How to Set up FTP for Reolink Products

If you are afraid that the videos stored on the Micro SD card be stolen, you can upload those recordings to the FTP. Please refer to the below methods to set up FTP for Reolink devices.

Applies to: Which Cameras/NVRs Support FTP Uploading

Before configuring Reolink FTP, please verify that your FTP server is working properly before configuring FTP settings. If you don't have one, see how to build an FTP server on Your PC (Cerberus FTP Server). This article will also introduce FTP settings, schedule and specific software side operations from the following three parts.

1. Pro Tips for Configuring Reolink FTP Settings

2. Pro Tips for Configuring Reolink FTP Schedule

3. Step-by-Step Guide to Set up FTP on Different Reolink Software

Pro Tips for Configuring Reolink FTP Settings

• FTP server: Type in the full domain name or full IP address, do not add port or directory after that.
  • Correct example: 192.168.100.1 or ftp.domain.com
  • Incorrect examples: ftp://192.168.100.1 or 192.168.100.1/reolink or 192.168.100.1:21, etc.

• Port: The default port is 21. You can also customize the port number (1-65535) on the FTP server, make sure that the port numbers of the Reolink client and FTP server are the same. For example, if the FTP server port number is set to 6999, then the camera’s FTP port number will also be changed to 6999 on Reolink Client. Reolink device does not support SFTP, so it does not support the related ports 990 and 22.
• User Name and Password: Enter the User Name and Password of your FTP server. It is recommended to use an admin user or a user that already has permissions, and try not to use a guest user to prevent problems such as failure to create folders due to insufficient permissions. If there is no password, you can leave it blank. Make sure that the FTP user has permission to create files and folders on the root directory of the FTP server and the configured directory.
• Directory: Set an upload directory for device video recording. This item can be filled in or left blank.
  • If left blank, the file will be transferred directly to the root directory.
  • If it is filed in, you need to fill in the path according to the following specifications:
    1. Multi-level directories can be identified with /, but / should not be placed at the beginning or the end
    2. \ should not be included in the upload directory.
    Correct examples: reolink/camera, reolink/camera/511A
    Incorrect examples: /reolink/camera/, \reolink\camera
• Generate subfolder by: The format of the generated subfolder.
• Anonymous: This switch is used for anonymous login and is generally off by default. If it is enabled, there is no need to manually fill in the username and password. The premise of enabling it is that the FTP server has created a user named Anonymous and this user has not set a password.
• Transport Mode: Auto, Port, Pasv. We suggest you choose the Auto option.
• FTPs Only: Your FTP server must support the FTPS protocol. If this option is enabled, the camera will communicate only using FTPS.
• File Type: Choose to upload a video or picture or both.
• FTP Postpone: Set the record time limit after a motion is detected. This option is only available when File Types Video and FTP Schedule is Motion.
• Overwrite File:
  • No: Do not overwrite
  • Overwrite Single File: The file with the same name is continuously overwritten
  • Alternatively Overwrite Two Files: Save the old file first, and then delete the old file after the new file is successfully transferred. If you choose Overwrite, you can customize the file name.
• Max File Size (MB): A single video size and could be set to 10-1024MB. This option is available when File Types Video. If you select Custom, and fill in less than 10, the default max file size will be auto-filed as 10, fill in more than 1024, the default max file size will be auto-filed as 1024.
• Interval: Setup the time interval of uploading pictures. This option is available when File Types Picture. Custom is available and the minimum time interval is 2 seconds.

Step-by-Step Guide to Set up FTP on Different Reolink Software

Here we introduce the FTP operation settings on different software. Some models do not support web browsers or NVR, so they can be operated on Reolink App and Client software.

• Reolink App

  Step 1. Launch Reolink App, log into your device, and tap the setting icon to go to the Device Settings.

  Step 2. Tap FTP Upload, enable the FTP Upload option, and then tap FTP Settings to enter the settings page.

  

  Step 3. Complete the information required and tap Save to save all the settings.

  

  Step 4. Tap Schedule. Set a weekly schedule for uploading files to the FTP server.

  

  Step 5. Tap the blue bar to set a specific time in a day, and you can copy the same settings to other days.

  

  You can choose to detect Any Motion, Person, Vehicle, or Pet.

  

  Step 6. Tap Save in the top right corner to save the settings. 

• Reolink Client

  Step 1. Launch Reolink Client, log into your device, go to Device Settings > Surveillance > FTP, and fill in the FTP information required. 

  

  

  

  Step 2. Configure the FTP upload schedule, and click Save to save the settings.

  

  Step 3. Click Test to check whether FTP has been set up successfully.

  

• Web browser

  Step 1. Log in to your device, and go to Device Settings > Surveillance> FTP page.

  Step 2. Click Enable FTP > FTP Settings, then complete the information required. 

  

  

  

  Step 3. Configure the FTP uploading schedule.

  One grid means one hour. You can choose to upload files only when there's motion, or continuously in a specific interval. For cameras that support smart detection, different detection types can be selected. 

  

  Step 4. Click Save to save the settings first, and then click Test to check whether FTP has been set up successfully.

  

• NVR (new UI)

  Step 1. Log in to your NVR on a monitor and click the Settings icon to enter the main menu page.

  

  Step 2. Go to Surveillance > FTP, toggle on the FTP switch and go to Settings.

  

  Step 3. Enter the FTP information on the Settings page.

  

  Step 4. After filling in the information, click Apply to save the FTP settings.

  

  Step 5. Click Daily Schedule to configure schedule for FTP uploading.

  

  Step 6. Select the channel you want to configure, toggle on the switch next to it to unfold the schedule. Select Alarm/Timer, click Enable and then click on the girds to customize the record schedule.

  

  If you want to copy the configuration to all the other cameras, click Applies to Other Camera(s) to proceed.

• NVR (old UI)

  Step 1. Log in to your NVR, and go to Menu > Network > Advanced > FTP Settings.

  

  

  

  Step 2. Configure the schedule of FTP upload. Check Enable and select the channel you want to configure.

  

  If FTP Test failed, please click FTP stops working to troubleshoot the issue.