area
- Movement crossing a Tripwire
- Activity remaining inside a Ground Zone
Your available number of clips depends on the video services included with your account.
What happens when I reach my clip limit?
When your account reaches its monthly video clip upload limit:
- Most recording rules are automatically paused.
- Alarm-triggered recording rules may continue to operate.
- A message may appear in the mobile app or Customer Portal explaining that your recording rules are paused.
- Recording rules will normally restart at the beginning of the next monthly cycle.
- Recording may be restored sooner if your service is upgraded to include additional clips.
Important: Deleting saved video clips does not return them to your monthly allowance and will not restart recording rules that have already been paused.
You can still edit your recording rules while they are paused. Updating them now can help prevent your account from reaching the limit as quickly when recording restarts.
What do you need help with?
Which device are you using?
Manage recording rules from your phone
Use the Brinks Home™ Mobile App to review the rules that control when your cameras record.
Sign in to the Brinks Home™ Mobile App.
Tap Video.
Open the video menu.
Tap Recording Rules.
Select the camera and recording rule you want to review.
Adjust the rule using the recommendations in this article.
Save your changes.
Note: Menu names and screen locations may vary based on your camera model, account services, and app version.
Manage recording rules from a computer
Use the Brinks Home™ Customer Portal from a desktop or laptop computer to review your recording rules.
Sign in to the Brinks Home™ Customer Portal.
Select Video.
Select Recording Rules.
Choose the camera and recording rule you want to review.
Adjust the rule using the recommendations in this article.
Save your changes.
Note: Available settings may vary based on your camera model and video services.
How to reduce unnecessary clips
Start with the situation that best matches what you are seeing.
People or vehicles passing my property create clips
Your recording area may include a public sidewalk, street, neighboring property, or another high-traffic area.
Try these adjustments:
- Make the recording area smaller.
- Remove sidewalks, streets, and neighboring driveways.
- Use a Tripwire to record activity crossing a specific property boundary.
- Record movement toward your property instead of movement in both directions.
- Increase the delay between recordings.
Trees, bushes, insects, or shadows create clips
Moving plants, spiderwebs, reflections, and lighting changes can create unwanted activity around a camera.
Try these adjustments:
- Keep trees, bushes, flags, and reflective surfaces outside the detection area.
- Keep walls, furniture, garage doors, and landscaping outside a Ground Zone.
- Remove spiderwebs, dirt, and debris from the camera lens.
- Check whether nearby lights are attracting insects or creating reflections.
- Increase the minimum object size if that setting is available.
One event creates several clips
Increase the Minimum Delay Between Clips. This setting determines how long the camera waits after starting a clip before it can trigger another recording. A longer delay can reduce repeated recordings of the same visitor, vehicle, or period of activity.
| Camera location | Suggested starting delay | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Front door or porch | 1–3 minutes | Capture visitors while reducing repeated clips. |
| Driveway | 2–5 minutes | Reduce repeated recordings while a vehicle parks or unloads. |
| Backyard | 3–5 minutes | Limit repeated clips from family, pets, or yard activity. |
| Indoor common area | 5–10 minutes | Reduce frequent clips when people are moving through the home. |
| Side yard | 1–3 minutes | Preserve coverage in a normally low-traffic area. |
These are recommended starting points, not required settings. Adjust the delay based on the amount of activity around your property and the events you want to capture.
My camera records throughout the day while I am home
Review the schedule assigned to the recording rule. Depending on your available settings, you may be able to record only:
- During selected days and hours
- Overnight
- When your security system is armed
- When no one is home
- During a defined vacation period
Small or unimportant objects create clips
Review the Minimum Object Detection Size setting if it is available for your camera.
- A larger minimum object size generally produces fewer recordings.
- A smaller minimum object size allows the camera to detect more small objects and may produce more recordings.
- Make adjustments gradually so that important activity is not missed.
Some compatible cameras use a calibration process instead of showing a Minimum Object Detection Size control.
I only need recordings of specific activity
Review what your recording rule is designed to capture.
- People: Visitors approaching a door or entering a selected area
- Vehicles: Cars entering or leaving a driveway
- Animals: Pets entering a selected area
- Direction: Activity approaching your property instead of activity moving both ways
- Schedule: Activity during the hours when you are away or asleep
Use a Tripwire when…
You want to record a person, animal, or vehicle crossing a specific point.
Common locations: driveway entrances, walkways, side gates, yard boundaries, approaches to a doorway.
Use a Ground Zone when…
You want to record a person, animal, or vehicle entering or remaining inside a selected area.
Common locations: front porches, package delivery areas, backyards, patios, indoor entry areas.
