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.

ftp ip addressftp domain name

ftp ip address incorrectftp domain name incorrectftp ip address incorrect name

  • 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: Note: Reolink NVRs and Reolink Home Hub series do not support FTP file overwriting. 
    • 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: Set the time interval for uploading pictures. This option is available when File Types Picture. Custom is available, and the minimum time interval is 2 seconds.
    • Note: Reolink battery-powered cameras do not support FTP interval. When the battery-powered camera is added to a Reolink NVR or Reolink Home Hub, the option for battery-powered camera shows as Fixed Intervals. The interval between alerts is fixed at 5 minutes and it is not changeable.

    Pro Tips for Configuring Reolink FTP Schedule

    Normal means that the camera will record 24/7 and Motion means that the camera will record only when a motion is detected. If Alarm and Timer are set at the same time:

    Images are still uploaded regularly according to the interval. When the camera detects a motion, it will upload an image even if the upload interval has not yet been reached, that is, both the Alarm and the Timer are working; while the video only takes effect to the Timer schedule, and uploads according to the Max file size, the camera does not upload additional alarm video.

    • If only Alarm schedule is set, upload the file when the camera detects motion.
    • If only Timer schedule is set, the video will be uploaded according to the max file size, and the images will be uploaded according to the interval.
    • Battery-powered camera does not have Timer schedule setting.

     

    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 iconsettings 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.

      tap ftp uploadEnable FTP upload

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

      FTP settingsFTP settings

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

      FTP schedule optionFTP schedule

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

      Specific time for FTP

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

      detection type

      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 turn on FTP.

      camera FTP

      Step 2. Click Schedule and you can configure the FTP upload schedule, and click Save to save the settings.

      camera FTP schedule

      Step 3. Click FTP Setting to configure FTP and you can click Text to check whether FTP has been set up successfully.

      camera FTP settingsFTP test

    • 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. 

      FTP setting

      FTP settings

      FTP settings

      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. 

      FTP

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

      save FTP settings

    • NVR (new UI)

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

      settings

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

      FTP settings

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

      ftp setting page

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

      apply

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

      FTP schedule

      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.

      FTP timer 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.

      POE main menu

      ftp

      ftp

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

      ftp schedule

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