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Cisco Meraki Documentation

Video Retention

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Overview

Smart Retention

Enabling Smart Retention on eligible cameras is highly recommended. Refer to Smart Retention for more information.

 MV84X cameras do not support standard retention and default to Smart Retention.

Video retention expectations 

Higher resolution and quality settings, along with more motion in the camera's view, reduce video retention. Users can adjust resolution, quality, and the amount of motion to increase retention. Motion-based retention and Cloud Archive, explained later in the article, can also help extend retention.

Not all motion affects retention equally. Factors such as lighting, camera height and angle, distance to moving objects, the number and size of objects, and background motion can all influence video retention.

Typical amounts of motion for various deployments

Motion in a scene impacts video retention. When selecting a camera and video settings, consider the expected motion the camera will capture in its deployment. Below are general guidelines for typical motion levels in different deployment scenarios. For more information on motion detection, click here.

Deployment type Typical motion (hours per day)
Busy retail locations 16-24
Busy roads, intersections 16-24
Building entrances, lobby areas 8-16
Office spaces and hallways 8-16
Elementary school, high school, and college/university spaces 0-8
Parking lots 0-8
Warehouses, manufacturing spaces 0-8
IT closets, storage closets 0-8

Smart Codec

Smart Codec was developed to significantly improves video retention by using efficient and dynamic encoding during recording. It is automatically enabled on cameras with firmware version MV4.15 or newer. Click here for more information.

Video retention estimates by camera model

The tables below show video retention statistics by camera model, video resolution, quality settings, and daily motion levels. The data comes from Meraki cameras running the latest firmware. Use this information to estimate expected retention based on selected settings and observed motion.

"Low" and "high" values represent the typical range of retention days. "Absolute minimum" values represent the lowest retention for cameras with constant high motion.

To improve video retention, follow recommended physical installation guidelines and ensure cameras are running the latest firmware. Retention estimates may vary as each deployment is unique.

On MV13 and MV33, 4MP 24 FPS and 4K 15 FPS are enabled on MV6.0.2+.

On MV63 and MV93, 4K resolutions are enabled on MV6.0.2+.

The results below include the improvements gained from Smart Codec. The results do not include improvements from Motion-Based Retention and Cloud Archive (discussed later in this article). Enabling Motion-Based Retention and/or Cloud Archive can further improve retention estimates if desired.

