Help Us Find Jonathan Hoang

Home Cameras

Detailed doorbell, home-security, business-camera, and DVR/NVR instructions

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Even footage that seems unimportant to you, could mean the world to us.
If you find some footage, please do not edit or change it. Preserve it as is and reach out to us here and we’ll give you instructions to share it with us and law enforcement.

General rule: cloud cameras usually export the best available file through the official app or website. Local systems usually preserve the best copy on a DVR, NVR, hard drive, USB drive, microSD card, or local network recorder. If a system offers both cloud clips and local storage, check both.

Ring doorbells/cameras

  • Open the Ring app or sign in at ring.com. Go to Event History / History for the specific device.
  • Use the calendar/date filter and check the target windows. Review motion, doorbell rings, and Live View events.
  • Tap the event, then Download or Share > Download/Save. On web, use the available download option for the video event.
  • Ring storage length depends on plan/settings, but downloaded or previously shared videos may still exist on phones, computers, texts, emails, or cloud folders.

Blink doorbells/cameras

  • Open the Blink app and tap Clips. Check Cloud Storage and Local Storage if present.
  • For Sync Module 2, check the USB drive. For Sync Module XR, check the microSD card. Use Safely Eject before removing storage.
  • Copy clips from USB/microSD to a computer. Also check Clip Backup folders if the account had a subscription/trial.
  • Sync Module Core does not support Local Storage, so check cloud/app downloads and any prior backups.

Google Nest / Google Home cameras and doorbells

  • Open Google Home, choose the camera, tap History or Full history, and search the target date/time. Google Home web may also support event/timeline review and clip downloads.
  • Open the event, tap Event details if needed, then use Download to save the clip to the phone/computer.
  • For older Nest app devices, use the Nest app or home.nest.com where available to create/download a clip from video history.
  • Some Google Home downloads are limited to detected events and retention depends on Nest Aware plan, device type, and settings.

Arlo cameras/doorbells

  • Open the Arlo Secure app or my.arlo.com. Go to Library or Feed/Events and use the calendar to choose the date.
  • Select the recording and tap/click Download. On iOS/web, Select may allow multiple downloads; on Android use the three-dot menu when shown.
  • If the system uses a base station/smart hub with USB/local storage, the owner may need to remove the USB drive and copy recordings on a computer, depending on hub model.
  • Cloud retention depends on the service plan.

Wyze cameras/doorbells

  • Open the Wyze app and go to Events. Search the target date/time and open the event.
  • Tap the three-dot More menu or download/share icon, then Download. The file should save to the phone album/gallery.
  • For continuous microSD playback, open the camera, go to Playback, find the time, and use Record to save the relevant segment if direct download is not offered.
  • If safe and accessible, copy files from the microSD card directly to a computer too.

eufy Security cameras/doorbells/HomeBase

  • Open the eufy Security app. Go to Events and filter/check the target dates.
  • Open each relevant event and tap Download to save to the phone album/gallery.
  • Many eufy SD/HomeBase files are encrypted and may not be readable by plugging the card into a computer, so use the eufy app first.
  • Also check HomeBase, local storage, cloud storage if enabled, and any prior phone/computer downloads.

Reolink cameras/NVRs/doorbells

  • Use the Reolink app, Reolink Client on Windows/Mac, or web interface. Go to Playback.
  • Select the camera, date, and exact start/end time. Download/export the recording.
  • For NVRs or cameras with microSD cards, check both the app/client and the physical storage.
  • For long windows or multiple cameras, Reolink Client on a computer is usually easier than the phone app.

Lorex cameras/DVR/NVR/doorbells

  • Use Lorex Home, Lorex Cloud, Lorex Classic, or the DVR/NVR screen depending on model. Go to Playback.
  • Select the camera/channel and date/time. Use Backup, Export, or Download.
  • For DVR/NVR systems, connect a USB flash drive to the recorder and export the selected clip directly from the recorder if needed.
  • Save as MP4 when offered; if the system exports a proprietary format, include the exported player/software if the recorder offers it.

UniFi Protect / Ubiquiti cameras

  • Open UniFi Protect on web or mobile. Go to Playback, select the camera, and navigate to the target date/time.
  • Use Export Clip, choose the start/end time, and download the file.
  • If Cloud Archiving is enabled, check archived footage too.
  • For several cameras, export each camera separately and label by location/direction.

SimpliSafe cameras/doorbells

  • Open the SimpliSafe app and tap Timeline. Search the target date/time.
  • Tap the event, then tap the video preview and use the download/share option.
  • SimpliSafe cameras are often event-based rather than continuous, so check all motion events around the window.
  • If events are missing, also check whether motion events were enabled and whether another household member downloaded clips earlier.

ADT / Alarm.com / ADT Control / ADT Pulse

  • Check whether the system uses ADT Control, ADT Pulse, Alarm.com, or a recorder. Sign in to the app or web portal.
  • Go to Video, Saved Clips, Event History, or Playback. Filter by the target dates and download clips.
  • Alarm.com web may support bulk downloading selected saved clips. ADT Stream Video Recorder downloads may export as MP4.
  • If the owner cannot find video, ask ADT/Alarm.com support whether clips or recorder footage exist for the requested windows.

Vivint cameras/doorbells

  • Open the Vivint Smart Home app. Go to Cameras, choose the camera, then Events or Playback.
  • Select the clip or create a clip from playback, then Save/Share/Download from the app.
  • Some Vivint plans/devices have 30-day DVR or Smart Clips; check both event clips and playback where available.
  • If the app freezes on long clips, save shorter overlapping clips but label them clearly and keep them unedited.

Swann cameras/DVR/NVR

  • Use Swann Security app, Swann PC/Mac software, or the recorder screen. Go to Playback.
  • Select camera/channel, date, start time, and end time. Use Export/Download.
  • On PC/Mac, choose MP4 if offered, then note the saved path and copy the file into the submission folder.
  • For DVR/NVR systems, also export directly to USB from the recorder if the app export fails.

Night Owl / Zosi / Annke / Amcrest / Hikvision / Dahua / LaView / Q-See / generic DVR or NVR systems

  • Use the recorder monitor, desktop client, web interface, or mobile app. Go to Playback/Search.
  • Select the channel/camera, date, start time, and end time. Export/Backup/Download the raw clip to USB or computer.
  • If the system offers H.264/H.265/proprietary files plus MP4/AVI, export both when possible. The proprietary file may preserve more metadata.
  • Also include the recorder brand/model, camera channel number, time-zone setting, and whether the recorder clock was accurate.

Apple HomeKit Secure Video / iCloud-connected cameras

  • Open Apple Home, select the camera, and review recorded clips/events for the target dates.
  • Use Share/Save Video if available to save to Photos or Files.
  • Check iCloud Photos, Files, and any shared album if clips were saved earlier.
  • Retention and clip access depend on iCloud+ plan, camera support, and HomeKit settings.

Business cameras and parking-lot systems

  • Ask the owner/manager to check the DVR/NVR/Cloud VMS, not only the live camera screen.
  • Search every exterior camera angle, parking-lot angle, sidewalk-facing angle, alley angle, loading-area angle, dumpster angle, and entrance/exit angle.
  • Export original clips from the recorder/VMS with timestamp overlay on if available. If possible, export one clean version and one timestamp-overlay version.
  • If retention has expired, ask whether backups, incident exports, insurance exports, or cloud archives exist.