A doorbell doesn’t do you much good if you don’t hear it ring. So, it can be frustrating when your Ring doorbell isn’t functioning properly.
Ring doorbells notify you that someone is at the door through the Ring app on your smartphone, through your existing doorbell, or through the Ring Chime device. The Ring Chime makes an audible doorbell sound when the Ring doorbell is activated, and it’s different from your existing doorbell.
If your Ring doorbell isn’t ringing inside it could mean your doorbell isn’t set up in the Ring app, the doorbell is disconnected from your home’s Wi-Fi, or the doorbell isn’t wired correctly. It could also mean the battery is low or dead. Sometimes, cold weather can also affect the doorbell’s performance.
If your Ring doorbell always worked before and now suddenly is not working, it’s probably not a problem with the installation or wiring. In that case, you should start your troubleshooting with the Wi-Fi signal or power source.
If you just installed your Ring doorbell and it’s not ringing, double-check the wiring and installation first, then move on from there.
Troubleshooting Ring Doorbell Not Ringing Inside
1. Make Sure The Ring Doorbell is Installed Correctly
If you’ve just installed your Ring doorbell and it’s not ringing inside, it could mean there was an issue with the installation process. Of course, the installation may be a little different depending on your specific model or version of Ring doorbell.
Let’s review some of the most important steps to correctly install your Ring doorbell to ensure you didn’t miss anything.
- Install Pro Power Kit (if applicable): If your Ring doorbell came with a Pro Power Kit (a small white box with 2 black wires coming out), you’ll need to install it inside your doorbell chime for it to ring correctly.
- Double Check The Wiring: If you just set up the Ring doorbell and it’s not ringing and doesn’t seem to have activated your internal Chime kit, verify that everything is wired correctly for your specific doorbell. Check the wiring diagrams from Ring here.
- Check Your App Settings: To hear your doorbell ringing inside your home, you’ll need to have it set up and connected in the Ring app. You’ll also need to select the appropriate chime type.
For a traditional-sounding doorbell (ding-dong sound), select mechanical chime. For a longer, more melodic doorbell sound, select digital chime. You can also use trial and error by changing the settings and testing the doorbell to see if it rings.
2. See If the Power Supply and Battery are Okay
First, you’ll need to identify your power source depending on the type of Ring doorbell you purchased. Some Ring doorbells are hardwired into the existing doorbell’s power source and others are battery-powered.
If you have a battery-powered Ring doorbell that’s NOT hardwired to your home using the old doorbell’s wires, the Ring doorbell will not be audible inside.
If your Ring doorbell is hardwired properly and has enough power, it should sound your existing doorbell chime as long as it’s set up correctly inside the app.
However, there is one exception to this rule. If you have the 2021 version of the Ring Video Doorbell (Wired), this model still requires a Ring Chime, Ring Chime Pro, or Alexa-enabled device in order to produce an audible ring inside your home.
If you have a battery-powered Ring doorbell, it may not produce a ring if it’s not fully charged. It’s important to know that a full charge may take 6-8 hours on your Ring battery.
Cold weather can also impact your battery and your Ring device’s performance. At 36°F, the battery may not hold a charge for as long as normal. At 32°F, the Ring’s battery may not charge at all.
In very cold temperatures (-5°F or lower), your Ring device may stop working altogether until the weather warms up.
3. Consider a Transformer or Adapter
If you use a transformer, it may not be supplying enough power to ring your internal doorbell. This could be due to a faulty or worn-out transformer, or if the transformer doesn’t have sufficient output.
Ring video doorbells are typically powered by a standard 16 volt system. You can check the voltage on your Ring app under the device health menu.
A plug-in adapter is a good solution if you don’t have an existing doorbell or if yours doesn’t produce enough voltage. These adapters plug into an existing outlet and to your Ring doorbell. You can put the cord through a small hole in the wall or feed it through a window or door.
If you’re using a plug-in adapter and your Ring isn’t working, check the breaker and ensure the outlet is functioning properly.
4. Check For Defective Battery
A faulty battery could also cause problems for your Ring video doorbell. However, this isn’t the most common problem impacting Ring doorbells.
If your Ring video doorbell isn’t turning on at all even when it’s plugged in, that could mean you’re dealing with a defective or faulty battery.
Remember, if you have a battery-powered Ring doorbell, you’ll need to give the battery a full charge before using your device. That could take 6-8 hours to complete, so it’s a good idea to charge it fully before use.
If the battery won’t charge or won’t hold a charge, that could also indicate a problem with the battery itself. However, don’t forget that cold weather can also affect your battery’s performance and how well it will take and hold a charge.
5. Check if Your Wi-Fi Signal is Strong Enough
Your Ring doorbell uses your home’s wi-fi signal to function properly. Having a strong enough signal to support your devices is essential for each component to communicate with one one another.
If your wi-fi signal is too weak or your internet speed is too slow, your Ring app will have trouble processing data as it’s communicated from your Ring devices.
Ring devices need an upload bandwidth of at least 2 megabytes per second to provide quality video and audio. Your Ring device may function with less than 2 mbps, but the connectivity and responsiveness may be affected.
You can check your wi-fi signal’s strength by opening the Ring app on your smartphone by clicking on the menu and going to Devices, then selecting your Ring doorbell. On the Device Health screen, you should be able to see the signal strength under the “Network” section.
