> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.segra.tv/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Storage Settings

> Manage recording storage locations, limits, and automatic cleanup in Segra

Configure where Segra stores recordings, metadata, and manage disk space with automatic cleanup policies.

## Storage Locations

Segra uses two primary folders:

### Content Folder

<ParamField path="contentFolder" type="string" default="%USERPROFILE%/Videos/Segra">
  Main storage location for:

  * Session recordings
  * Replay buffer saves
  * Clips
  * Highlights

  **Default**: `C:/Users/YourName/Videos/Segra`
</ParamField>

### Cache Folder

<ParamField path="cacheFolder" type="string" default="%APPDATA%/Segra">
  Stores metadata and generated files:

  * Video metadata (JSON files)
  * Thumbnails
  * Audio waveforms
  * Temporary files

  **Default**: `C:/Users/YourName/AppData/Roaming/Segra`
</ParamField>

<Note>
  The cache folder is separate from content to allow different storage locations. For example, you can keep metadata on your fast SSD while storing large video files on a slower HDD.
</Note>

## Changing Storage Locations

### From Settings UI

1. Navigate to **Settings** > **Storage**
2. Click **Browse** next to Recording Path or Cache Path
3. Select the new folder location
4. Segra will migrate existing content automatically

<Warning>
  Changing the content folder will trigger a warning if the new location has less free space than your current storage usage.
</Warning>

### Storage Migration

When you change storage locations:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Validation">
    Segra checks that the new location has sufficient free space
  </Step>

  <Step title="Content Scan">
    Segra scans the new folder for existing recordings
  </Step>

  <Step title="Metadata Update">
    Metadata is updated to reflect the new file locations
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cache Migration (if applicable)">
    If changing cache folder, thumbnails and waveforms are moved automatically
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Segra does not automatically move your video files when changing the content folder. You should manually move files if desired, or start fresh in the new location.
</Tip>

## Storage Limit

<ParamField path="storageLimit" type="integer" default="100">
  Maximum storage in GB for recordings.

  When this limit is reached, Segra automatically deletes the oldest recordings to free space.

  **Range**: 1 GB to unlimited (set a high value like 10000 for effectively unlimited)
</ParamField>

### How Storage Limits Work

<Steps>
  <Step title="Continuous Monitoring">
    Segra tracks the total size of all recordings in the content folder
  </Step>

  <Step title="Threshold Check">
    When total size exceeds the storage limit, cleanup is triggered
  </Step>

  <Step title="Oldest First Deletion">
    Recordings are deleted oldest-first until usage falls below the limit
  </Step>

  <Step title="Metadata Cleanup">
    Associated thumbnails, waveforms, and metadata are also removed
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Setting a storage limit lower than your current folder size will immediately trigger deletion of old recordings to meet the limit.
</Warning>

### Current Storage Usage

View your current storage usage in Settings:

```
Current folder size: 45.32 GB / 100 GB
```

This is calculated from:

* All session recordings
* All replay buffer saves
* All clips
* All highlights

<Note>
  The cache folder (metadata, thumbnails) does not count toward the storage limit.
</Note>

## Automatic Cleanup

Segra provides automatic cleanup options:

### Session Cleanup

<ParamField path="discardSessionsWithoutBookmarks" type="boolean" default="false">
  Automatically delete session recordings that have no bookmarks.

  **When enabled**:

  * After each recording session ends
  * Segra checks if any bookmarks were created
  * If no bookmarks exist, the session is deleted

  **Use case**: Only keep sessions where something noteworthy happened (marked with bookmarks).
</ParamField>

<Warning>
  This setting only affects session recordings, not replay buffer saves or clips.
</Warning>

### Compression

<ParamField path="removeOriginalAfterCompression" type="boolean" default="false">
  Delete the original recording after creating a compressed clip.

  **When enabled**:

  * After clip compression completes
  * Original file is deleted
  * Only the compressed clip remains

  **Use case**: Reduce disk space by replacing full-quality recordings with smaller compressed clips.
</ParamField>

<Note>
  Compression settings are separate from recording settings. You can record at high quality, then compress clips for sharing while saving disk space.
</Note>

## Folder Structure

Segra organizes files within the content and cache folders:

### Content Folder Structure

```
C:/Users/YourName/Videos/Segra/
├── Full Sessions/
│   ├── Counter-Strike 2/
│   │   └── 2024-01-15_14-30-45.mp4
│   └── League of Legends/
│       └── 2024-01-15_16-22-10.mp4
├── Replay Buffers/
│   ├── Rocket League/
│   │   └── 2024-01-15_18-05-33.mp4
│   └── PUBG/
│       └── 2024-01-15_19-12-08.mp4
├── Clips/
│   └── Counter-Strike 2/
│       └── 2024-01-15_14-45-30.mp4
└── Highlights/
    └── Counter-Strike 2/
        └── 2024-01-15_15-00-00.mp4
```

### Cache Folder Structure

The cache folder stores generated metadata, thumbnails, and waveforms organized by content type and game:

```
C:/Users/YourName/AppData/Roaming/Segra/
├── metadata/
│   ├── Full Sessions/
│   ├── Replay Buffers/
│   ├── Clips/
│   └── Highlights/
├── thumbnails/
│   ├── Full Sessions/
│   ├── Replay Buffers/
│   ├── Clips/
│   └── Highlights/
└── waveforms/
    ├── Full Sessions/
    ├── Replay Buffers/
    ├── Clips/
    └── Highlights/
```

