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If your doorbell is smart, it can do more than just ring. The Ring Doorbell* is equipped with additional security features such as motion detection. 1080p HD video and intercom, night vision and advanced features via Alexa are a given.
The advantages of such a security system are obvious: you can see who is at the door from anywhere in the house. You can talk to the person, and even at night you get a clear picture. Dual-band WLAN makes it possible. Even if someone approaches the door and doesn’t ring the bell, you can be notified by instant message. You define the motion zones yourself. It goes without saying that so much technology can malfunction. What does the white light on the Ring Doorbell mean?
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Table of Contents
Ring Doorbell Indicates Errors via White and Blue Lights
The sleek design is a point that clearly speaks for the Ring Doorbell. But the smooth surface also comes with a drawback: Malfunctions are indicated, but that is not immediately understandable. The manufacturer has given the light ring on the front different blinking patterns in blue and white, each of which is supposed to indicate a certain error. Which light means what?
Important to know: Not every light signal indicates a problematic situation. Some of the signals only tell you where you are in the setup process. Therefore, it is important that you know the light signals and can assign them.
Ring Doorbell set up
When you set up your Ring Doorbell for the first time, the circle around the button fills with a blue light. All is well! The light shows you that the Ring Doorbell is charging. It is only a matter of concern when the light is permanently or constantly lit up again. Because once the Ring Doorbell’s battery is full, the blue light should go out.
White light circles around the button
If the white light moves clockwise around the button, you are probably setting up the Wi-Fi connection. You have to enter the login information – that’s what the device is waiting for. As long as this information is missing, the white light circles around the button.
White light flashes repeatedly
If the entire ring around the button is alternately dark and white, a firmware update is in progress. You don’t have to do anything, the device does it on its own. The light only indicates what is happening. Wait until the firmware update is finished.
Upper half of the ring flashes white
Your Ring Doorbell shows a white flashing semicircle above the button. The four LEDs located here flash continuously. This light signal probably appears during the setup of the Ring Doorbell. It indicates a password error. Try it again.
Select your Wi-Fi network in the phone settings. Now enter “Ignore”. Then reconnect again. Make sure that you really use the correct password.
Semicircle to the right of the button flashes white
The four LEDs on the right side of the button flash white in unison. This causes a white semicircle to light up. Nothing happens on the left. This light signal means that the setup has failed. Your Ring Doorbell could not connect to the network.
Your Ring Doorbell is probably too far away from the router. The signal is too weak. Can you move the router closer to the Ring Doorbell? If this is not the case, you need to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal. This works with Chime Pro, for example.
Semicircle to the left of the button flashes white
The four LEDs on the left side of the button light up simultaneously in white. This causes a flashing white semicircle to appear around the button on the left side. Nothing happens on the right. This light pattern indicates an error in the setup of your Ring Doorbell. It is a problem with the Internet connection, which Ring Doorbell does not specify further.
Pull out the plug for the modem or router. Wait about 40 seconds, then plug it back in. Repeat the setup. Now it should actually work.
White spinning circle
Your Ring Doorbell will show a white, rapidly clockwise rotating circle around the button. After a few rotations, the white light disappears. Now the entire circle around the knob flashes completely blue several times. Then, at the bottom of the knob, the white light starts again and runs clockwise around the knob. The pattern repeats continuously.
This light signal means that the Ring Doorbell is in setup mode. Follow the instructions that the Ring app shows you. At some point, you will be prompted to connect to the Wi-Fi network. Do this.
White ring lights up, then four blue LEDs
The white ring lights up, gets brighter and brighter, goes out. Then the blue light runs from the bottom right and left around the button to the top. When the circle is closed, the blue light goes out. Now four blue LEDs at the top and bottom flash three times each on the right and left simultaneously. Then the white ring appears again and the spectacle starts all over again.
This signal means that you have successfully set up your Door View Cam. Congratulations: you did everything right and you can use the camera!