Recommended settings by camera location
Use this chart as a starting point. Your ideal settings depend on your property layout, the amount of activity in the area, and the events you want to record.
| Camera location | Suggested rule | Focus on | Consider excluding | Clip-saving strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front door | Ground Zone | Porch and package area | Street, public sidewalk, and trees | Use a focused zone and moderate delay. |
| Video doorbell | Ground Zone | Doorstep and approach | Road traffic and neighboring property | Focus on people entering the immediate door area. |
| Driveway | Tripwire | Property entrance or parking area | Vehicles passing on the street | Record the most important direction and use a longer delay. |
| Backyard | Ground Zone | Gates, patio, pool, or another important area | Moving trees and areas used throughout the day | Use armed, away, overnight, or selected-hour schedules. |
| Side yard | Tripwire | Gate or narrow access point | Plants and public walkways | Keep the Tripwire narrow and close to the property boundary. |
| Indoor camera | Tripwire or Ground Zone | Entryways or restricted areas | Televisions, windows, fans, and common traffic | Record while away, overnight, or when the system is armed. |
Quick decision guide
My clips are caused by activity outside my property
Reduce the recording area and remove streets, sidewalks, neighboring driveways, or other public spaces.
One event creates several recordings
Increase the Minimum Delay Between Clips to prevent the camera from immediately beginning another recording.
Plants, insects, or small objects create clips
Tighten the recording area, clean the camera, check nearby lighting, and increase the minimum object size if that setting is available.
The clips are important, but I still reach my monthly limit
Your video usage may have outgrown your current service. Review options for more clips.
How to get more video clips
If your cameras are recording important activity and you regularly reach your monthly limit after optimizing your settings, your current video service may not include enough recording capacity for your needs.
Review your available video options to determine whether additional monthly clip capacity can be added to your account.
Still reaching your clip limit?
Your video needs may have outgrown your current service. Contact Brinks Home™ to review the video options available for your account.
Contact Brinks Home™ SupportFind missing or filtered clips
If you cannot find a clip, first check the filters on your Saved Video page.
Video Analytics recordings may be categorized as Other when the system detects an object but cannot identify it as a person, animal, or vehicle. Clips in this category may not appear in the default view.
Find clips from a computer
Sign in to the Brinks Home™ Customer Portal.
Select Video.
Select Saved Video Clips.
Select Filter.
Select the desired camera.
Under Object Detection, select Other.
Select Apply.
Find clips from your phone
Sign in to the Brinks Home™ Mobile App.
Tap Video.
Tap Saved.
Open the filter options.
Under Object Detection, select Other.
Tap Apply.
Important: Deleted video clips cannot be recovered.
My camera still is not recording
If you have not reached your monthly clip limit, check the following:
Check the recording rule: confirm that the rule is not paused.
Check the schedule: confirm that the rule is scheduled to operate at the current day and time.
Check live video: open the camera's live view to verify that it is connected.
Check the recording area: confirm that the activity is occurring inside the Tripwire or Ground Zone.
Check rule exceptions: confirm that an arming status, schedule, or location-based exception is not preventing the rule from running.
Check your internet connection: the camera requires a stable network connection to upload clips.
If live video works but event clips are still not being recorded, the recording rule may need to be adjusted, recalibrated, or recreated.
See also: Common Camera Recording Issues.
Frequently asked questions
When does my clip limit reset?
Recording rules generally restart at the beginning of the next monthly cycle after the clip limit is reached.
Will alarm-triggered recordings stop?
Alarm-triggered recording rules may continue after other recording rules are paused because the monthly clip limit was reached.
Can I delete saved clips to make room?
No. Deleting a saved clip does not restore part of your monthly clip allowance and will not restart paused recording rules.
Can I adjust my settings while recording rules are paused?
Yes. You can edit your recording rules while they are paused. Adjusting them before the next monthly cycle can help your available clips last longer after recording restarts.
Should I turn off all of my recording rules?
Usually, no. First try narrowing your recording areas, increasing the delay between clips, adjusting the schedule, and removing activity that is not important. Turning off a rule completely may create a gap in your video coverage.
How many monthly clips do I need for each camera?
Clip usage depends on more than the number of cameras. A camera facing a busy sidewalk may use more clips than several cameras monitoring low-traffic areas. Camera location, recording schedules, detection areas, object size, and the delay between recordings can all affect monthly usage.
Why did my camera stop recording before the end of the month?
Your account may have reached its monthly clip upload limit. Recording rules can also stop because they are paused, outside their scheduled hours, incorrectly configured, or unable to connect to the internet.
Still Need Help?
Still Need Help?
Contact Brinks Home™ if you need help reviewing your camera settings or video service options — text or call 469-513-8685, daily 8 am–8 pm CT.
Contact Brinks Home™ Support