How to Change Chimes on Ring Doorbell

Changing the chime on your Ring Doorbell is simple and lets you personalize your home’s alerts. This guide walks you through every step—from selecting a new sound to troubleshooting common issues—so you can enjoy a customized doorbell experience in minutes.

Key Takeaways

Customize your alerts: Ring Doorbell allows you to choose from multiple built-in chime sounds to match your style and improve recognition.
Use the Ring app: All chime changes are made through the Ring mobile app—no physical adjustments needed.
Adjust volume easily: You can increase or decrease chime volume directly in the app for better audibility.
Works with Ring Chime or Echo devices: Pair your doorbell with a Ring Chime or Amazon Echo for louder, more flexible alerts.
Troubleshoot quickly: If your chime isn’t working, check Wi-Fi, app updates, and device sync to fix issues fast.
Silent mode available: You can mute chimes temporarily for quiet times like naps or late nights.
Multiple users supported: All household members with app access can customize their own notification preferences.

If you’ve ever missed a delivery because your doorbell was too quiet—or been startled by a jarring chime at 2 a.m.—you’ll love knowing that Ring Doorbell lets you change chimes with just a few taps. Whether you want a cheerful melody, a classic “ding-dong,” or a modern tone, customizing your Ring Doorbell’s sound is easier than you think.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through every step of changing your Ring Doorbell chime. You’ll learn how to access the settings in the Ring app, choose from available sounds, adjust volume levels, and even connect external chimes like the Ring Chime or Amazon Echo devices. We’ll also cover troubleshooting tips for when things don’t go as planned.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to personalize your doorbell alerts to suit your lifestyle—whether you’re working from home, have a large house, or just prefer a gentler sound. Let’s get started!

Why Change Your Ring Doorbell Chime?

Visual guide about How to Change Chimes on Ring Doorbell

Image source: i.ytimg.com

Before diving into the steps, it’s worth understanding why changing your chime matters. The default sound on your Ring Doorbell might not be ideal for your home environment. Here are a few reasons you might want to switch it up:

Better audibility: Some chimes are louder or more distinct, making them easier to hear from another room or outside.
Personal preference: You might prefer a softer tone over a loud, abrupt sound—especially if you have pets or young children.
Multiple entry points: If you have more than one door, different chimes can help you identify which door someone is at.
Reduced false alerts: A unique sound can help you distinguish between real visitors and motion-triggered notifications.
Smart home integration: Pairing with a Ring Chime or Echo device gives you more control and flexibility over how and where you hear alerts.

Changing your chime isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about improving functionality and comfort in your daily life.

What You’ll Need

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

A smartphone or tablet with the Ring app installed (available on iOS and Android)
Your Ring Doorbell properly installed and connected to Wi-Fi
Your Ring account login details
(Optional) A Ring Chime or compatible Amazon Echo device if you want louder or remote alerts

Most Ring Doorbells come with built-in chimes, but for enhanced sound or coverage in larger homes, adding a Ring Chime or Echo is highly recommended.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Chimes on Ring Doorbell

Now that you’re prepared, let’s go through the process of changing your Ring Doorbell chime. The steps are straightforward and take less than five minutes.

Step 1: Open the Ring App

Start by unlocking your smartphone and opening the Ring app. If you haven’t used it in a while, you may need to log in with your email and password.

Once logged in, you’ll see the home screen, which displays all your Ring devices. Look for your doorbell—it should appear as a tile with a live preview or a snapshot.

Tap on your doorbell’s tile to open its live view or device dashboard.

Step 2: Access Device Settings

In the top-right corner of the screen, you’ll see a small gear icon (⚙️). This is the Device Settings button. Tap it to open a menu with various options like Motion Settings, Video Quality, and Chimes.

Scroll down until you find the Chimes section. This is where all your sound customization happens.

Step 3: Choose a New Chime Sound

Under the Chimes section, tap on Chime Tones. You’ll see a list of available sounds. Ring offers a variety of options, including:

Classic Ding-Dong – The traditional doorbell sound.
Modern Chime – A sleek, electronic tone.
Bell Tower – A deeper, more resonant chime.
Gentle Chime – A soft, soothing tone ideal for homes with babies or pets.
Upbeat Melody – A cheerful, multi-note tune.

Tap on any sound to preview it. You’ll hear a sample play through your phone’s speaker. This helps you decide which one you like best.

Once you’ve found a sound you love, tap Save or Select to apply it.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure, try a few different tones at different times of day. A sound that’s perfect during the day might be too loud at night.

Step 4: Adjust the Chime Volume

Next to the Chime Tones option, you’ll see Chime Volume. Tap it to open a slider.

Drag the slider left to make the chime quieter, or right to make it louder. The volume range typically goes from 1 (very soft) to 10 (very loud).

Test the volume by pressing the Test Chime button. This will play the selected sound at the current volume level through your doorbell’s built-in speaker.

Adjust until it’s just right for your home. If you have a large house or hard-of-hearing family members, consider setting it higher.

Note: The built-in speaker on Ring Doorbells is decent, but not extremely loud. For better coverage, consider adding a Ring Chime (see Step 6).

Step 5: Enable or Disable Chimes

You can also choose whether your doorbell chimes at all. This is useful if you want silent notifications (e.g., during naps or late-night hours).

Under the Chimes section, toggle the Chime Enabled switch on or off.

When disabled, your doorbell will still send push notifications to your phone, but it won’t play a sound. This is great for avoiding disturbances while still staying informed.