No light at all
Your Ring Doorbell shows no light at all, neither blue, nor white. Repeat the entire setup process. It is possible that something went wrong during the first attempt. Watch what light pattern the Ring Doorbell shows afterwards. If there is still no light, there is no power. Fully charge the battery, then repeat the setup process.
Blue light circles around the button
If the blue light strip moves clockwise around the button, it means only one thing: The button has been pressed. This is not a malfunction, but normal. So please relax first.
Blue light moves from bottom to top around the button
Directly below the button, the ring lights up blue. The light moves upwards to the right and left of the button until the blue light circle closes above the button. The button is completely surrounded by a blue ring of light. Then the ring goes out and it starts all over again. This light signal means that the connection to the network is established. It only appears during network setup.
If the connection to the network is established, the light signal goes out. If this does not happen, please check your network.
Light ring lights up permanently blue
The light ring around the Ring Doorbell’s button can not only glow in different patterns, but also shine continuously. If it does so in blue, the speaker has been activated. This is not an error message.
Blue light flashes every second
If the blue light ring flashes permanently every second, the camera of the Ring Doorbell starts to work. This is desirable and not a problem. But if it stays like this (the flashing does not end), then the Ring Doorbell is in a boot loop.
Strange light signals that can’t be assigned?
The informative value of the light signals is naturally limited with the Ring Doorbell. It is therefore quite possible that there are other problems than those described here. We will discuss these in the following.
Some problems and errors are known because they occur again and again. The light pattern of the LED ring of your Ring Doorbell may not be clear. Pay special attention to the following points. Then you will probably be able to fix the error quickly:
WLAN problem
Usually, the LEDs flash blue, not white, when there are WLAN problems. Does the flashing just continue? Then your Ring Doorbell probably just did an update when there were problems with the WLAN. The update could not be completed.
Troubleshooting: Check your WLAN connection. Is the WLAN connection stable? Is the signal strong enough? Only then can your Ring Doorbell really work without errors! If the signal is too weak or unstable for some other reason, you can move the wireless router closer to the Ring Doorbell. Sometimes this is enough. Still not working? Then you should check the WiFi connection.
If your Ring Doorbell loses its Wi-Fi connection, you will not be notified in the app. This may not be noticed at all. Motion detection and ringing are simply no longer displayed. You can easily check this, regardless of the light signals of your Ring Doorbell. Stand in front of the door and press the bell button. Nothing happens in the app? Then restart the router. Connect the Ring Doorbell to the network again (as you did the first time). Usually, your Ring Doorbell will show you different light patterns during the process, which will guide you through the setup process.
WiFi signal not strong enough
Your Ring Doorbell has repeatedly lost connection to the network? Then the WiFi signal may simply not be strong enough. A signal booster for the router could be the solution. Or you can try to find a new location for the router. A few typical errors point to this problem, which is often not reflected in the Ring Doorbell’s light signals at all:
- The quality of the video transmission leaves a lot to be desired.
- You won’t be notified of events in real time in the app.
- Sometimes no notifications arrive at all, even though you know for a fact that something has happened outside the door.
- The live view does not work (connection problems).
- It takes a few seconds before the connection is established via live view.
Problems with the power supply
An insufficient supply of power is not so easy to diagnose unambiguously, because the Ring Doorbell is not designed for this. However, there are a few signs for a lack of voltage:
- Your Ring Doorbell keeps freezing the image in live mode.
- The Ring Doorbell often loses connection to the network.
- Night vision no longer works.
The Ring app shows you whether the power supply is working satisfactorily. To do so, open the “Device status” display. Here you can read which voltage is required. If the voltage is not sufficient, you can use a transformer. It provides the necessary voltage.
Defective device
If the device is defective, the light may also flash blue or white or both. Defective means that the normal functions are no longer given – and thus also the normal light signals.
If you suspect that your Ring Doorbell is defective, please contact customer support. You may be asked for a video or a picture of the device. This is necessary to exclude external defects and to find the error. If your Ring Doorbell is really defective, you will get a new device.
