Welcome to our article on troubleshooting when your Ring doorbell is not detecting motion. It can be frustrating and cause concern for your home security when your doorbell is not alerting you to visitors or any movement in its view.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to fix this problem and restore your doorbell's functionality. In this article, we will go through a list of potential causes and solutions for when your Ring doorbell is not detecting motion.
Whether you are a tech-savvy homeowner or new to smart home devices, we hope this article helps you get your doorbell up and running again.
Let’s go!
1. Check the Placement of the Doorbell
First, ensure that your Ring video doorbell is positioned in the correct location and height. Here are some things to consider when determining where to place your doorbell.
- Height: Mount the doorbell somewhere between 48 and 56 inches above the ground. It can typically detect motion within 30 feet.
- Location: Install the doorbell in a location where it will not be obstructed by trees, plants, or other objects. It's also a good idea to position the doorbell so that it has a clear view of the area you want to monitor—in this case, the doorway.
- Angle: Install the doorbell at a level angle, with the camera lens facing toward the monitored area.
2. Check the Doorbell Camera Sensitivity Settings
The sensitivity settings on your Ring Doorbell define how sensitive the motion detection is. If the sensitivity is set too low, the doorbell may not detect motion that happens within its field of view. However, if the sensitivity is set too high, the doorbell may detect superfluous or deceptive motions, such as leaves rustling or even shadows passing by.
To change the sensitivity settings on your Ring Doorbell, do the following:
- Open the Ring app on your phone.
- Tap Devices
- Select your device
- Go to Device Settings
- Scroll down to the Motion Settings
- Use the sliders to adjust the sensitivity for People Only and All Motion. The People Only sensitivity setting will determine how sensitive the doorbell is to detecting the movement of people, while the All Motion setting will determine how sensitive it is to detecting all types of motion
- Save the changes by tapping Done
It's a good idea to try out different sensitivity settings to see which one works best for you. You may need to tweak the sensitivity depending on where your doorbell is and how much activity occurs in the area you want to monitor.
3. Check for Obstructions
It's important to make sure that there are no objects blocking the view of the motion sensors—such as trees, bushes, or even balcony chimes. If the doorbell's motion sensors are blocked (even slightly), it may not be able to detect motion accurately.
To check for obstacles, follow these steps:
- Visually inspect the area around the doorbell to ensure that no objects are obscuring the motion sensors' view.
- If you detect any objects that may be obscuring the sensors' view, consider relocating or cutting them to make room.
Most doorbells have a sensor range of 30 feet away from the doorbell. So if there are items outside of this range they are likely not causing problems with the motion detection.
4. Check for Firmware Updates
Firmware is the software that runs on your electronic devices that tells them how to function. The manufacturer of a device often distributes firmware updates to address bugs, security issues, add new features, or improve the performance of the device.
Follow these steps to check for firmware updates on your Ring Doorbell.
- Open the Ring App
- Click on the three horizontal dots in the top left corner
- Click on the Device Health tab
- The app will display information about the device—scroll down to the firmware version. If there is a newer version available, the app will display a notification and provide instructions for updating the device.
If an update is available, you should see a notification stating an update is available. To update simply click the Update button.
Remember that you may need to connect your doorbell to a power source as well as the internet in order to conduct a firmware upgrade.
5. Restart the Doorbell
Sometimes restarting faulty equipment is all that is required to repair it. Restarting your video doorbell might help reset any temporary difficulties or flaws that may be causing performance concerns.
To restart your Ring Doorbell, either unplug it and then plug it back in or reset it through the Ring app.
Here are the step-by-step instructions for resetting the doorbell using the app:
- Open the Ring app on your mobile device
- Tap the three horizontal dots in the top left corner of the screen to open the menu
- Tap on Devices from the menu.
- Find the doorbell you want to reset and tap on it to open the device settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Device Health
- Tap on Restart Device
- Confirm that you want to restart the device by tapping Restart
- Wait for the doorbell to restart. This can take a few minutes.
If you are unable to reset the doorbell through the app, you can also try resetting it by removing the battery and then reinserting it. This will force the doorbell to restart.
If that doesn't work, consider factory resetting your Ring doorbell. Keep in mind that resetting the doorbell will erase any custom settings you have made and return the doorbell to its default settings. You will need to set up the doorbell again and configure any desired settings after the reset is complete.
6. Check the Wiring
If the wiring for your doorbell camera is damaged (or not connected correctly) it could cause issues with your sensor and motion detection.
Here are a few things you can do to check on your wiring.
- Test the doorbell: Press the doorbell button or activate the motion sensors to test the doorbell. If the doorbell is working properly, it should ring or send a notification to the app on your phone. If it doesn't, there could be an issue with the wiring.
- Inspect the wiring: Look for any apparent signs of damage, such as frayed or exposed wires. If you find any problems with the wiring, it may need to be repaired or replaced.
- Inspect the connections: Ensure that the doorbell wiring is firmly attached at both ends. If the connections are loose or damaged, the sensor and video doorbell may not work correctly.
What Should I Do if the Issue Cannot Be Resolved?
If the steps outlined above do not resolve the problem, you may need to contact Ring support for more assistance. Ring provides a number of support alternatives, including phone, email, and live chat.
It's worth noting that if your Ring Doorbell is still under warranty, you might be able to get it serviced or replaced for free. Check your warranty terms to verify if your equipment is protected.
If you do have to replace your device and it's not under warranty, consider checking out this list of Ring Doorbell alternatives with no monthly fees. With Ring's recent privacy issues, are a ton of better options on the market today.
Wrapping it Up
If your Ring doorbell isn't sensing motion, there are a few things you may try to fix it. These include inspecting the doorbell's positioning, adjusting the sensitivity settings, and ensuring that no obstacles are obscuring the view of the sensors.
By following these instructions and experimenting with different settings, you should be able to get your doorbell working properly and accurately detecting motion again.
If you continue to experience troubles with your doorbell not detecting motion after attempting these procedures, it may be worth contacting out to the manufacturer for more assistance or contemplating replacing the device.
