Having trouble with your Ring Doorbell not detecting motion? Failing to detect movement on a Ring doorbell is a common issue for many users. Don’t worry; this article is here to help you fix it.
Our guide breaks down the troubleshooting process into simple, easy-to-follow steps. So, you can get back to feeling secure and in control of your home’s monitoring in no time.
Ring Doorbell Not Detecting Motion: Common Causes
Motion detection is the ability of your Ring Doorbell to detect movement in front of the doorbell and send alerts to your phone. This movement can be people or cars.
The Ring Doorbell uses passive infrared sensors to detect movement. When movement is detected, the Ring Doorbell will send smart alerts to your phone. So we understand that it can be frustrating to have a ring doorbell not detecting motion.
Before we begin troubleshooting, let’s see what the common causes of these issues are with your doorbell not detecting motion:
1. Motion Detection is Turned Off
Check and see if you have the feature turned on—in some cases, you may have forgotten to turn it back on after shutting it off for an extended period of time. To check this, open the Ring app and go to settings. If Motion Detection is off, toggle it to on, and your Ring Doorbell will start detecting motion again.
2. Incorrect Placement
The doorbell should be placed about 48 inches from the ground, with the lens pointed toward the angle or area you want to monitor. If the doorbell is not positioned correctly, it may not be able to detect motion effectively.
3. Check For Obstruction
If the infrared sensor is blocked, it might not work. Check for any physical obstructions that might be blocking the motion sensor on the doorbell. This could include leaves, branches, or other debris accumulated in front of the doorbell.
4. Faulty Wiring
This can be caused by a damaged or loose contact screw on the fault circuit board inside the unit, which will cause a short to occur when it’s switched on.
5. Too Far From The Detected Motion
If the Ring Doorbell is too far from where the detected motion occurred, it may not detect it. Try moving your Ring Doorbell closer to where the detected signal occurred.
6. Dirty Lens
Over time, it is possible for the lens on a doorbell to become dirty or obscured. This can occur due to factors such as rain and condensation, which can negatively impact the doorbell’s ability to detect motion. To remedy this, you can use a microfiber cloth to gently clean the lens of your doorbell.
7. Weak Internet Connection
The Ring doorbell relies on a strong Wi-Fi connection to function properly. If the wi-fi signal is weak or unstable, the doorbell may not be able to detect motion. If necessary, try moving the router closer to the doorbell to improve the connection or resetting it.
8. Motion Detection Settings Too Low
The motion sensitivity can be adjusted to filter out false alarms, but setting it too low may cause the doorbell to miss actual motion events. Motion alerts mostly work within 30 feet and depending on your setting.
9. Insufficient Doorbell Power
When the battery of your Ring doorbell is getting low, it may not be able to run its motion sensors effectively. This can cause the doorbell not to register any movement. To address this, you will have to give the doorbell more power.
Troubleshoot A Ring Doorbell Not Detecting Motion
If you are experiencing issues with your Ring doorbell not detecting motion, there are several steps you can try to troubleshoot the problem. Helpful DIY also has a video to help you fix it.
1. Restart The Doorbell
Sometimes, simply restarting the doorbell can help resolve any issues. Do this by unplugging and replugging its power cord, which should cause all settings on your doorbell to reset and automatically reconnect with your phone app.
2. Adjust Motion Detection Settings
The two main settings you’ll want to adjust are the “Motion Zones” and “Motion Sensitivity.” Motion Zones allow you to specify which areas of the doorbell camera view will trigger a push notification when motion is detected. It’s advisable to set your motion frequency to frequent.
Here’s another video of how to adjust the motion zone setting of your Ring video doorbell.
On the other hand, Motion Sensitivity allows you to adjust the sensor’s sensitivity when it comes to detecting movements. To set up specific areas where motion is detected, you can use the motion zones feature on a Ring app. Here’s how to set it up:
- Access your Ring app from your smartphone and locate the side menu by tapping on the three horizontal lines.