MV12WE
MV12WE Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
720p Standard 8 fps 500 53 70 48 66 40 65 21
720p Enhanced 15 fps 765 34 44 31 41 29 38 14
1080p Standard 8 fps 1024 21 33 19 28 17 26 10
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1562 15 21 13 19 13 17 7
1080p High 24 fps 3138 7 11 7 9 5 8 3
MV12W/N
MV12W/N Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
720p Standard 8 fps 500 110 142 106 140 99 137 43
720p Enhanced 15 fps 765 70 88 63 82 49 73 28
1080p Standard 8 fps 1024 43 66 39 58 37 54 21
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1562 28 42 24 38 22 33 14
1080p High 24 fps 3138 14 21 13 18 11 17 7
MV22
MV22 Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
720p Standard 8 fps 500 102 142 92 135 86 135 44
720p Enhanced 15 fps 765 68 86 63 82 51 75 29
1080p Standard 8 fps 1024 42 65 39 57 34 52 21
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1562 27 42 26 37 22 35 14
1080p High 24 fps 3138 13 21 12 18 11 16 7
MV22X
MV22X Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
720p Standard 8 fps 500 217 285 189 278 149 265 91
720p Enhanced 15 fps 765 133 181 131 163 124 149 59
1080p Standard 8 fps 1024 80 123 79 121 72 115 44
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1562 56 86 54 80 53 75 30
1080p High 24 fps 3138 28 43 25 36 21 32 14
4MP Standard 8 fps 3096 21 32 20 28 19 25 15
4MP Enhanced 15 fps 8192 8 13 8 11 7 10 6
MV72
MV72 Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
720p Standard 8 fps 500 104 142 93 140 91 139 44
720p Enhanced 15 fps 765 59 86 58 84 53 78 29
1080p Standard 8 fps 1024 39 61 38 58 35 54 21
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1562 26 41 25 37 23 35 14
1080p High 24 fps 3138 13 20 13 18 12 17 7
MV72X
MV72X Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
720p Standard 8 fps 500 220 291 202 289 189 282 91
720p Enhanced 15 fps 765 130 176 123 174 122 172 59
1080p Standard 8 fps 1024 79 119 75 112 72 111 44
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1562 57 83 52 77 47 71 30
1080p High 24 fps 3138 25 39 24 36 23 34 14
4MP Standard 8 fps 3096 20 31 20 28 18 27 15
4MP Enhanced 15 fps 8192 7 11 7 11 7 11 6
MV52
MV52 Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
720p Standard 8 fps 500 563 585 524 577 523 570 181
720p Enhanced 15 fps 765 338 369 326 367 269 366 119
1080p Standard 8 fps 1024 183 274 182 267 160 251 89
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1562 123 180 121 169 117 161 58
1080p High 20 fps 3138 64 83 61 82 55 75 29
4MP Standard 8 fps 3096 49 85 45 84 43 71 29
4MP Enhanced 15 fps 8192 18 28 18 27 17 26 11
4K (8MP) Standard 8 fps 5000 28 47 27 45 27 39 18
4K (8MP) Enhanced 15 fps 8000 19 28 17 27 16 24 11
MV32
MV32 Retention Estimates (days)
    Motion (hrs/day)   0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
1080 x 1080 Standard 8 fps 1024 41 61 40 59 36 53 21
1080 x 1080 Enhanced 8 fps 2048 20 31 19 30 19 28 11
2112 x 2112 Standard 8 fps 1024 29 42 27 40 26 36 21
2112 x 2112 Enhanced 8 fps 3096 9 14 9 13 9 12 7
2112 x 2112 High 15 fps 5120 5 8 5 8 5 7 4
MV63
MV63 Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
1080p Standard 8 fps 950 60 81 58 77 57 71 23
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1400 31 41 30 40 29 39 15
1080p High 24 fps 2800 15 20 15 19 15 18 8
4MP Standard 8 fps 2800 20 25 15 23 15 21 8
4MP Enhanced 15 fps 6000 6 9 5 8 5 7 4
4MP High 24 fps 9000 4 7 4 6 3 5 2
4K (8MP) Standard 8 fps 4500 8 11 7 10 6 9 5
4K (8MP) Enhanced 15 fps 8000 3 6 3 5 3 5 2
MV23M/MV63M/MV73M
MV23M/MV63M/MV73M Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
1080p Standard 8 fps 950 120 161 116 154 114 142 46
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1400 62 82 60 80 58 78 30
1080p High 24 fps 2800 30 40 30 38 30 36 16
4MP Standard 8 fps 2800 40 50 30 46 30 42 16
4MP Enhanced 15 fps 6000 12 18 10 16 10 14 8
4MP High 24 fps 9000 8 14 8 12 6 10 4
4K (8MP) Standard 8 fps 4500 16 22 14 20 12 18 10
4K (8MP) Enhanced 15 fps 8000 6 12 6 10 6 10 4
MV23X/MV53X/MV63X/MV73X
MV23X/MV53X/MV63X/MV73X Retention Estimates (days)
      Motion (hrs/day) 0-8 8-16 16-24 Max Motion
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Low (days) High (days) Absolute Min (days)
1080p Standard 8 fps 950 245 313 239 305 234 291 94
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1400 148 171 136 171 117 145 64
1080p High 24 fps 2800 62 75 59 79 52 73 32
4MP Standard 8 fps 2800 65 92 52 85 48 81 32
4MP Enhanced 15 fps 6000 27 43 25 36 23 33 15
4MP High 24 fps 9000 16 22 14 21 14 20 10
4K (8MP) Standard 8 fps 4500 34 44 31 41 27 39 20
4K (8MP) Enhanced 15 fps 8000 15 25 14 21 14 20 11
MV93
MV93 Retention Estimates (days)
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Absolute Min (days) Low (days) High (days)
1080 x 1080 Standard 8 fps 950 23 59 70
1080 x 1080 Enhanced 15 fps 1400 16 30 43
1080 x 1080 High 24 fps 2800 8 13 22
2112 x 2112 Standard 8 fps 2800 8 16 23
2112 x 2112 Enhanced 15 fps 6000 3 6 9
2112 x 2112 High 24 fps 9000 2 4 6
2880 x 2880 Standard 8 fps 4500 5 9 12
2880 x 2880 Enhanced 15 fps 8000 2 4 7
MV93M
MV93M Retention Estimates (days)
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Absolute Min (days) Low (days) High (days)
1080 x 1080 Standard 8 fps 950 47 118 140
1080 x 1080 Enhanced 15 fps 1400 32 61 86
1080 x 1080 High 24 fps 2800 16 27 44
2112 x 2112 Standard 8 fps 2800 16 33 46
2112 x 2112 Enhanced 15 fps 6000 7 13 19
2112 x 2112 High 24 fps 9000 5 9 13
2880 x 2880 Standard 8 fps 4500 10 18 25
2880 x 2880 Enhanced 15 fps 8000 5 8 14
MV93X
MV93X Retention Estimates (days)
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Absolute Min (days) Low (days) High (days)
1080 x 1080 Standard 8 fps 950 94 237 281
1080 x 1080 Enhanced 15 fps 1400 64 122 173
1080 x 1080 High 24 fps 2800 32 55 88
2112 x 2112 Standard 8 fps 2800 32 67 93
2112 x 2112 Enhanced 15 fps 6000 15 26 39
2112 x 2112 High 24 fps 9000 10 18 27
2880 x 2880 Standard 8 fps 4500 20 36 51
2880 x 2880 Enhanced 15 fps 8000 11 17 28
MV13
MV13 Retention Estimates (days)
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Absolute Min (days) Low (days) High (days)
1080p Standard 8 fps 950 23 36 60
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1400 15 19 39
1080p High 24 fps 2800 8 14 19
4MP Standard 8 fps 2800 8 15 18
4MP Enhanced 15 fps 6000 4 6 9
4MP Enhanced 24 fps 9000 2 4 6
4K (8MP) Standard 8 fps 4500 5 7 10
4K (8MP) Standard 15 fps 8000 2 4 7
MV13M
MV13M Retention Estimates (days)
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Absolute Min (days) Low (days) High (days)
1080p Standard 8 fps 950 46 72 120
1080p Enhanced 15 fps 1400 30 38 78
1080p High 24 fps 2800 16 28 38
4MP Standard 8 fps 2800 16 30 36
4MP Enhanced 15 fps 6000 8 12 18
4MP Enhanced 24 fps 9000 4 8 12
4K (8MP) Standard 8 fps 4500 10 14 20
4K (8MP) Standard 15 fps 8000 4 8 14
MV33
MV33 Retention Estimates (days)
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Absolute Min (days) Low (days) High (days)
1080 x 1080 Standard 8 fps 950 23 40 76
1080 x 1080 Enhanced 15 fps 1400 15 33 40
1080 x 1080 High 24 fps 2800 8 14 17
2112 x 2112 Standard 8 fps 2800 8 18 23
2112 x 2112 Enhanced 15 fps 6000 4 7 10
2112 x 2112 Enhanced 15 fps 9000 2 4 6
2880 x 2880 Standard 8 fps 4500 5 10 13
2880 x 2880 Standard 8 fps 8000 2 4 7
MV33M
MV33M Retention Estimates (days)
Resolution Video Quality Frame Rate Per Stream Bandwidth Usage (kbps) Absolute Min (days) Low (days) High (days)
1080 x 1080 Standard 8 fps 950 46 80 152
1080 x 1080 Enhanced 15 fps 1400 30 66 80
1080 x 1080 High 24 fps 2800 16 28 34
2112 x 2112 Standard 8 fps 2800 16 36 46
2112 x 2112 Enhanced 15 fps 6000 8 14 20
2112 x 2112 Enhanced 15 fps 9000 4 8 12
2880 x 2880 Standard 8 fps 4500 10 20 26
2880 x 2880 Standard 8 fps 8000 4 8 14

