Where Does Frigate Store Config and Recordings?
Frigate maps host folders to /config for config.yml plus database and /media/frigate for clips and recordings. Check mounts first.
Last updated
Frigate runs containerized with two host mounts that matter. The config mount holds config.yml (or yaml), the SQLite database, and models. The media mount holds clips, recordings, and exports in fixed subfolders you should not rearrange.
Home Assistant installs remap the config path under addon configs per variant. A tmpfs cache mount absorbs recording segments before conversion. Free space alerts always trace to the media mount, never the config one. Exports for clips and timelapses land in their own subfolder.
Where Frigate stores this, by platform
/opt/frigate/config/config.yml
Config file plus sqlite db and models. Edit in the UI with validation or by hand. HA installs live under addon configs.
/opt/frigate/media/frigate/recordings
Recordings in UTC dated folders. Retention policies prune per camera. Never browse by hand, use the UI.
/opt/frigate/media/frigate/clips
Snapshots and debug crops. LPR and GenAI debug images land here when their flags are on.
Frequently asked questions
Frigate reports wrong free space. Why?
Exec into the container and check disk and mounts on media frigate. Frigate reports the mounted filesystem, so a wrong mount looks like a Frigate bug.
How do I back up Frigate?
Back up the config folder (config.yml plus frigate.db) and the media folder separately. Database and recordings split exactly along those mounts.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.