Ring's Alarm firmware article says Alarm devices update automatically and the Ring app shows progress, and that you should not remove power while an update runs. For the Alarm Pro, updates happen when the base station is online and the app notifies you. To check versions, open Devices, choose the Alarm, then the device's Device Health or Settings, and read the firmware line; sensors update through the base station over Z-Wave and can take longer than the base station itself.
The checks in more detail
Only the account owner can manage firmware, so a shared user should ask the owner. If an update stalls, confirm the base station is online, restart the router and modem, reboot the base station with a quick pinhole press, move sensors near the base station and wait, since sensor updates depend on the Z-Wave link. Replace low sensor batteries first, because a weak battery can fail an update.
During an update a sensor may show offline for a few minutes, so give it time before removing it. A base station that never updates needs Ring Support, with the model and firmware version ready. Do not attempt to install firmware from outside sources. Keep a note of each firmware version after updates, so that if a sensor behaves differently you can tell which version began the change. A sensor that stays offline after an update should be reconfigured from Advanced Options before you remove it.
Avoid arming the system in the middle of an update, since a base station busy updating may respond slowly. After every update run a short test of each sensor type and note anything that behaves differently, so a change is caught the same day. If your alarm is monitored, tell the monitoring center before a planned firmware update window and test a sensor afterwards, so a brief offline period is not mistaken for a real fault.
Differential
Likely causes of “Ring Alarm Pro Base Station firmware update is stuck or failed”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A weak connection
What separates it The update stalls because the connection between the base station and the router is weak
How to confirm Restart the router, and use an ethernet connection, so that the update has a steady link
- 2
A low sensor battery
What separates it A sensor update fails because the battery in the sensor is low
How to confirm Replace the battery in the sensor, and let the update run again
- 3
A weak Z-Wave link
What separates it A sensor update is slow because its Z-Wave link to the base station is weak
How to confirm Move the sensor closer to the base station, so that the link is stronger while it updates
- 4
A shared user
What separates it You have no control over updates because you are a shared user and not the account owner
How to confirm Ask the account owner to start the update, since only the owner can do it
- 5
A stuck base station
What separates it The base station never receives an update because it is stuck in a bad state
How to confirm Contact Ring Support, and describe what the app shows and what you have tried
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The firmware version shown in Device Health
- The battery levels of the sensors that are being updated
- Whether you are the owner of the account
- Whether the base station shows as connected
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the firmware line
ReversibleCheck the firmware line in Device Health, which shows the version that is installed at the moment.
Confirm the base station is online
ReversibleConfirm that the base station is online and restart the router, so the update has a steady link.
Replace low batteries
ReversibleReplace low batteries in the sensors, because a weak battery can make a sensor update fail.
Move sensors closer
ReversibleMove the sensors closer to the base station, since the Z-Wave link needs to be strong to update.
Wait through the update
ReversibleWait through the update, and do not remove power from the base station while it is running.
Reboot with a quick press
ReversibleReboot with a quick press of the pinhole if the update has stalled, without holding it down.
Contact Ring
ReversibleContact Ring if it never updates, and tell them the firmware version and the error shown.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Base station
- Updates over its internet connection.
- Sensors
- Update over Z-Wave through the base station.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the base station never updates, contact Ring Support
- !If a sensor fails after a battery change, reset it
- !If a sensor stays offline after the update, reconfigure it in the app
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Alarm firmware.
Base station and Z-Wave reconnect steps.
Alarm reset.
Setup checklist.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Do Alarm devices update automatically?+
Yes, Alarm devices update automatically, and the Ring app shows the progress of the update.
Can a shared user update?+
No, a shared user cannot update firmware, which only the account owner can do.
Why is a sensor offline during update?+
A sensor restarts for a few minutes during its update, so it may show offline for a while.
Can low batteries fail an update?+
Yes, a low battery in a sensor can make its update fail, so replace it first.
How do sensors update?+
Sensors update through the base station, which passes the new firmware to them.
Can I install my own firmware?+
No, you cannot install your own firmware, because Ring sends updates to each device.