- Select Devices> Go to Motion Settings > Turn on Customize Motion Detection.
- It’s time to use the slider to adjust the motion detection sensitivity for each zone. Use your finger to draw boxes around the areas on the live video feed that you want to set as motion zones.
- Don’t forget to tap Save to save the changes.
Pro Tips! Setting the motion sensitivity too low may result in the doorbell not detecting motion, while setting it too high may result in false notifications. Experiment with different settings to find the right balance for your needs.
It should also be noted that these settings vary by device, so make sure to look up your specifications before adjusting any of these settings. By playing around with these options, you should find a balance between too much motion and not enough notifications.
3. Disconnect Other Devices
If you have multiple Ring devices connected to your home network, try disabling them to see if they are causing interference with the doorbell.
4. Move Your Ring Doorbell to a New Location
To move your Ring Doorbell, turn off the power supply, unscrew the screws along the edge of the device, and then carefully lift it away from its mounting plate. Then, reinstall at a new location. Remember to avoid installing your Ring doorbell in direct sunlight or within a few feet of any lights that turn on and off rapidly—this can interfere with motion detection accuracy.
Once the device is installed in a new location, you should power it up and set up motion detection settings according to your needs. Give it time to adjust before you make any more changes—after all, sometimes, we need a change of scenery!
Ring Doorbell Not Detecting Motion: Advanced Troubleshooting
If the basic troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, there are a few more advanced steps you can try:
1. Check For Software Updates
Sometimes, issues with the doorbell not detecting motion can be caused by outdated software. To check for software updates for your Ring doorbell, open the Ring app on your smartphone and go to the Device Settings menu. Tap on the doorbell that you want to check for updates.
Then tap on the gear icon in the top right corner to access the device settings. Tap Device Health > Firmware > Firmware Update.
2. Factory Reset the Ring Doorbell
- To reset your camera, first, locate the reset button.
- Then, press and hold the setup button for approximately 20 seconds until the device powers off.
- Once the device has shut down, turn it on again.
- Navigate to the Device Healthsettings to re-configure it. You’ll be prompted to follow instructions on how to set up your Ring Doorbell again.
- Once you’ve done this, check on Device Health to see if motion detection is working.
Note that doing this will remove all your Ring doorbell data, including video footage history and personalized settings.
3. Contacting Customer Support
If the problem persists even after attempting all of the troubleshooting methods, it is recommended that you reach out to customer support for additional help. The manufacturer’s technical support team can provide additional guidance and support, such as inspecting the unit’s wiring, verifying power sources and timer settings, and more.
FAQ:
Q1: My Ring doorbell is not detecting motion, but it is receiving notifications when the doorbell is pressed. Is this normal?
A: It seems that your Ring doorbell is functioning as expected when it comes to receiving notifications when the doorbell button is pressed. However, it has a problem with its motion detection feature. You can review the guides above to help you with this issue.
Q2. How often should I update the software on my ring doorbell for optimal performance?
It would help if you were to update the software regularly or whenever an update is available. Note that updates obtained from third-party stores may not work correctly with your Ring device, and compatibility may vary by region.
Q3. My Ring doorbell detects motion during the day but not at night.
To solve this, deactivate your people-only setting by toggling it off on your Ring app setting. Devices > Choose the device > Motion Settings > People Only Mode, then toggle it off.
Conclusion
So if you’re having trouble with your Ring Doorbell’s motion detection, hopefully, this article has helped clear things up. To summarize, if your Ring doorbell is not detecting motion, there are several steps you can take to try to troubleshoot the issue. These include checking the doorbell’s placement, cleaning the lens, and checking the Wi-Fi connection.
If all else fails, you can try more advanced troubleshooting techniques, such as checking for software updates, resetting the doorbell, or contacting Ring customer support for further assistance. Following these steps, you can resolve any issues and get your doorbell to work correctly again.
