Quick Summary When a Ring doorbell stops recording, the cause is almost always one of four things: motion detection is disabled in the app, motion sensitivity…
Quick Summary
When a Ring doorbell stops recording, the cause is almost always one of four things: motion detection is disabled in the app, motion sensitivity is set too low, the motion schedule is blocking recordings, or the device has lost its connection to Ring's servers. Work through these steps in order — most users fix the issue at Step 1 or 2.
Symptom Diagnosis
Step 1: Verify Motion Detection Is Enabled Ring app → tap your doorbell → Device Settings → Motion Settings. Check that Motion Detection toggle is On (blue). If it was off: enable it and test by walking in front of the doorbell. Wait 30 seconds — a motion alert should appear on your phone.
Step 2: Check Motion Schedule
Ring's Motion Schedule can silently disable recording during set hours. Ring app → tap your doorbell → Device Settings → Motion Settings → Motion Schedule. If a schedule is active: it will show a time range (e.g., 10pm–7am). Disable the schedule temporarily by toggling it off. Test motion detection. If recording resumes: the schedule was blocking it. Adjust the schedule to your preferred hours.
Step 3: Increase Motion Sensitivity
Low sensitivity means the doorbell only triggers on very close, fast movement. Ring app → tap your doorbell → Device Settings → Motion Settings → Motion Sensitivity. Move the slider to the right (higher sensitivity). Recommended starting point: 70–80% for most front doors. Test by walking at normal pace from the street toward the door. Adjust until motion is reliably detected.
Step 4: Check Motion Zones
Motion Zones define which areas of the camera view trigger recording. If zones are too small or positioned incorrectly, motion is missed. Ring app → tap your doorbell → Device Settings → Motion Settings → Motion Zones. You'll see a camera view with adjustable zone boxes. Ensure the zone covers the path people walk to your door (driveway, walkway, porch). Expand zones to cover more area. Save and test.
Step 5: Check Ring Protect Plan (Cloud Storage)
Ring requires an active Ring Protect Plan to save recordings to the cloud. Without it, the doorbell only supports Live View — no recordings are saved. Ring app → Account → Ring Protect Plans. Check if your plan is active and not expired. If expired or cancelled: recordings will not be saved even if motion detection is working. Subscribe to Ring Protect Basic ($3.99/month per device) to re-enable recording.
Step 6: Check Device Health and Wi-Fi Signal
A weak Wi-Fi signal can cause the doorbell to miss uploads even when motion is detected. Ring app → tap your doorbell → Device Health. Check Signal Strength (RSSI). Acceptable range: -40 to -65. If RSSI is -70 or worse: the signal is too weak for reliable recording. Move your router closer, or add a Ring Chime Pro (Wi-Fi extender) near the doorbell. After improving signal: test motion recording.
Step 7: Power Cycle the Doorbell Battery-powered: Remove the battery, wait 30 seconds, reinsert. Wired: Turn off the circuit breaker for the doorbell for 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Wait 2 minutes for the device to reconnect. Test motion detection.
Step 8: Reinstall the Ring App
Corrupted app data can prevent notifications and recording confirmations from appearing. Delete the Ring app from your phone. Reinstall from the App Store or Google Play. Log back in and test motion detection.