<< Back to Insights

Reolink Camera Cloud Storage – Easy FTP Setup

1021 words Human made

Published 2025-10-03 06:16:38.384679 by Carsten Blum


Instead of running your own FTP server for this setup, you can use managed FTP storage with ftpGrid.

Use FTP cloud storage for cameras →


Updated 7th April 2026.


Reolink cameras support FTP upload out of the box, but by default they are usually configured to save video to a local SD card or NVR. The problem? If your hardware fails or is stolen, your footage is gone.


Prefer hands-on over reading tutorials? ftpGrid is built to be intuitive — create an account and get started instantly.


With ftpGrid Cloud Storage you get:

  • Secure uploads via FTP, FTPS, or SFTP.

  • GDPR-compliant hosting in Germany, no data leaves the EU.

  • Encryption at rest and in transit – even we cannot see your footage.

  • Simple scalability – start small and expand storage as needed.


ReoLink loves ftpGrid as backend


Step-by-Step Setup for Reolink → ftpGrid

1. Log in to your Reolink camera

  • Open the Reolink mobile app or log into the Reolink Client on your PC/Mac.

  • Go to Device Settings for the camera you want to configure.


2. Enable FTP Upload

  • Navigate to: Settings → Storage → FTP.

  • Enable Upload to FTP Server.


3. Configure ftpGrid Server

  • Server Address: edgeNN.ftpgrid.com (replace NN with your assigned edge server).

  • Port: 21 for FTP, or 22 for SFTP (recommended).

  • Username: Your ftpGrid account username.

  • Password: Your ftpGrid account password (or SSH key if using SFTP).

  • Remote Directory: For example /reolink/ to organize your uploads.

If you haven't created your account yet, follow our quick start guide.


4. Choose Upload Options

Reolink lets you define what to upload:

  • Image snapshots on motion detection.

  • Video clips (MP4) when triggered.

  • Schedule uploads (continuous, or only specific hours).

Select the option that fits your use case (most businesses prefer motion-triggered clips to save bandwidth and storage).


5. Test the Connection

  • Use the Test FTP button inside the Reolink interface.

  • If successful, you’ll see a message confirming connection.

  • You can now trigger motion in front of your camera to verify uploads in ftpGrid.


6. Verify in ftpGrid

  • Log in to your ftpGrid dashboard.

  • Browse your storage to confirm that files appear in /reolink/.


Example Folder Structure

Once configured, your uploads might look like this in ftpGrid:

  • /reolink/

    • cam1/

      • 2025-10-02_14-32-10.mp4

      • 2025-10-02_14-36-42.mp4

    • cam2/

      • 2025-10-02_09-18-11.mp4

This structure makes it easy to separate multiple cameras and retrieve specific events.


Benefits of Using ftpGrid with Reolink

  • Disaster-proof video storage: Protect against theft or SD card failure.

  • Remote access: Securely share recordings with law enforcement or partners.

  • Business-ready: GDPR-first design, ideal for European companies.

  • No vendor lock-in: Works with any FTP/SFTP client, scripts, or backup tools.


A word of caution

Video surveillance cameras like Reolink and Axis can be very aggressive with both FTP/SFTP storage usage and backend requests. It is not uncommon for a surveillance cameras to use more than 10Gb of FTP cloud storage daily and make a request per second or more against the SFTP/FTP hosting service. This is obviously not sustainable, so make sure you create proper Auto Cleanup rules to delete older files from the FTP hosting storage. And while you are testing on the free tier you have a limit of 4 requests per minut, or one request every 15 seconds. Make sure to select the pricing plan that supports your surveillance when you move to production.


Related articles


Use managed FTP storage instead

Running your own FTP server requires maintenance, security updates and monitoring.

ftpGrid provides managed FTP storage for cameras, backups and automated uploads — without infrastructure.

Set up FTP storage for cameras →
Create FTP storage →
View pricing →

Create free FTP account