How To Fix a Ring Doorbell That's Not Working

Someone pressed your doorbell, but you didn’t hear a chime or get any notification. Has your Ring Doorbell stopped working? The experience can be both frustrating and inconvenient, mainly if you’re depending on it for home safety.

Your Ring Doorbell may not be working due to a variety of reasons, often related to power or connectivity issues. To troubleshoot, start by resetting your Ring doorbell: disconnect it from its power source (whether that’s a solar panel, batteries, or wiring) for half a minute before reconnecting it.

Additionally, try restarting your Wi-Fi router by unplugging and plugging it back in. If these steps don’t resolve the issue, consider removing your doorbell from the app and adding it again.

Here’s what you should do if your Ring doorbell is not working.

Check Your Wi-Fi Connection

Check Ring Doorbell's Wi-Fi Connection

Ring doorbells need a stable Wi-Fi connection to work correctly. Thus, before you dive into troubleshooting, it’s essential to ensure your wireless internet is functioning properly.

If your internet is active and yet connectivity issues persist with your Ring doorbell, refer to our comprehensive guide that details the necessary steps to take when your Ring doorbell fails to connect to Wi-Fi.

Check Whether Ring Doorbell Is Getting Enough Power

Check Whether Ring Doorbell Is Getting Enough Power

If your Ring Doorbell’s mechanical chime is not working, you should check the power supply.

Ensure that the power adapter is securely connected to a functional outlet and that the link between the power adapter and the Ring Doorbell is intact.

If you are using a battery-operated Ring Doorbell, confirm that the battery is fully charged. To check the battery health of your wireless Ring device, follow these steps:

  1. Launch the Ring app on your device.
  2. Tap on the three horizontal lines (☰) located at the top left corner of the screen.
  3. From the options that appear, select ‘Devices‘.
  4. Choose the specific device you want to check.
  5. Tap on ‘Device Health’ to view the battery level.

If the battery level is low, your doorbell will require a charging duration of approximately 5-10 hours for a full charge to function correctly.

Consider replacing the power adapter or the battery if your doorbell is still not working.

Check The Ring Doorbell Wiring

Check The Ring Doorbell Wiring

If you have done power supply checks and everything looks good, then it’s time to check the wiring. Ensure all connections are tight and secure. If you find a wire that’s disconnected or loose, reconnect it firmly.

Also, verify that all wires are properly inserted into the correct ports and correctly color-coded. Look for any frayed wires, as they can lead to electrical problems.

If you have recently installed your Ring doorbell, make sure that all wires are appropriately connected.

If you discover any problems with the wiring, it’s recommended to call a skilled electrician to examine and rectify any issues.

Check Ring Transformer

Check Ring Transformer

The transformer is an essential part of a Ring Doorbell as it provides the necessary power for the device to operate correctly.

If you’re experiencing issues with your Ring Doorbell’s mechanical chime, the transformer might be the problem.

Here are a few checks that you should do:

  1. Confirm that the transformer is connected correctly and the voltage falls within the appropriate range, which should be a minimum of 16V-24V AC.
  2. Verify the voltage using a voltage meter or multimeter. If the voltage doesn’t meet the required range, consider replacing the transformer.
  3. Inspect the transformer for any physical damage or loose connections. Ensure all wires are properly secured. Check for signs of corrosion or wear on the connections and replace the damaged components. Ensure that the transformer is securely installed in a dry area, distanced from any water sources. Exposure to rain, snow, or other forms of moisture could damage the transformer and render it non-operational.

If, after conducting these checks, everything appears in order, your transformer is likely in good working condition, and the issue may lie with another component of your Ring Doorbell.

Check Your Ring Doorbell Battery

Check Your Ring Doorbell Battery

If you’ve identified that your Ring Doorbell is malfunctioning due to power issues, the battery might be the reason, as it’s the primary power source.

If you have a depleted battery, the ring doorbell will not work.

To inspect the battery of your Ring Doorbell:

  1. Dismount the device and detach the back cover.
  2. Proceed to unscrew the two screws located at the top and bottom with a Phillips screwdriver.
  3. After removing the screws, you can access the battery compartment.

If you have an older Ring model, it’s likely powered by four AA batteries.

To make sure the batteries are still working, connect the multimeter’s black lead to the battery’s negative terminal and the red lead to the positive terminal. If there’s a reading on the meter, your battery is still functional.

However, if you own a newer Ring Doorbell model, it might be using a rechargeable battery. To verify the functionality of this battery, connect your device to a USB charger and leave it for about 15 minutes.

Once the charging is complete, test your doorbell to see if it’s back to normal.

If these troubleshooting methods don’t rectify the issue with your Ring Doorbell, the battery probably requires replacement.

Inspect Your Ring Doorbell For Damage

Still trying to find the answer to, “Why is my Ring doorbell not working?” The device might be damaged.

