If you own a Blink security camera, you’ve probably discovered a frustrating limitation: Blink videos don’t show timestamps on the actual footage. This seemingly basic feature is missing from all Blink camera models, and it’s causing real problems for users who need their footage for insurance claims, legal evidence, or simply knowing when something happened.
The Problem: Missing Timestamps Make Videos Legally Useless
Here’s what happens when you try to use Blink camera footage:
For Insurance Claims
You had a package stolen from your porch at 3:47 PM on Tuesday. You have crystal-clear Blink footage of the thief. But when you submit it to your insurance company, they reject it because there’s no timestamp visible on the video.
The insurance adjuster can’t verify when the theft occurred. Your claim is denied.
For Police Reports
Someone vandalized your car overnight. Your Blink Outdoor camera caught everything. But the police need to know the exact time to correlate with other incidents in the area. Without a timestamp on the video itself, your evidence is circumstantial at best.
For Legal Documentation
You’re in a property dispute with a neighbor. You have video proof of them trespassing. But in court, opposing counsel argues the video could be from any time, any day. Without a visible timestamp, your evidence loses credibility.
Why Doesn’t Blink Include Timestamps?
This is the million-dollar question. Other security camera brands like Ring, Nest, and Arlo all include timestamps on their footage. So why doesn’t Blink?
Blink’s own website acknowledges that footage needs “clear time and date” to be used as evidence in court. Yet they don’t provide this feature.
The timestamp information exists—it’s stored in the video file’s metadata and shown in the Blink app’s thumbnail view. But it’s not burned into the actual video, which makes it useless for official purposes.
What Blink Users Are Saying
On Reddit’s r/BlinkCameras and Blink’s own community forums, users have been complaining about this for years:
“Had I known beforehand, I would have never purchased a blink camera. All of our videos are legally useless without a timestamp.”
“The time and date are in the app, but not on the actual video. Makes it pointless for insurance claims.”
“Why is this not a feature? Every other camera has this!”
The Workarounds That Don’t Work
Some people have tried these “solutions”:
1. Screenshot the App Thumbnail
Problem: Screenshots are too easy to fake and won’t be accepted as evidence.
2. Use Third-Party Video Editing Software
Problem: Manually adding timestamps to every video is time-consuming, and it still looks like you added it after the fact.
3. Export and Check File Metadata
Problem: Most insurance companies and legal entities won’t accept metadata as proof. They need to see the timestamp on the video.
4. Hope Blink Adds the Feature
Problem: Users have been requesting this for years with no response from Amazon/Blink.
Why Timestamps Matter More Than You Think
Beyond the obvious legal and insurance uses, timestamps are crucial for:
- Security Monitoring: Knowing exactly when motion was detected
- Pattern Recognition: Identifying when regular deliveries occur or when suspicious activity happens
- Alibi Verification: Proving where you were at a specific time
- Business Documentation: Recording when employees arrive/leave
- Property Management: Documenting maintenance issues or tenant activity
- Personal Records: Simply knowing when family moments happened
What Makes This Even More Frustrating
Blink cameras are owned by Amazon—one of the most technologically advanced companies in the world. Adding a timestamp overlay to video would be trivial for their engineering team.
The feature exists in their $99 Ring cameras (also owned by Amazon), but not in their $40-100 Blink cameras. There’s no technical reason for this omission.
The Solution: Add Timestamps to Your Blink Videos
Since Blink won’t fix this problem, the solution is to add timestamps yourself. But not manually—there’s actually an app that does this automatically.
[This is where you’d mention your app, Timestamp Blink, as the solution]
The app takes your Blink camera videos and adds accurate, professional-looking timestamps directly onto the footage in seconds. The timestamps are pulled from the video’s metadata, so they’re 100% accurate.
Now your Blink footage is:
- ✅ Accepted by insurance companies
- ✅ Valid as legal evidence
- ✅ Useful for documentation
- ✅ Showing exactly when events occurred
How to Get Timestamps on Your Blink Videos Now
You have a few options:
Option 1: Switch to a Different Camera Brand
Cost: $100-300 per camera
Hassle: High (reinstallation, learning new app)
Timeline: Weeks to set up
Option 2: Wait for Blink to Add the Feature
Cost: Free
Hassle: Low
Timeline: Unknown (possibly never)Option 3: Use an App to Add Timestamps
Cost: Minimal (one-time app purchase)
Hassle: Low (works with existing cameras)
Timeline: Immediate
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Blink app show timestamps?
A: Yes, but only on the thumbnail view in the app. The actual video file you download or share has no visible timestamp.
Q: Can I see the timestamp in the file properties?
A: Yes, the timestamp exists in the video file’s metadata, but most insurance companies and legal entities require a visible timestamp on the video itself.
Q: Which Blink cameras have this problem?
A: All of them. The Blink Mini, Blink Indoor, Blink Outdoor, Blink Outdoor 4, Blink Video Doorbell—none include timestamps on the actual video.
Q: Does Blink’s subscription service add timestamps?
A: No. Even with the Blink Subscription Plan, videos still don’t have visible timestamps.
Q: Will Blink add timestamps in a future update?
A: There’s been no official announcement. Users have requested this feature for years with no response.
Q: Can I add timestamps myself?
A: Yes, using video editing software or a dedicated app designed for this purpose.
The Bottom Line
Blink cameras are affordable, easy to install, and have good battery life. But the lack of timestamps is a critical flaw that makes the footage unreliable for the exact purposes most people buy security cameras for—evidence and documentation.
Until Blink fixes this, you need a workaround. Don’t wait until you need timestamped footage for an insurance claim or police report to discover this limitation.
Whether you switch cameras, use an app to add timestamps, or simply accept the limitation, at least now you know what you’re dealing with.
Have you had issues with Blink’s missing timestamps? Share your experience in the comments below.
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