Ring Doorbell Setup Explained Step by Step
Your Ring Doorbell is an important part of the security technology, which you can raise to a smart level here. To ensure the security of your home, the Ring Doorbell must be set up correctly. Only then will it work properly.
Charge battery
Before you can do anything with the Ring Doorbell, you should fully charge the battery. To do this, connect it to a power source using the supplied cable (orange). If you have connected the battery correctly, a red and a green light on the top indicate that the battery is charging. When the battery is fully charged, the small light on top turns green.
The manufacturer states that you can set up your Ring Doorbell while it is still charging. That is correct in principle. However, it is recommended to fully charge the battery first. This prevents malfunctions due to insufficient charge.
Ring Doorbell set up
Once the battery is charged, insert it into the Ring Doorbell. Please make sure that you really push the battery into the device until you feel it click into place. Download the Ring app to your smartphone, tablet or other device. The app is available in the App Store, the Google Play Store and even the Windows Store. If you can’t find the app there, go to ring.com/app and follow the instructions.
Once the app is loaded, open it. Select the item “Set up a device” and then the device you want to set up. In spring 2022, the Ring video door intercom 2 is the current model. Now you can easily follow the instructions of the app. Important: You need your Wi-Fi password for the setup! It is best to write it down in the Ring Doorbell documentation. Then you always have it at hand if the Ring Doorbell loses the connection or you have to set up the smart doorbell with camera again for another reason.
Once you have finished setting up your Ring Doorbell, you should try it out. Press the button on the front of the Ring Doorbell. Now you should see the live image that the camera is taking in the app.
Mount the Ring Doorbell at the correct height!
The battery is charged, the Ring Doorbell is set up. Now you need to find a suitable place on the front door to install the smart doorbell with camera. With some double-sided tape, you can temporarily attach the Ring Doorbell to check the connection via the network from anywhere in the house. Optionally, someone can hold the device in place while you move to another room.
Pay particular attention to the following:
- Are all incidents transmitted in real time?
- Does the doorbell respond within the event radius the way you set it up?
- Is the video clear and concise?
- Does the night vision also work?
- Does the live image really show what you want to see?
If there are delays in the transmission of live view and especially night vision, this can be due to the WLAN signal. If the signal is not strong enough, these delays will occur. Is the image detail correct? Note that you also want to see especially tall people and children with a full face. Install the camera in such a way that the three-year-old neighbor’s son is not only visible on the top of his head and you can see more than just the chest hair of the 2.05 cm tall letter carrier!
The manufacturer recommends a height of 1.20 m above the floor for the installation of the Ring Doorbell. At this height, the performance of the device should be the best.
It may not be possible to install the Ring Doorbell at this recommended height. You may still have the doorbell wiring from the old doorbell system and want to use the wiring for your Ring Doorbell. This is sometimes higher than 1.20 m. In this case you can mount the Ring Doorbell higher up. But use the wedge holder, which is included by the manufacturer. If you attach the Ring Doorbell to this wedge holder, it is slightly tilted downwards and shows the desired image section.
However, installation height and degree of inclination are not only important for the camera’s field of view, but also for the motion sensor. The detection range of the sensor goes slightly downward, so that dogs and smaller animals are also noticed. The camera field of view, on the other hand, goes down and up.
Ring Doorbell Wire
If you still have an old doorbell installed, turn off the power at the fuse box and remove the doorbell from the wall. Carefully cut the wires. If you want to connect the Ring Doorbell to an existing doorbell, you will need a transformer. The Ring Doorbell works with a voltage of 8 – 24 VAC. If you wire the Ring Doorbell to the transformer, you should use a resistor. The Ring Doorbell does not support a DC converter, nor the standard intercoms.
When wiring the Ring Doorbell with a digital doorbell, install the diode supplied by the manufacturer. If you have a mechanical doorbell, you do not need the diode, it would damage the doorbell and therefore should not be used.