Motion-based retention

Video retention can be further extended by enabling motion-based retention. By default, Meraki MV cameras record footage continuously, however in some situations it may be required to only record and store events triggered by motion. Motion-based retention addresses this requirement and can be used to increase video retention of the camera. Click here for more information. 

Cloud Archive

Cloud Archive allows extension of video retention by backing up footage to the cloud in addition to storing footage on-camera. Click here for more information. 

Checking estimated retention time

To check the estimated retention time of a specific camera, follow these steps:

  1. In the Meraki Dashboard, navigate to Cameras > Monitor > Cameras. Select a camera.

  2. Go to the Settings tab and navigate to Quality and Retention.

  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the estimated retention time.

Suggestions for improving footage retention time are provided alongside the estimated retention time.

This image displays where to find the estimated retention time for a camera in the Meraki Dashboard to help optimize footage retention settings.

Setting a maximum retention time

Some users may want to limit how much footage their cameras can retain (for example, to meet regulatory requirements). To address this, maximum retention limits can be enabled. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to Camera > Monitor > Cameras. Select a camera.

  2. Go to the Settings tab and select the Quality and Retention tab.

  3. Select the dropdown menu under Maximum Retention Limit > When the footage is older than <option>

Footage is recorded and deleted on a first-in, first-out basis until the maximum retention time is reached.

Note that for situations where current historical footage is greater than the desired retention day value, lowering the retention limit causes the footage that falls outside of the updated window to be purged from local storage and will no longer be accessible/exportable. This takes effect immediately after the limit is changed. 


This image shows how to set a maximum retention limit for camera footage in the Meraki Dashboard to comply with regulatory requirements or manage storage.

Disabling video retention with recording schedules (live video only)

To disable video retention, such as for regulatory compliance, set a recording schedule that disables recording 24/7 to enable "live video only" mode. Click here for more information.

This disables the creation of motion metadata, and motion heatmaps will not be generated for live video-only cameras.

Editing setting for many cameras using profiles

In a large scale camera deployment, consider using quality and retention profiles and APIs to configure camera settings in bulk.

Deleting video from a camera

When a camera's internal storage is nearly full, it automatically deletes the oldest video. To delete all footage, remove the camera from its network by selecting the camera checkbox under Camera > Monitor > Cameras and clicking the move or remove option.

This image explains how to delete all footage by removing a camera from its network in the Meraki Dashboard when storage is nearly full.

Changing quality and retention settings briefly interrupts video recording as the camera's internal recording services apply the new settings.

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