Quick Takeaways

• FPS controls motion smoothness, storage use, and low‑light behavior.
• Auto adjusts FPS dynamically; Custom locks a fixed FPS for predictability.
• 15–20 FPS is a great default for browser share links.
• 25–30 FPS helps with plates and fast motion if lighting allows.
• 12–15 FPS can improve low‑light exposure but increases motion blur.

What FPS Does

FPS is the temporal resolution of your video—how many frames are recorded per second.

Higher FPS

• Smoother motion and better tracking of fast subjects.
• More bandwidth and storage required.
• Needs more light (or a faster shutter) to keep frames sharp.

Lower FPS

• Saves bandwidth and storage.
• Allows longer exposure per frame for brighter low‑light video.
• Increases motion blur on moving subjects.

Auto vs Custom

Auto

• Chooses FPS based on resolution, HDR/WDR, and lighting.
• Often runs at the model’s max in good light; steps down at night.
• Easy “set and forget,” but can be unpredictable across day/night.

Custom

• You set a fixed target FPS.
• Predictable look and storage footprint—ideal for browser share links.
• Too high can cause stutter on weak networks; too low can smear motion.

How to change FPS settings

Open the UniFi Protect web app (or mobile app).
Go to Cameras in the left sidebar.
Click the camera you want to adjust.
In the camera panel, click Settings → Video.
On Protect web: you’ll see a section for Video Quality.
If “Auto” is selected, Protect adjusts FPS based on lighting.
Drag the slider to your desired FPS (e.g. 15, 20, 30 depending on the model).
Click Apply / Save.

Best‑Practice Guidance

• Start point: Begin with Auto; then set Custom 15–20 FPS for consistent playback.
• Low light / night: 10–15 FPS helps maintain brighter exposure (expect more blur).
• Fast motion: 25–30 FPS if supported; also use faster shutter and add light.
• License plates / ID: 20–30 FPS plus faster shutter and adequate lighting.
• Browser share links: 15–24 FPS tends to play smoothly across major browsers.
• Storage/bandwidth constrained: 12–15 FPS is a solid compromise.

Interactions With Other Settings

• Encoding (Standard vs Enhanced): Codec choice (H.264 vs H.265). FPS does not change codec support.
• Compression (Auto vs Custom): At the same FPS, more compression → smaller files but softer detail.
• Shutter speed / exposure: Add light to support faster shutters when you need to freeze motion.
• Multi‑stream profiles: Adjust FPS on the stream(s) you record and share.

Cheat Sheet

• 30 FPS: Plates, sports, high‑motion scenes (with adequate lighting and faster shutter).
• 20 FPS: General monitoring; good balance.
• 15 FPS: Browser share links and balanced storage/quality.
• 12 FPS: Low‑light areas and storage‑constrained deployments.
• ≤10 FPS: Retention‑focused, motion detail less important.

Final Tips

• If share links stutter, reduce FPS before raising compression.
• If motion looks smeary, your shutter is likely too slow—add light or cap exposure.
• FPS changes apply quickly; regenerate links only when you change codec/encoding.

More Settings: Read the Ultimate Guide to UniFi Protect Video Settings

Related Posts: See Compression, Bitrate Management, and Recording Modes