This is how you install the diode:
- Make sure that the brighter band of the diode is on the same side as the wire that runs to the front terminal of the bell.
- If the doorbell does not ring when you press the button on the Ring Doorbell, replace the wires on the back and try again.
Do not be afraid of incorrect wiring or incorrect insertion of the diode: Neither will harm the doorbell, nor the Ring Doorbell. You will notice errors in the installation immediately, because then the doorbell will not ring.
Installing the Ring Doorbell on the wall/door
The Ring Doorbell comes with a mini spirit level. You insert this level into the Ring Doorbell before you install it on the wall or door. This way you can make sure that the Ring Doorbell is installed straight.
If you install the Ring Doorbell on stucco or bricks or concrete, you should ideally use dowels. Pre-mark the four drill holes so that you hit the right position right away. Only use the intended drill bit, then insert the dowels into the drill holes.
If you install the Ring Doorbell on wood (for example, the frame of the door), then you do not need the dowels. Put them with the documents and other supplied parts of the Ring Doorbell, in case they are needed later.
Before you screw the Ring Doorbell firmly to the wall or door, you need to wire the device. Connect the wires that protrude from the wall to the screws that you will find on the back of your Ring Doorbell. It doesn’t matter which wire is connected to which screw. The order is also unimportant.
If the wires coming out of the wall are too short, use the wire extensions and cable connectors provided by the manufacturer. You don’t need to buy any additional parts, everything is included with the Ring Doorbell.
Once the wires and cable connectors are attached, carefully guide the excess cable lengths into the wall and screw the Ring Doorbell to the wall or door. Use the four screws provided for this purpose.
Only then, when your Ring Doorbell is firmly in place, place the desired bezel on the top of the Ring Doorbell. Guide the bezel slowly and controlled downwards until it snaps into place.
In the last step, you attach the included safety screw and finally fix the bezel. Important: You need a star-shaped screwdriver for this!
Setting up the Ring Doorbell in the App
In the Ring app, you can see the various settings in the device overview, which you should now set up step by step. Specifically, you should take a closer look at this:
- Ring Alerts: These are the notifications that the app shows you when someone rings the Ring Doorbell.
- Motion Alerts: These are the notifications that the app shows you when something moves in the set motion zone.
You should set up both alarms individually, and you can turn them on or off.
- Shared users: The idea here is that family members and/or friends can also react to the live events. If you have enabled recording, they can also see the recordings.
- Motion settings: Here you can set the details for motion detection.
- Device status: The device status does not hide any settings, but helps you diagnose problems. This is actually very practical in the application, because all technical devices can show malfunctions from time to time.
- Recent events: Here you can find the log of all events that your Ring Doorbell has recorded.
Related Questions
How long does the battery last with the Ring Doorbell?
When fully charged, the battery should last between six months and a year. So you’ll need to charge regularly to keep your Ring Doorbell running smoothly.
What app do I need for the Ring Doorbell?
For the Ring Doorbell you need the Ring App. It is available for all mobile devices. You can find the app in the App Store as well as in the Windows Store and the Google Play Store. Just download it and get started! If that doesn’t work, you can also find the Ring app at ring.com/app. Open the website in the browser of your mobile device and download the app from this page.
Which transformer do I need for the Ring Doorbell?
The Ring Doorbell is not designed for a specific transformer. You can use any device compatible with 8 to 24 V AC. This is the standard for doorbells, so the Ring Doorbell does not need any special treatment.
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Conclusion: Troubleshooting is Easy with the Ring Doorbell
The light patterns of the Ring Doorbell* may not always be recognizable at first glance. Nevertheless, the manufacturer has made an effort to keep the error code as simple as possible. If you pay close attention to how the white light flashes, errors and problems can be solved with a few steps or clicks in the Ring app. The Ring Doorbell is actually easy to install, set up and use.
Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to enable Web sites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links marked with * are affiliate links.