Ring's outage article says that during a power cut the Alarm Pro base station runs on its internal battery for up to twenty-four hours in low power mode, and while on the battery it turns off most functions and wifi to save energy, even with a working internet connection. You can still arm and disarm, and with Professional Monitoring on a compatible subscription it sends a signal and requests dispatch if triggered; other features return when power does.
The checks in more detail
Ring Power Packs add external backup: up to three fully charged packs can connect to keep Alarm Pro features, including 24/7 Backup Internet, running, each giving up to eight hours. For sensors, battery life varies with activity and each device has its own battery; a low-battery warning appears in the app under the device. Replace batteries with the type in the device and check for corroded contacts. If the base station will not power on, check the outlet and adapter, and if it does not appear online the guide's last resort is to unregister and set up again.
After a long outage, allow the base station to recharge fully before the next one. Test the backup by unplugging power briefly and confirming the app shows the base on battery. Log the date of each outage and how long the base station stayed on battery, since repeated short outages can drain a battery before a long one arrives. Store spare batteries at room temperature and swap them all at once when one warns, since sensors bought together age together.
Check the battery type printed in each sensor before ordering spares, since sensor models use different cells. Check the base station's mains adapter connection at the wall and at the unit, because a plug pulled slightly out by vacuuming is a common cause of repeated battery warnings. A base station that shows low battery even on mains power may have a worn internal cell, and a battery that no longer holds a charge is a reason to contact Ring for a replacement rather than to keep testing the outlet.
Differential
Likely causes of “Ring Alarm Pro Base Station has power or battery problems”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A power outage
What separates it The base station is running on battery because of a power outage
How to confirm Wait for the power to return, or add Power Packs if you need it to last longer in an outage
- 2
Low power mode
What separates it Wifi and some features are off because the base station has switched to low power mode
How to confirm Restore the mains power, and the base station will return to normal operation
- 3
A drained sensor battery
What separates it You see a low battery warning because a sensor's battery is nearly drained
How to confirm Replace the battery in that sensor, using the type that the sensor requires
- 4
A faulty adapter
What separates it The base station has no power because the adapter or the outlet is faulty
How to confirm Test the outlet with another device, and test or replace the power adapter
- 5
A depleted backup
What separates it The base station shuts down in a long outage because its backup battery has run out
How to confirm Add Power Packs, which extend the backup time in a long power cut
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The power state in the app
- The battery level shown for the base station in the app
- How long the power outage has lasted
- Whether the adapter and the outlet work
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the outlet and adapter
ReversibleCheck the outlet and the adapter, and test the power with another device plugged into the same outlet.
Read the app power state
ReversibleRead the power state in the app, which says whether the base station is on battery or on mains.
Add Power Packs
ReversibleAdd Power Packs if you want the system to last through long outages, since they extend the backup time.
Replace sensor batteries
ReversibleReplace sensor batteries when the app warns that they are low, to avoid the sensors dropping off.
Let it recharge
ReversibleLet the base station recharge after an outage, and check the battery level in the app afterwards.
Test the backup
ReversibleTest the backup by briefly unplugging the base station, to check that it runs on its battery.
Contact Ring
ReversibleContact Ring if it will not start, and tell them what the lights and the app show.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Base station
- Runs on internal battery during outages.
- Sensors
- Each has its own battery.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the base station will not power on, contact Ring Support
- !If the battery drains quickly, contact Ring about a possible fault
- !If a sensor battery drains fast, check the sensor
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Battery, Power Packs and backup internet.
Base station and Z-Wave reconnect steps.
Alarm Pro setup.
Alarm reset.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How long does the internal battery last?+
The internal battery lasts up to twenty four hours in low power mode, during a power cut.
What turns off on battery?+
Most functions and wifi turn off while it runs on the battery, to save power.
Can I still arm?+
Yes, you can still arm the system, and the sensors carry on working during an outage.
How many Power Packs can I add?+
You can add up to three Power Packs to extend the backup time of the base station.
Does monitoring still work?+
Monitoring still works with a compatible subscription, though the wifi is off on battery.
Should I test the backup?+
Yes, test the backup, so that you know it works before you need it in a real outage.
Does Alarm Pro work with Alexa?+
Yes, it works with Alexa through the Ring skill, so you can arm and disarm the system by voice on Alexa devices.
Where do I see the event history?+
In the Ring app, open the device and choose Event History, which lists each arming, alarm and sensor event.
How fast must my internet be?+
Cameras and higher resolution devices need faster internet, so run a speed test if video or alerts seem delayed.
Can I use two routers with Ring?+
It can cause connection problems, so keep to one router, or set the extra one to bridge mode.