This guide walks you through step-by-step instructions to automatically save your Ring doorbell videos to Google Drive. You’ll learn about compatible tools, setup processes, and troubleshooting tips to ensure seamless, secure backups.
Key Takeaways
- Automatic backups save time and protect footage: Manually downloading Ring videos is tedious. Automating the process ensures you never lose important clips due to subscription lapses or device issues.
- Google Drive offers free, scalable storage: With 15 GB of free storage (shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos), Google Drive is a cost-effective way to store Ring recordings long-term.
- Third-party tools like IFTTT and Zapier enable automation: These platforms connect Ring and Google Drive without requiring coding skills, making automation accessible to everyone.
- Ring Protect subscription is required for video access: Only Ring users with an active Ring Protect plan can access recorded videos, which are necessary for automated backups.
- Regular monitoring ensures reliability: Even automated systems can fail. Check your backups weekly to confirm videos are saving correctly.
- Security matters when linking accounts: Always use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on both Ring and Google accounts to protect your data.
- Alternative methods exist for advanced users: Developers can use Ring’s API with custom scripts for more control, but this requires technical knowledge.
Introduction: Why Automate Ring Doorbell Backups to Google Drive?
So, you’ve got a Ring doorbell—great choice! It keeps an eye on your front door, sends alerts when someone’s at the porch, and even lets you talk to visitors remotely. But here’s the catch: Ring only stores your video clips for a limited time unless you have a Ring Protect subscription. And even then, those videos live on Ring’s servers, not yours.
What if Ring goes down? Or your subscription lapses? Or you just want peace of mind knowing your footage is safely backed up somewhere else?
That’s where Google Drive comes in.
By automatically saving your Ring doorbell videos to Google Drive, you gain full control over your recordings. You can keep them forever, share them easily, or use them as evidence if needed—all without relying solely on Ring’s cloud storage.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to set up automatic Ring-to-Google Drive backups using simple, no-code tools. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just getting started with smart home automation, you’ll find clear, step-by-step instructions that work.
Let’s dive in!
What You’ll Need Before Starting
Visual guide about How to Automatically Record Ring Doorbell Video to Google Drive
Image source: safenow.org
Before we begin, make sure you have the following:
- A Ring doorbell with an active Ring Protect subscription: Without Ring Protect (Basic or Plus), you won’t have access to recorded videos—only live views. The subscription is essential for automation.
- A Google account with available storage: Google gives you 15 GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. If you’re already using most of it, consider upgrading to Google One for more space.
- An internet-connected device (phone, tablet, or computer): You’ll use this to configure the automation tools.
- Basic familiarity with apps and web browsers: No coding required—just comfort navigating apps and websites.
Once you’ve confirmed these, you’re ready to start!
Method 1: Using IFTTT (If This Then That)
IFTTT (pronounced “ift”) is one of the easiest ways to connect Ring and Google Drive. It’s a free automation platform that links apps and devices using simple “applets.” Think of it as a digital bridge between your doorbell and your cloud storage.
Step 1: Sign Up or Log In to IFTTT
Go to ifttt.com or download the IFTTT app from your device’s app store. If you don’t have an account, sign up using your email or Google account. Logging in with Google is faster and helps with future integrations.
Step 2: Connect Your Ring Account
Once logged in:
- Click “My Applets” in the top menu.
- Click “New Applet” or the “+” button.
- Click “This” to choose the trigger service.
- Search for “Ring” and select it.
- Choose the trigger: “New recorded video”. This fires every time your Ring doorbell saves a new clip.
- Click “Connect” and log in to your Ring account when prompted. Grant IFTTT permission to access your Ring videos.
> 💡 Pro Tip: Make sure your Ring Protect subscription is active before connecting. IFTTT won’t detect videos without it.
Step 3: Connect Your Google Drive Account
Now it’s time to set the action:
- Click “That” to choose the action service.
- Search for “Google Drive” and select it.
- Choose the action: “Add file from URL”. This tells IFTTT to grab the video file from Ring and save it to Drive.
