Ring Doorbell Not Connecting To Wi-Fi? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
A Ring doorbell acts as both a doorbell and a security device for homes and business properties. It allows you to see who is at the door and speak to them, too. You can accomplish all of this and more even when you’re away from home all through the Ring app. However, to make all this happen, your device must be connected to a secure Wi-Fi network.
If your Ring doorbell is not connecting to the Wi-Fi, you should first test your internet speed, strengthen the Wi-Fi signal, check for faulty wiring, charge the battery, change the bandwidth, and look for hidden networks. Should the problem persist, you may need to reach out to your personal internet provider or a member of the Ring support team.
Let’s dive deeper into how you can fix your Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can get your Ring doorbell back in working order.
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What Can a Ring Doorbell Do?
With a Ring doorbell, you can have peace of mind knowing your home is safe and secure. Whether you’re at home, at work, or states away, you’ll be able to monitor what is happening on your property. Through the Ring doorbell app, you can…
- See who is at your door as soon as motion is detected
- Speak to houseguests through a two-way microphone
- Go back and review notifications that are saved in your Ring history
- Stay connected with your neighbors about power outages, fires, break-ins, and more
Reasons Your Ring Doorbell Will Not Connect to Your Wi-Fi Network
Since your Ring doorbell must maintain a consistent connection to a secure Wi-Fi network, connectivity issues are unfortunately not uncommon. In fact, there are plenty of different causes of poor Wi-Fi connection. Here are some of the most likely reasons why your Ring device isn’t connecting to your Wi-Fi:
- Slow Internet Speeds
- Poor Wi-Fi Signal
- Battery or Power Issues
- Incorrect Wi-Fi Password
- Use of Special Characters in Password
- Electrical Wiring Problems
- Wrong Wi-Fi Bandwidth
- Channel Interference
- Hidden Wi-Fi Networks
So, What You Can Do to Fix These Wi-Fi Connectivity Issues?
Now that you have a better idea of what you’re looking for, we can talk about some easy steps you can take to resolve the issue. As we said before, there are many different reasons why your Ring doorbell isn’t connecting to your Wi-Fi. That means there are a wide range of solutions you can employ to attempt to fix the problem. Fortunately, most of them are simple fixes.
Test Your Internet Speed
Slow internet speeds can cause your doorbell to lag terribly and even stop working for periods of time. You can test your internet speed by opening the Ring app and selecting your device. Navigate to the settings and click on “Device Health.” There, you will see a “Test Your Wi-Fi” option.
Generally, anything less than 2Mbps will cause lower video and audio quality, but your Ring doorbell will most likely still work. If this is the case, you should first reset your modem and see if the problem persists after your Wi-Fi is back on. Should that be the case, you may want to reach out to your internet provider to see what is causing such a low ping.
If you’re pinging more than 2Mbps, it’s a safe bet that your internet speed itself is not the cause. This at least means you can confidently move forward in your search for the issue with your Ring doorbell and Wi-Fi.
Move the Router
Even if your internet speeds are great, the strength of the connection between the Ring device and your router can still cause problems. To check the strength of your signal, go back to the Ring device settings and navigate to “Device Health” once more. You will be able to look at your Signal Strength under the Network section.
If the signal is reading as poor or very poor, try moving your router closer to the doorbell. In addition to distance, many things can interfere with your Wi-Fi strength. This includes other devices in proximity of the router or thick building materials like stucco, metal, and brick. When all else fails, you can also consider purchasing a Wi-Fi extender to strengthen the overall signal.
Change Your Wi-Fi Password
Sometimes, the issue can be as simple as inputting the wrong Wi-Fi password. Be sure to check your password and confirm you are typing it incorrectly. If the issue continues after you try this, call your Internet Service Provider and change the Wi-Fi password. Afterwards, you will need to reset your Ring doorbell and reconnect it to the network with the new password.
The use of special characters in your password can also be problematic when initially installing your Ring doorbell. This may be another case where you should change your password altogether.
If you don’t want to do that, you can always set up a temporary code until the device is installed. Once it is ready, you can revert to your regular password and shouldn’t experience any issues.
Look at the Electrical Wiring
Faulty external wiring, short circuits, and broken fuses can all cause connectivity issues between your Ring doorbell and the Wi-Fi network. Before you check any of these things out for yourself, make sure to turn off the power, so you don’t run the risk of being electrocuted. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, contact an electrician or a Ring support team member to come look at it.
Charge Your Battery
If your Ring doorbell is not hardwired to your home, it will rely on an internal battery that needs to be charged periodically. However, the Ring app will always tell you when the battery is low, so you know exactly when you need to act.
Should the problem persist and there is no other viable cause, there may be an issue with the battery itself. If that is the case, you can always purchase a new battery for your Ring doorbell.
Check Wi-Fi Bandwidth
Ring doorbells are only compatible with a 2.4 GHz network, so you must have a router that is transmitting on that band. If yours is on a 5.0 GHz band, the doorbell will not recognize it.
Most of the time, you will be able to adjust your router to match the Ring doorbell’s signal. The best thing to do to accomplish this is to check out your router’s manual. The directions may differ for different models.
Channel Interference
It is true that your own devices can get in the way of your router’s connection with your doorbell. However, you may also be dealing with channel interference from neighboring Wi-Fi networks as well. To combat this, you can first try changing the position of your router, so it receives better signals.
While you won’t be able to change your Wi-Fi frequency, you can change the frequency’s channel. On the 2.4Hz network, there are 11 separate channels from which you can choose. Hiding your network may also help, and we’ll discuss what you must do to make that work below.
Add Hidden Networks
If your Wi-Fi network name is hidden, your Ring doorbell will not be able to connect to it as is. That said, this doesn’t mean you have to make your home Wi-Fi network public. During the doorbell setup, be sure to click the “Add Hidden Network” option and add yours to the device. This should resolve any issues with finding your Wi-Fi network in the future.
Related Questions
How long does a Ring doorbell battery last?
Typically, the battery of your Ring doorbell can last anywhere from six to 12 months before needing to be charged. This will depend on how much activity the doorbell receives over time.
Will my Ring doorbell work without Wi-Fi?
You will not be able to receive notifications, access video, or talk to visitors through the doorbell without Wi-Fi. However, your Ring video doorbell can still function like a normal doorbell if you have hardwired it to your existing doorbell.
Does Ring offer 24/7 Support?
Yes, the Ring customer service team’s normal operating hours are from 5AM to 9PM MST, but they do have a 24-hour hotline to help with any troubleshooting for your Ring doorbell.
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Conclusion
A Ring doorbell is a low-maintenance home-security device that only requires a connection to a secure Wi-Fi network. On the other hand, there are a multitude of issues that can arise with said Wi-Fi connectivity. When those occur, it is important to know what steps to take to get your system back in working order as soon as possible.
The good news is you can resolve most of these issues with little effort or time put into the task. The even better news is there will always be a member of the Ring support team ready to help should you need professional assistance.
I am a copywriter and editor based in the Las Vegas area with nearly a decade of experience under my belt writing landing pages, cost guides, blog posts, newsletters, case studies, and social media content. I have a degree in Strategic Communication and experience working in both the account and creative spheres. My goal is to always be discovering new interests and bettering myself as a writer and editor along the way.
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