6. Replace Bad Wi-Fi Router
Problems may be due to your wi-fi router in some cases. For example, if your router is in a bad location your Ring device may not have a strong enough signal.
In most cases, you want to keep your router as close as possible to your Ring doorbell. Your wi-fi signal may be weakened by walls, furniture, mirrors, and other obstructions between the router and your device.
Try to keep your router out in the open (not in a closet or cabinet) and at least 6 inches away from any wall.
Another problem may be due to the bandwidth frequency. If your modem is configured for a 5.0 GH signal, your Ring device may not be able to connect to your signal. To resolve this, connect to a 2.4 GHz network during your Ring’s setup process. Then, you can switch to 5.0 GHz later on in the Ring app’s settings.
Ring Doorbell Not Ringing on Your Chime
Ring doorbells are compatible with a large variety of chimes and chime kits. So, if your Ring isn’t chiming, chances are that an installation error or some other issue is preventing it from functioning properly.
The only exception is the Ring Video Doorbell Wired (2021 release) which is only compatible with the Ring Chime and Ring Chime Pro.
Still, some doorbells require you to install a small adapter inside your existing chime in order for your Ring to operate properly. This component must be installed correctly for the chime to function.
Check the Wiring
The first step would be to check that your internal chime kit is wired correctly. There are different wiring configurations based on your Ring model and your home’s configuration. For example. The wiring setup is different for a home with two internal doorbell chimes versus a single internal doorbell.
Enable the Microphone
Another issue may be due to your in-app settings. Check that your app is set up for the correct chime type (digital versus mechanical), and check your audio settings. You’ll need to have the microphone enabled to interact with visitors who are outside your home (through your Ring doorbell).
Ring Doorbell Not Ringing Your Phone
If your Ring isn’t ringing on your smartphone, it could be due to a couple different reasons. If you’re not getting the notifications at all, or if you find that they’re delayed, it could be due to your home’s wi-fi signal strength.
If you’re properly connected and still not hearing or seeing when your Ring is activated, it may be due to your device’s notification settings. You’ll need to choose the types of notifications you want from your Ring and allow your Ring to send push notifications to your smartphone.
Without turning those settings “on,” you may not know when someone is at your door. You’ll have to choose whether you want motion alerts or person-only notifications.
Another thing to check is whether your device is set to “Do Not Disturb.” If this feature is enabled, you may miss notifications when someone is ringing your doorbell.
Increase the Volume
In some cases, the notification features are working properly, but you just can’t hear them. In that case, you may want to increase the volume of your notifications. Another option is to change the settings on your device so that you always get alerts from Ring, even if your phone is on silent or vibrate.
Amazon Alexa Interference
Some users have reported issues with their Ring device when it’s in use along with Amazon Alexa devices, like an Echo, Echo Dot, or other Alexa-enabled speakers.
If you have Alexa-enabled devices that are set to announce when someone is at the door, it can cause problems with your existing mechanical doorbell chime.
Luckily, you can resolve this problem by disabling the feature in your Alexa app. Simply go into the app’s settings and disable the “doorbell press announcements” feature. However, if you want Alexa to notify you that someone is at the door, you may not be able to if you’re having these interference issues.
You can check if this was the cause of the problem by ringing your doorbell after you disable the announcement settings. If the mechanical chime works, you’ll know that you need to leave the setting turned off to use the doorbell.
Reset Power to the Doorbell
If you’ve gone through the basic troubleshooting steps and your doorbell still isn’t ringing properly, you may need to reset the power to your Ring and doorbell.
To reset the power, you can turn the breaker off for 15-20 seconds, then turn it back on. This will cause your Ring to reboot and reconnect to your wi-fi network, which could resolve some potential issues.
Another option is to do a hard reset on your Ring, which would revert it back to its factory settings. This is a good way to start fresh and resolve some problems, but it would require you to go through the entire setup process again.
To perform this reset, remove the faceplate from the Ring doorbell and find the button along the top right side. Press and hold the button for 15 seconds until the light on the front starts flashing. Then, follow the setup instructions to complete the process. If there’s no button on the side, check for an orange button on the back of the Ring, and press that down for 20 seconds.
Lastly, Look at the Doorbell Button
If your Ring doorbell doesn’t seem to be doing anything when it’s pressed, it could be due to a faulty button. If the button itself is stuck or not working properly, you won’t hear your Ring doorbell ringing inside your house.
This may be a simple fix like cleaning the button or removing debris, or it could be more complex and require you to replace the button altogether.
Contact Ring Support
If you’ve tried all these steps and troubleshooting tips and your Ring doorbell still isn’t functioning correctly, it could be time to reach out to Ring’s customer service department for assistance.
Luckily, they have tons of troubleshooting articles online along with instruction manuals, wiring diagrams, and more.
By visiting support.ring.com, you can chat with a support technician between 5am and 9pm (US-MST). Or, you can call them anytime – 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. You can find the appropriate support phone number for your geographic location here.
They also have a Ring Community feature where you can chat with other users online and ask questions, get answers, and search for specific help topics.
Conclusion
Ring doorbells and other devices are amazing additions to your smart home or security setup. They allow you to see who is at your door and respond to visitors, monitor for porch pirates, and ensure you never miss another doorbell ring.
Still, it can be very frustrating when your devices don’t work properly. Ring doorbells are easy to use and typically simple to troubleshoot. If you can’t get the device up and running on your own, help from Ring is only a click or phone call away.