- Click “Connect” and sign in to your Google account. Allow IFTTT access to your Drive.
Step 4: Configure the Applet Settings
You’ll now see a form where you can customize how the video is saved:
- File URL: IFTTT will auto-fill this with the Ring video link. Leave it as is.
- Filename: Use a dynamic name like
{{OccurredAt}}_{{DeviceName}}.mp4. This creates unique filenames like “2024-06-15T14:30:00_FrontDoor.mp4” so you can easily identify clips. - Folder path: Specify a folder in Google Drive, such as
/Ring Videos/. If the folder doesn’t exist, IFTTT will create it automatically.
Click “Create action,” then “Finish” to activate your applet.
Step 5: Test the Automation
To make sure everything works:
- Trigger your Ring doorbell (ring the bell or walk in front of it).
- Wait a few minutes for the video to process and upload.
- Check your Google Drive folder. You should see a new MP4 file appear.
If the video appears, congratulations—you’ve successfully automated your Ring backups!
> ⚠️ Note: IFTTT may take 5–15 minutes to detect and transfer new videos. This delay is normal due to processing times on both Ring and IFTTT’s end.
Method 2: Using Zapier (For More Advanced Users)
Zapier is another powerful automation tool, similar to IFTTT but with more flexibility and features. It’s ideal if you want to add extra steps—like sending email notifications or organizing files by date.
Step 1: Create a Zapier Account
Visit zapier.com and sign up. Zapier offers a free plan that allows up to 100 tasks per month—enough for most homeowners.
Step 2: Create a New “Zap”
Click “Create Zap” and follow these steps:
Trigger Setup
- Search for “Ring” as the trigger app.
- Select “New Recorded Video” as the event.
- Connect your Ring account (same process as IFTTT).
- Test the connection to ensure Zapier can access your videos.
Action Setup
- Search for “Google Drive” as the action app.
- Choose “Upload File” as the action.
- Connect your Google account.
- In the “File” field, select “Video URL” from the Ring trigger data.
- Set the filename using dynamic data (e.g.,
{{Ring Video Created At}}_{{Ring Device Name}}). - Choose or create a folder in Google Drive (e.g., “Ring Backups”).
Step 3: Turn On Your Zap
Review your settings, then click “Turn on Zap.” Zapier will now monitor your Ring account and automatically upload new videos to Google Drive.
> 🔍 Bonus Feature: With Zapier’s paid plans, you can add filters (e.g., only save videos longer than 10 seconds) or send Slack alerts when a video is saved.
Method 3: Manual Backup (When Automation Isn’t Enough)
Sometimes automation tools fail—maybe due to API changes, service outages, or subscription issues. In those cases, knowing how to manually back up your Ring videos is crucial.
How to Manually Save Ring Videos to Google Drive
- Open the Ring app on your phone or go to ring.com on a computer.
- Go to “History” or “Timeline” and find the video you want to save.
- Tap the video to open it, then tap the download icon (usually a downward arrow).
- The video will save to your device’s camera roll or downloads folder.
- Open the Google Drive app or website.
- Tap “+” > “Upload” and select the video file.
- Choose your preferred folder (e.g., “Ring Manual Backups”).
While this method isn’t automatic, it’s a reliable fallback. Consider doing a weekly manual backup if your automated system hasn’t worked in a while.
Tips for Organizing Your Ring Videos in Google Drive
Once your videos start flowing into Google Drive, organization becomes key. Here’s how to keep things tidy:
- Use descriptive folder names: Create folders like “Ring – Front Door – 2024” or “Ring – Backyard – June.”
- Enable auto-sorting with subfolders: In IFTTT or Zapier, use date-based paths like
/Ring Videos/{{Year}}/{{Month}}/to auto-sort by month. - Delete low-value clips regularly: Not every motion alert needs to be kept. Review and delete clips of leaves blowing or passing cars to save space.
- Use Google Drive’s search function: Search by filename, date, or even content (if you’ve enabled OCR) to find specific events quickly.