Here are some steps to inspect your Ring doorbell:

  1. Inspect the Charger and USB Cable: Check the charger and USB cable for any signs of damage. To determine if the cable has a shortage, try replacing it with another cable and see if that resolves the issue.
  2. Battery Placement: For wireless devices with removable batteries, ensure that the battery is securely snapped into its designated space. If your battery isn’t detachable, you may need to replace either the battery or your entire Ring Doorbell.
  3. Assessing Wired Ring Doorbell Connections: If you have a wired Ring doorbell model, check the wires connecting your device. Remember to switch off the power supply before inspecting the wires for safety reasons. If you notice loose, broken, or frayed wires, you’ve likely identified the issue. It’s advisable to seek professional assistance in such cases to avoid potential electrical hazards.

Restart Your Ring Doorbell

ring doorbell getting restarted

If your Ring doorbell is still not working, consider performing a reset. However, remember to download and save any videos you wish to keep prior to initiating the reset process, as there is a possibility of data loss.

The reset process involves pressing and holding the orange setup button on the device (located at the back or the top-right, depending on the model) for 10 seconds before releasing it.

Once the reset is completed, try to reconfigure your device. Detailed instructions for the setup process can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

Restart The Ring App

Here’s how you can restart the Ring App:

  1. Close the Ring App and wait for a few seconds.
  2. Now, relaunch the Ring App.
  3. Test your Ring doorbell.

Check Your Ring Chime

Check Your Ring Chime

If you continue to experience difficulties, the problem might lie with your Ring doorbell chime. If you’ve set one up, follow these steps to determine if it’s causing the issue:

  1. Inspect the device: If you notice blue lights flashing on the device, this indicates that your Ring Chime has been disconnected and needs to be plugged back in.
  2. Reboot the device: Try restarting your Ring Chime. This can be done by unplugging it from its power source and then plugging it back in.

Turn on Microphone

Still unable to hear your Ring Doorbell? Or is the two-way talk feature not functioning as expected?

Here are some steps to resolve these issues, starting with ensuring that the Ring app has access to your Microphone and that notifications are enabled.

Activating Microphone on iPhone for Ring App:

  1. Navigate to Settings.
  2. Select the Ring app.
  3. Under the Microphone section, toggle the switch to enable it.

Activating Microphone on Android for Ring App:

  1. Open Settings and click on Apps.
  2. Then, locate and select the Ring app.
  3. Click on Permissions, then opt for Allow. Also, check that the doorbell ringer volume is not muted within the app.

Enable Ring Live View

ring live view
Live view on ring doorbell

If your Ring doorbell’s Live View feature is not functioning, it will impede your ability to stream live video from your device. This issue typically arises due to a weak connection between your smartphone and the internet or between your Ring device and the Wi-Fi router. Here’s a how to verify your Live View access:

1. Launch the Ring application.

2. Select a Snapshot image from your doorbell to initiate Live View.

Why is My Ring Doorbell Suddenly Not Working?

If your Ring doorbell has suddenly stopped, there could be several reasons behind this:

  1. Wi-Fi Connection: The functionality of Ring Video Doorbells depends on a stable Wi-Fi connection. These devices need a wireless router (802.11 B, G, or N) operating at a 2.4 GHz frequency band. Before setting up any model of the Ring Doorbell, verify that your Wi-Fi router has the necessary configurations. Also, ensure that your Ring doorbell is situated within an optimal distance from the wireless router to maintain connectivity.
  2. Battery Life: The battery life of a Ring Doorbell can range between 6 and 12 months. When the battery starts to deplete, you’ll receive an alert via the Ring app prompting you to recharge it. Unless you have silenced these notifications, don’t disregard the low battery warning, as you’ll need to reset the device once its battery completely drains. For further information, refer to our guide on charging your Ring doorbell battery.
  3. Insufficient Voltage: Ring doorbells require a minimum of 3900mV to work optimally. Your doorbell may malfunction if it’s not receiving enough power.
  4. Defective Device: If none of the above factors seem to be causing the issue, you might have a defective device on your hands. In such cases, get in touch with Ring to understand your available options.

Conclusion

  • Connectivity and power issues are common reasons why your Ring Doorbell may not be working.
  • To troubleshoot, first reset your Ring doorbell and Wi-Fi router.
  • Check your Wi-Fi connection, as Ring doorbells need a stable internet connection to work correctly.
  • Ensure that the Ring Doorbell is receiving an adequate power supply. Check the power adapter, outlet, and battery health (if battery-operated).
  • Inspect the wiring of your Ring Doorbell. All connections should be secure and wires properly inserted into the correct ports.
  • The transformer, which provides power to the device, might be the issue if the mechanical chime isn’t working. Check its connection, voltage, physical condition, and location.
  • If there are power issues, inspect the battery of your Ring Doorbell. Depending on your model, it might use AA batteries or a rechargeable one.
  • Finally, inspect your Ring Doorbell for any signs of physical damage, including the charger and USB cable.

If these troubleshooting steps don’t fix the problem, the device or its battery may need to be replaced.

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