Understanding Your Ring Doorbell WiFi Connection
Your Ring Doorbell operates through a WiFi connection to your home network, much like your smartphone or laptop. This wireless connection allows the doorbell to send video footage, audio, and notifications to your phone or other devices. Understanding how this connection works is the foundation for successfully switching networks.
Learn How EBT Transit Benefits Work →
The Ring Doorbell uses a 2.4 GHz WiFi frequency band, which is the standard frequency most home routers broadcast. Some newer routers broadcast both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands simultaneously. The 2.4 GHz band travels farther and penetrates walls more effectively than 5 GHz, which is why Ring recommends using 2.4 GHz for optimal performance. If your router broadcasts a combined network name for both frequencies, you may need to separate them in your router settings before reconnecting your doorbell.
When you switch WiFi networks—whether moving to a new router, changing your network name, upgrading your internet service, or relocating your home—your Ring Doorbell loses its connection and cannot communicate with Ring's servers. This means you will not receive notifications, cannot view live video, and cannot unlock or interact with the doorbell remotely. The doorbell itself continues to operate mechanically, but its smart features become unavailable.
Signal strength matters significantly. Ring Doorbells typically require a WiFi signal strength of at least -67 dBm (decibels milliwatts) to maintain a stable connection. If your doorbell is positioned far from your router or behind metal objects and thick walls, you may experience connection drops. Before switching networks, consider where your router will be positioned relative to the doorbell location.
Practical Takeaway: Ring Doorbells require a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection to function. Document your current network setup before making changes, including your network name and whether you have a combined or separate 2.4 GHz band.
Preparing for Your Network Switch
Before you begin the switching process, gather the information you will need. Have your new WiFi network name (SSID) and password ready. If you are unsure of your network name, you can check this by looking at your router's label, checking your router's settings page, or looking at the available networks on your phone or computer. Write down this information so you do not have to search for it mid-process.
Free Guide to JBL Bluetooth Speaker Connection Steps →
Check your Ring app version to make sure you are using the current version. Open your phone's app store—Google Play Store for Android devices or Apple App Store for iOS devices—and search for "Ring." If an update is available, install it before proceeding. Having the latest version ensures you have access to the most current features and bug fixes that may affect the network switching process.
Charge or replace the batteries in your Ring Doorbell if it uses battery power. Some Ring models like the Ring Video Doorbell (battery-powered versions) use removable batteries, while others like the Ring Video Doorbell Wired use hardwired power. If your model uses batteries, check that they have adequate charge. A low battery during the reconnection process could cause the connection to fail partway through.
Test that your new WiFi network is working properly before reconnecting your doorbell. Connect another device to your new network and verify that you have internet access. This confirms that your router is functioning and your WiFi is broadcasting properly. If you are switching routers entirely, make sure the new router is set up and functioning before attempting to reconnect your doorbell.
Note any special WiFi settings on your current network. Some people configure their routers with MAC address filtering (allowing only specific devices to connect), channel selection, or WiFi band separation. If you have made custom changes to your router settings, write these down. You may need to replicate these settings or adjust them for the new network.
Practical Takeaway: Write down your new network name and password, update your Ring app, verify your router is working on the new network, and ensure your doorbell has adequate power before starting the switch.
Steps to Remove Your Ring Doorbell from Your Current Network
Open the Ring app on your smartphone and navigate to the menu. Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top left corner. From the menu options, select "Devices." You should see your Ring Doorbell listed among your connected Ring products. Tap on your doorbell to access its settings.
Free Guide to LabCorp Laboratory Bill Payment Options →
Once you are viewing your doorbell's device settings, look for the "WiFi Network" or "Network Settings" option. This is typically located near the top of the settings menu. Tap on this option to view your current WiFi connection details. You will see the name of your current network displayed, along with signal strength information.
Look for a "Change WiFi Network" button or option. In some versions of the Ring app, this may be labeled "Forget This Network" or "Disconnect." Tap this option to remove the doorbell from your current network. The app may ask you to confirm this action. Select "Yes" or "Confirm" when prompted. Your Ring Doorbell is now disconnected from your current WiFi network.
You will see a notification in the app indicating that your doorbell is offline or not connected. This is the expected result. The doorbell will now appear in your device list with an offline status. This does not indicate a problem—it simply means the doorbell is no longer connected to any WiFi network and is ready to be reconnected to a new one.
On some older Ring app versions, you may instead need to reset the doorbell to factory settings. If the "Change WiFi Network" option is not available, locate the small reset button on your doorbell (usually recessed and requiring a paperclip to press). Holding this button for approximately 15 seconds will reset the device. You will see the LED light blink, indicating a reset in progress. After the reset completes, the doorbell will be ready to connect to your new network.
Practical Takeaway: Open the Ring app, navigate to your doorbell settings, and select the option to disconnect or change your WiFi network. This clears the doorbell's memory of your old network.
Connecting Your Ring Doorbell to Your New WiFi Network
After removing your doorbell from your previous network, the Ring app will often automatically detect that your device is offline and suggest the next step. Look for a prompt to "Set Up Device" or "Add Device." If you do not see this prompt, you can manually initiate the setup by tapping the "+" icon in the Ring app and selecting your doorbell model from the device list.
Learn About Black Cumin Seeds in Your Kitchen →
The app will guide you through a setup wizard. The first step typically involves confirming that your doorbell's LED is blinking. Look at your physical doorbell—you should see the LED light flashing. This indicates the doorbell is in setup mode and ready to receive network information. If the LED is not blinking, press and hold the setup button on your doorbell (usually located near the bottom or back) until the LED begins to blink.
The app will ask you to connect your phone to your doorbell's temporary WiFi hotspot. This is a direct connection between your phone and the doorbell that allows you to transfer network information. Look for a network name on your phone's WiFi list that begins with "Ring-" followed by numbers or letters. This is your doorbell's hotspot. Select this network and connect to it. Your phone will now be directly connected to the doorbell.
Return to the Ring app after connecting to the doorbell's hotspot. The app will now display a list of available WiFi networks in your home. Look through this list and select your new network name. Once you select your network, a password field will appear. Enter your new network password exactly as it appears. Passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters and lowercase letters are treated differently. Double-check for typing errors before proceeding.
After entering your password, the app will attempt to connect your doorbell to your new network. This process typically takes 30 to 60 seconds. The app will display a "Connecting" message or progress bar. During this time, your phone may automatically disconnect from the doorbell's hotspot and reconnect to your regular home network. This is normal and expected. Wait for the app to display a confirmation message indicating successful connection.
Practical Takeaway: Follow the in-app setup wizard, locate the doorbell's LED light (which should be blinking), connect your phone to the doorbell's temporary hotspot, select your new