> 📁 Example Folder Structure:
> /Ring Videos/
> ├── Front Door/
> │ ├── 2024/
> │ │ ├── January/
> │ │ └── February/
> └── Backyard/
> └── 2024/
This structure makes it easy to locate footage months or years later.
Security and Privacy Considerations
Automating video backups is convenient, but it also raises security questions. After all, you’re moving private footage from one cloud service to another.
Here’s how to stay safe:
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Turn on 2FA for both your Ring and Google accounts. This adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access.
- Use strong, unique passwords: Avoid reusing passwords across sites. Consider a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password.
- Limit third-party app permissions: Only grant access to trusted services like IFTTT or Zapier. Revoke access if you stop using them.
- Encrypt sensitive videos (optional): For highly private footage, compress and encrypt files before uploading using tools like 7-Zip (Windows) or Keka (Mac).
- Monitor login activity: Regularly check your Google and Ring account activity logs for suspicious sign-ins.
Remember: convenience shouldn’t come at the cost of security.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even the best setups can hit snags. Here’s how to fix the most common problems:
Videos Aren’t Appearing in Google Drive
- Check your Ring Protect subscription: Confirm it’s active in the Ring app under “Plan & Billing.”
- Verify applet/Zap status: In IFTTT or Zapier, ensure your automation is turned on and not paused.
- Test the trigger: Manually trigger your doorbell and wait 10–15 minutes. If nothing appears, recheck your connections.
- Review error logs: Both IFTTT and Zapier show error messages if a task fails. Look for clues like “invalid URL” or “access denied.”
Files Are Corrupted or Won’t Play
- Ensure stable internet: Poor connectivity during upload can corrupt files. Try re-uploading manually.
- Check file format: Ring videos are MP4. If your player doesn’t support MP4, use VLC Media Player (free and cross-platform).
- Re-download from Ring: Sometimes the original clip is faulty. Delete the bad file and let the automation retry.
Google Drive Storage Is Full
- Upgrade to Google One: Plans start at $1.99/month for 100 GB.
- Archive old videos: Move older clips to an external hard drive or another cloud service like Dropbox.
- Set up auto-deletion rules: Use Google Drive’s “Manage versions” feature to delete older copies of files.
IFTTT or Zapier Stopped Working
- Reconnect your accounts: Sometimes tokens expire. Disconnect and reconnect Ring and Google Drive in the automation app.
- Check for service outages: Visit status.ifttt.com or status.zapier.com to see if there’s a known issue.
- Update your applet/Zap: Ring occasionally changes its API. Recreate your automation if nothing else works.
Alternative Solutions for Tech-Savvy Users
If you’re comfortable with coding, you can build a custom solution using Ring’s unofficial API and Google Drive’s API. This gives you full control over naming, timing, and storage logic.
However, this approach requires:
- Python or Node.js knowledge
- Setting up a local server or cloud function (e.g., Google Cloud Functions)
- Handling authentication tokens securely
- Monitoring for API changes (Ring doesn’t officially support public APIs)
Due to complexity and potential instability, we recommend sticking with IFTTT or Zapier unless you have specific needs they can’t meet.
Conclusion: Peace of Mind with Automated Backups
Automatically recording your Ring doorbell video to Google Drive isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a smart way to protect your home’s security footage. With tools like IFTTT and Zapier, you can set it up in under 15 minutes, no technical expertise required.
You’ll gain:
- Unlimited access to your videos, even if your Ring subscription lapses
- Easy sharing with family, neighbors, or law enforcement
- Long-term storage without worrying about Ring’s retention policies
- Greater control over your privacy and data
Start today by choosing the method that fits your comfort level. Whether you go with IFTTT for simplicity or Zapier for flexibility, you’re taking a big step toward smarter, safer home security.
And remember: check your backups regularly. Automation is powerful, but a quick weekly glance ensures your system is working as expected.
Now go enjoy that extra peace of mind—your front door is watching, and so is your Google Drive.