Why Is Blink Local Storage Not Working? Easy Fix Guide

Whenever the Blink local storage not working, there could be several different failures that you would need to inspect.

As you may know, whenever you don’t have an active subscription the recordings are automatically stored in the USB drive also known as “Local Storage”.

Any failures in regard to that flash drive will prevent the local storage from working so let’s learn more!

The Blink local storage will not work whenever the USB flash drive is not being recognized by the sync module. The problem could also be in the sync module itself or simply because the Blink application is not communicating with it.

How To Fix When Blink Local Storage Stopped Working?

Since the local storage requires an active sync module and a USB flash drive to store the recordings, a lot of issues can occur with either of these devices.

Let’s start by mentioning that the local storage does not require an active subscription.

If you don’t have a subscription at Blink, the footage will still be stored automatically onto the flash drive.

The only possible problem with the storage could be local and we’re about to find out!

Tip: Recording already stored on the flash drive can be viewed on a computer!

Solution #1 Re-Identify The Flash Drive

One of the reasons that your local storage has suddenly stopped working is due to the fact that the flash drive isn’t recognized by the sync module.

If that happens, there’s a great way to make your Blink sync module re-identify the flash drive by reconnecting the unit from the USB port.

For this solution, all you have to do is go over to your Blink sync module and disconnect the flash drive.

Give your system a couple of minutes with the flash drive disconnect and once the time has elapsed, reconnect the flash drive. Then you should check within the Blink app if the local storage is working.

Note: Make sure to connect the flash drive properly into the sync module’s port for the local storage to start working again.

Solution #2 Power Cycle The Sync Module

Before going any further, it’s recommended to power cycle the sync module to get any startup problems out of the way.

If the sync module isn’t communicating with the flash drive correctly, the local storage will not work within your Blink application.

Here’s how to power cycle the Blink sync module in easy steps:

1. Locate the power unit going into your Blink sync module.
2. Disconnect the adapter for 10 seconds.
3. Standby for the time being and after that, reconnect the cable.
4. Test your sync module by going into the local storage.

Notice: You may have to wait several minutes before the local storage becomes online.

Solution #3 Reconnect Sync Module From Application

Another quick and easy fix to your sync module is to re-add it from the Blink application.

Don’t worry, that won’t get any of your footage lost, but the in-app settings and configurations of the module will be lost.

To reconnect the sync module from the Blink app, follow these instructions:

1. Open the Blink app on your phone.
2. Go to “Devices”.
3. Locate your Sync module and tap on “Forget”.
4. Then, choose “Add Device” in the “Devices” tab.
5. Tap on the type of your Sync module (regular Sync module or Sync module 2).
6. Follow the on-screen steps to re-add your module.

Tip: When re-adding the sync module, ensure that you’re holding your phone near the device.

Solution #4 Reinstall The Blink Application

Before we move on with the heavy-duty solutions, it’s recommended to reinstall the Blink application on your smartphone to check if that will solve the problem.

Here’s how to reinstall the Blink app in easy steps:

1. Go to the storage of your phone.
2. Locate the Blink app and choose “Uninstall”.
3. Next, head to the App Store/Google Play of your mobile device.
4. Download the Blink app again.
5. Open the platform and head to the local storage, by tapping on the tube icon.

Alert: To have access to the same local storage, use your original Blink registration and don’t create a new one.

Solution #5 Format The USB Flash Drive

If the Blink storage is still unfunctional, it’s recommended to format the flash drive using a computer.

This will erase all contents of the flash drive and wipe clean any corrupted data that deny your access to the flash drive.

Notice: You need to connect the flash drive to a PC or laptop running Windows OS.

There are two types of USB formats:

Quick format:

1. Connect the flash drive to your computer and wait for the prompt.
2. Go to “File Explorer“.
3. Tap on “Devices and drives”.
4. Choose “File system”.
5. Next, head to “Allocation unit size”.
6. Select “Volume label”.
7. Click on “Format options”.
8. Press the Start button to format the drive.

Full format:

1. Connect the flash drive to a PC.
2. Go to the “File Explorer“.
3. Choose “Devices and drives“.
4. Head to the “File system“.
5. Click on “Allocation unit size”.
6. In the “Volume label” choose “Format options”
7. Select “FULL format”.
8. Start the formatting by clicking on the Start button.

Tip: The formatting might take up to 5 minutes, depending on the size of the content within.

Solution #6 Test With A Different Flash Drive

The problem can be in the flash drive itself. If the formatting couldn’t help, it’s strongly suggested that you plug a different flash drive for the local storage onto your Sync module.

Here are some requirements for the flash drive:

• Must be between 1GB and 256GB.
• Must have at least 500 Megabytes of free storage.
• Must be running technology of USB 2.0 and above.

Find a USB flash drive that matches the following requirements and connect it to the available slot on your Sync module. It may take a while for your system to recognize the flash drive.

Note: It’s recommended to format your new flash drive before connecting it to the sync module.

Solution #7 Reset The Sync Module

If nothing worked so far, then you should proceed with a factory reset of the Blink sync module.

This method will re-install the entire sync module operating system and most likely resolve the issue that you’re experiencing.

Alert: The reset is going to erase all options and settings of the device and will revert them back to their factory value.

Here’s how to reset your Sync module in easy steps:

1. Go over to the Sync module.
2. Press the module’s side button and keep it down for 10 seconds.
3. Release once the module starts blinking in red.
4. Wait for the module to reboot.

IMPORTANT: Don’t shut down or unplug the sync module before the reset is complete.

Whenever the Blink local storage is not working you should first reconnect the USB flash drive to the sync module and re-install the Blink application. You should then test with a different USB flash drive and conclude by performing a factory reset on the sync module.

Read Next: How To Fix Blink Camera Live View Not Working?

Bottom Line:

Now when you are aware of why the Blink local storage not working and how to solve the problem, your access to the recordings should no longer be denied.

In case you’re experiencing other issues with your Blink devices, make sure to check for the solution in our blog!