Ring devices support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wifi, and Ring's setup article says to have your wifi password ready, keep the phone close to the device during setup and make sure the Ring app and the phone are up to date. To change or repair the connection, open Devices, choose the device, Device Health, then Change Network under Network and follow the prompts.
The checks in more detail
Signal strength shows under Device Health, Signal Strength, and Ring lists the usual causes of a poor signal: distance from the router, the layout of the home, interference from TVs and consoles, and materials such as stucco, brick, metal, large mirrors and glass doors. Move the device or router closer, add a Chime Pro, or move to a mesh system. Ring recommends trying a different 2.4 GHz network rather than 5 GHz when a device keeps disconnecting, and a guest network as another test.
Test the internet speed, since higher-resolution devices need more, and restart the router and modem. Ring's router article covers adjusting router settings for poor audio and video quality. If you have two routers, keep one. Reset the device if it will not join, and if setup keeps failing after these steps contact Ring Support. Test signal at the device's actual position by holding a phone there and running a speed test, since the reading near the router says nothing about the porch.
A router in a cabinet or basement can look close on a map and still be a poor match for a device behind a brick wall, so distance is only part of the story. Write down the network name and band the device is on, since a phone and a Ring device on different bands or different routers is a common source of confusing setup and reconnect results.
Differential
Likely causes of “Ring doorbells and security cameras will not stay connected to Wi-Fi”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A weak signal
What separates it Device Health shows a low signal strength reading, and the video drops out at times
How to confirm Move the router closer to the device, or add a Ring Chime Pro to boost the signal at the door
- 2
Materials blocking wifi
What separates it The signal is poor because brick, stucco or metal between the router and the device blocks it
How to confirm Reposition the router so there are fewer thick walls or metal objects between it and the device
- 3
A slow connection
What separates it The video is poor and laggy because the internet connection is slow
How to confirm Test the internet speed, and restart the router if the speed is much lower than you pay for
- 4
A stale network setting
What separates it The device will not rejoin the network because it holds an old network setting
How to confirm Use the Change Network option in the app to join it to the network that you use now
- 5
Router firewall or second router
What separates it Setup fails because a router firewall blocks the device or a second router is in the way
How to confirm Lower the firewall settings on the router, and keep to one router on the network
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which wifi band the device is trying to use
- Where the router is placed in relation to the device
- The error message that the app shows during setup
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck signal strength
ReversibleCheck the signal strength in Device Health, where the reading shows how well the device hears the router.
Move closer or add a Chime Pro
ReversibleMove the device closer to the router, or add a Chime Pro, to reduce the distance the signal travels.
Try 2.4 GHz
ReversibleTry the 2.4 GHz band or a guest network, which can connect better than the 5 GHz band at range.
Test the internet speed
ReversibleTest the internet speed and restart the router, since a slow connection makes the video poor.
Change Network
ReversibleUse the Change Network option in the app, so that the device joins the network you use now.
Reset and set up again
ReversibleReset the device and set it up again, if it will not join the network after those steps.
Contact Ring
ReversibleContact Ring if setup keeps failing, and give them the error code and the signal strength reading.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Dual band
- Most current Ring devices support both bands.
- Chime Pro
- Extends the wifi signal to Ring devices.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Spotlight Cam Pro, Floodlight Cam Wired Pro, Indoor Cam (2nd Gen).
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If setup fails repeatedly after a reset, contact Ring Support
- !If the whole network is slow, check the provider
- !If only Ring drops, add a Chime Pro or mesh
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Setup checklist.
Reconnect steps, 2.4 GHz, power and reset.
Speed and signal.
Router settings.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Does Ring support 5 GHz?+
Yes, Ring devices support 5 GHz as well as 2.4 GHz, so you can choose the stronger band.
Where is signal strength?+
Open Device Health and look at the Signal Strength reading, which shows how strong the link is.
What blocks wifi?+
Brick, stucco, metal and mirrors can block or weaken wifi, so avoid putting these in the signal's path.
Should I add a Chime Pro?+
A Chime Pro can boost the signal that reaches the device, which helps if the router is far away.
Can a guest network help?+
Yes, a guest network can help as a test, to see if the main network's settings are the cause.
Do I need a fast connection?+
Yes, higher resolution video needs more speed, so test your internet if the picture is poor.
Can I have two routers?+
Keep to one router on the network, because two routers can cause connection problems for Ring.
What are Modes on a Ring doorbell?+
Modes are the Disarmed, Home and Away settings, and they control what each Ring device does when it senses movement.
How long can a doorbell firmware update take?+
An update can take up to about five minutes, and you should not remove power from the doorbell while it runs.
Who can update the doorbell's firmware?+
Only the account owner can start a firmware update, so shared users will not see that option in their app.