<Note>
  The cache folder location can be changed independently of the content folder via **Settings > Storage**. Existing cache contents are migrated automatically when you change it.
</Note>

## File Naming Convention

Recordings are organized into per-game subfolders and named by timestamp:

```
{Type}/{GameName}/{yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm-ss}.mp4
```

**Examples**:

* `Full Sessions/Counter-Strike 2/2024-01-15_14-30-45.mp4`
* `Replay Buffers/Rocket League/2024-01-15_18-05-33.mp4`
* `Clips/Counter-Strike 2/2024-01-15_19-12-08.mp4`

All Segra recordings, replays, clips, and highlights are saved as **MP4** files.

## Storage Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Optimize Storage Location">
    **For best performance**:

    * Store recordings on a **separate drive** from your OS/games
    * Use an **SSD** if possible for faster writes (reduces stutter)
    * Keep **20% free space** on the recording drive for optimal performance

    **Multi-drive setup**:

    * OS/Games: SSD (C:)
    * Recordings: HDD (D:) or secondary SSD
    * Cache: SSD (C:) for fast metadata access
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Managing Disk Space">
    **Automatic management**:

    * Set a realistic storage limit based on available space
    * Enable `discardSessionsWithoutBookmarks` to keep only meaningful sessions
    * Use clip compression to reduce file sizes

    **Manual management**:

    * Review recordings weekly and delete unwanted content
    * Export highlights to long-term storage (external drive, cloud)
    * Use lower quality presets for casual recordings
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Backup and Archive">
    **Protect important recordings**:

    * Copy clips and highlights to external storage
    * Use cloud backup (OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.)
    * Keep original high-quality files for content creation
    * Compress older sessions to save space

    **Workflow**:

    1. Record at high quality
    2. Create clips from best moments
    3. Export highlights
    4. Back up clips/highlights to cloud
    5. Delete or compress old sessions
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Storage Statistics

Segra tracks storage usage in real-time:

<ParamField path="currentFolderSizeGb" type="number" readOnly>
  Current total size of all recordings in GB. Exposed on the runtime `AppState` object (sent as the `State` WebSocket message), not as a persisted setting.

  Updated whenever:

  * A recording is saved
  * A file is deleted
  * A clip is exported
  * Storage settings are changed
</ParamField>

View this in **Settings** > **Storage** section.

## Network Storage

Segra can use network drives (NAS, SMB shares):

<Warning>
  **Important considerations**:

  * Network storage can introduce latency and cause dropped frames
  * Requires **reliable gigabit+ network connection**
  * Not recommended for high bitrate recordings (>50 Mbps)
  * Local SSD/HDD is always preferred
</Warning>

If using network storage:

1. Map the network drive as a drive letter (e.g., Z:)
2. Set content folder to `Z:/Segra` (or subdirectory)
3. Test with low-bitrate recording first
4. Monitor for dropped frames during recording

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Out of disk space errors">
    **If Segra reports disk space issues**:

    * Check free space: Open File Explorer, right-click drive, select Properties
    * Increase storage limit in Settings
    * Manually delete old recordings
    * Move content folder to a larger drive
    * Enable automatic cleanup options
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Cannot change content folder">
    **Common causes**:

    * Folder is write-protected or on a read-only drive
    * Insufficient permissions (run Segra as administrator)
    * Drive is full or nearly full
    * Path contains invalid characters

    **Solutions**:

    * Choose a different folder
    * Check folder permissions
    * Ensure target drive has free space
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Recordings not appearing">
    **If recordings don't show in Segra**:

    * Verify files exist in content folder (check Windows Explorer)
    * Check metadata folder has corresponding .json files
    * Click Settings > Storage > Browse > reselect the same folder (triggers rescan)
    * Restart Segra

    Segra scans the content folder on startup and when settings change.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Storage limit not working">
    **If old files aren't being deleted**:

    * Check current folder size vs. limit in Settings
    * Ensure storage limit is enabled (value > 0)
    * Manual deletion may be needed if limit was recently lowered
    * Restart Segra to trigger cleanup check
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Settings JSON Example

```json theme={null}
{
  "contentFolder": "D:/Recordings/Segra",
  "cacheFolder": "C:/Users/YourName/AppData/Roaming/Segra",
  "storageLimit": 200,
  "removeOriginalAfterCompression": false,
  "discardSessionsWithoutBookmarks": true
}
```

The `currentFolderSizeGb` value is exposed on the runtime `AppState` (delivered to the frontend through the `State` WebSocket message), not in `settings.json`:

```json theme={null}
{
  "currentFolderSizeGb": 87.45
}
```

## External Storage and Cloud

While Segra doesn't directly support cloud storage, you can:

1. **Record locally** to fast SSD/HDD
2. **Export clips** to a cloud-synced folder (OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.)
3. **Backup sessions** manually to external drives
4. **Use cloud backup** services to sync your content folder

<Tip>
  For best results, record to local storage and use cloud services for backup and sharing clips, not live recording.
</Tip>