diff --git a/config.yaml.sample b/config.yaml.sample
index 509b91c..78b06ab 100644
--- a/config.yaml.sample
+++ b/config.yaml.sample
@@ -33,4 +33,5 @@ amcrest:
 media:
   path: /media
   max_size: 25 # per recording, in MB; default is 25
+  retention_days: 7 # days to keep recordings; 0 = disabled; default is 7
   media_source: media-source://media_source/local/videos
diff --git a/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/helpers.py b/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/helpers.py
index f355232..317246f 100644
--- a/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/helpers.py
+++ b/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/helpers.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import threading
 from types import FrameType
 import yaml
 from pathlib import Path
-from datetime import datetime
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -186,7 +186,12 @@ class HelpersMixin:
             if os.path.exists(media_path) and os.access(media_path, os.W_OK):
                 media["path"] = media_path
                 media.setdefault("max_size", 25)
-                self.logger.info(f"storing recordings in {media_path} up to {media["max_size"]} MB per file. Watch that it doesn't fill up the file system")
+                media["retention_days"] = int(str(media.get("retention_days") or os.getenv("MEDIA_RETENTION_DAYS", 7)))
+                self.logger.info(f"storing recordings in {media_path} up to {media["max_size"]} MB per file")
+                if media["retention_days"] > 0:
+                    self.logger.info(f"recordings will be retained for {media["retention_days"]} days")
+                else:
+                    self.logger.info("recording retention is disabled (retention_days=0). Watch that it doesn't fill up the file system")
             else:
                 self.logger.info("media_path not configured, not found, or is not writable. Will not be saving recordings")
 
@@ -286,6 +291,40 @@ class HelpersMixin:
 
         return file_name
 
+    async def cleanup_old_recordings(self: Amcrest2Mqtt) -> None:
+        media_path = self.config["media"].get("path")
+        retention_days = self.config["media"].get("retention_days", 7)
+
+        if not media_path or retention_days <= 0:
+            return
+
+        cutoff = datetime.now() - timedelta(days=retention_days)
+        path = Path(media_path)
+
+        for file in path.glob("*.mp4"):
+            if file.is_symlink():
+                continue
+
+            # Extract timestamp from filename: {name}-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.mp4
+            match = re.search(r"-(\d{8}-\d{6})\.mp4$", file.name)
+            if match:
+                file_time = datetime.strptime(match.group(1), "%Y%m%d-%H%M%S")
+                if file_time < cutoff:
+                    try:
+                        file.unlink()
+                        self.logger.info(f"deleted old recording: {file.name}")
+                    except Exception as err:
+                        self.logger.error(f"failed to delete old recording {file.name}: {err!r}")
+
+        # Clean up dangling symlinks (symlinks pointing to deleted files)
+        for link in path.glob("*-latest.mp4"):
+            if link.is_symlink() and not link.exists():
+                try:
+                    link.unlink()
+                    self.logger.info(f"deleted dangling symlink: {link.name}")
+                except Exception as err:
+                    self.logger.error(f"failed to delete dangling symlink {link.name}: {err!r}")
+
     def handle_signal(self: Amcrest2Mqtt, signum: int, _: FrameType | None) -> Any:
         sig_name = signal.Signals(signum).name
         self.logger.warning(f"{sig_name} received - stopping service loop")
diff --git a/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/loops.py b/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/loops.py
index c82a15a..85e8afe 100644
--- a/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/loops.py
+++ b/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/loops.py
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ class LoopsMixin:
                 self.logger.debug("heartbeat cancelled during sleep")
                 break
 
+    async def cleanup_recordings_loop(self: Amcrest2Mqtt) -> None:
+        while self.running:
+            await self.cleanup_old_recordings()
+            try:
+                await asyncio.sleep(86400)  # once per day
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                self.logger.debug("cleanup_recordings_loop cancelled during sleep")
+                break
+
     # main loop
     async def main_loop(self: Amcrest2Mqtt) -> None:
         for sig in (signal.SIGTERM, signal.SIGINT):
@@ -71,6 +80,7 @@ class LoopsMixin:
             asyncio.create_task(self.collect_events_loop(), name="collect events loop"),
             asyncio.create_task(self.check_event_queue_loop(), name="check events queue loop"),
             asyncio.create_task(self.collect_snapshots_loop(), name="collect snapshot loop"),
+            asyncio.create_task(self.cleanup_recordings_loop(), name="cleanup recordings loop"),
             asyncio.create_task(self.heartbeat(), name="heartbeat"),
         ]