You can schedule this too—set chimes to turn off automatically at night and back on in the morning.

Step 6: Add a Ring Chime or Echo Device (Optional)

For louder, more flexible alerts, connect your Ring Doorbell to a Ring Chime or an Amazon Echo device.

Using a Ring Chime

The Ring Chime is a plug-in device that plays your selected chime sound through a built-in speaker. It’s perfect for larger homes or rooms far from the front door.

To set it up:

Plug the Ring Chime into an electrical outlet.
Open the Ring app and go to Devices > Add Device.
Select Chime and follow the on-screen instructions to pair it with your doorbell.
Once connected, you can choose which chime sound plays on the Chime device separately from the doorbell.

You can even set different sounds for the doorbell and the Chime—for example, a soft tone on the doorbell and a louder one inside.

Using an Amazon Echo

If you have an Echo Dot, Echo Show, or other Alexa-enabled device, you can use it as a doorbell chime.

To enable this:

Open the Ring app and go to Device Settings > Chimes.
Tap Echo Devices and select the Echo you want to use.
Choose a chime sound and volume level.
Now, when someone rings your doorbell, your Echo will announce “Someone is at the front door” and play the selected chime.

This is especially helpful if you’re in the basement, backyard, or another part of the house where the doorbell isn’t audible.

Advanced Chime Customization Tips

Now that you know the basics, here are some advanced tips to get the most out of your Ring Doorbell chimes.

Use Different Chimes for Different Doors

If you have multiple Ring Doorbells (e.g., front door, back door, gate), assign each one a unique chime sound. This way, you’ll instantly know which door someone is at.

For example:

Front door: Classic Ding-Dong
Back door: Modern Chime
Side gate: Bell Tower

This simple trick saves time and reduces confusion—especially during busy times like holidays or parties.

Schedule Chime Times

You can set your chimes to automatically turn on or off at certain times. This is perfect for quiet hours.

To schedule:

Go to Device Settings > Chimes.
Tap Chime Schedule.
Set start and end times for when chimes should be active.
You can also choose different days (e.g., weekdays only).

For example, set chimes to turn off from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. so you’re not woken up by late-night deliveries.

Use Silent Mode for Special Occasions

If you’re hosting a meeting, watching a movie, or putting a baby to sleep, you can quickly mute your chimes.

In the Ring app:

Go to Device Settings > Chimes.
Toggle Chime Enabled to off.
Or, use the quick toggle in the main device view.

You’ll still get phone notifications, so you won’t miss any visitors.

Troubleshooting Common Chime Issues

Even with the best setup, sometimes chimes don’t work as expected. Here’s how to fix the most common problems.

Chime Isn’t Playing at All

If your doorbell isn’t making any sound when pressed:

Check Wi-Fi connection: A weak or lost connection can prevent the doorbell from triggering chimes. Make sure your doorbell is online in the app.
Verify Chime Enabled is on: Go to Device Settings > Chimes and ensure the toggle is switched on.
Test the chime: Use the “Test Chime” button in the app to see if the issue is with the doorbell or the visitor’s press.
Restart the doorbell: Remove the doorbell from its mount, wait 10 seconds, and reattach it. This resets the connection.

Chime Is Too Quiet or Too Loud

If the volume isn’t right:

Adjust the slider: Go back to Chime Volume and move the slider to your preferred level.
Add a Ring Chime: For louder sound, plug in a Ring Chime in a central location.
Check speaker placement: Make sure the doorbell isn’t blocked by a cover or mounted too close to a wall, which can muffle sound.

Echo or Ring Chime Not Working

If your external chime isn’t responding:

Check power: Ensure the Ring Chime is plugged in and the outlet is working.
Re-pair the device: In the Ring app, go to Devices > select the Chime > Remove Device. Then re-add it.
Update firmware: Make sure both your doorbell and Chime are running the latest firmware. Updates happen automatically, but you can check in the app under Device Health.
Restart your Echo: For Alexa devices, say “Alexa, restart” or unplug and replug the device.

Chime Plays the Wrong Sound

If the chime doesn’t match what you selected:

Double-check your selection: Go back to Chime Tones and confirm the correct sound is saved.
Clear app cache: On your phone, go to Settings > Apps > Ring > Storage > Clear Cache. Then reopen the app.
Force close and reopen the app: Sometimes the app doesn’t refresh settings properly.

Best Practices for Ring Doorbell Chimes

To keep your chimes working smoothly and enhance your experience, follow these best practices:

Update the Ring app regularly: New features and bug fixes are released often. Keep your app up to date.
Test chimes monthly: Press your doorbell or use the test button to ensure everything is working.
Use strong Wi-Fi: Place your router close to the doorbell or use a Wi-Fi extender for better signal.
Label your devices: If you have multiple Ring devices, give them clear names (e.g., “Front Door,” “Back Porch”) to avoid confusion.
Involve the family: Let everyone in the household know how to adjust chimes and use silent mode.

Conclusion

Changing the chime on your Ring Doorbell is a simple yet powerful way to personalize your smart home experience. With just a few taps in the Ring app, you can select a sound that fits your lifestyle, adjust the volume for better audibility, and even connect external devices like Ring Chime or Amazon Echo for enhanced alerts.

Whether you prefer a gentle tone for quiet mornings or a bold chime for busy households, Ring gives you the flexibility to customize your doorbell exactly how you want it. And with built-in scheduling, silent mode, and multi-device support, you’re always in control.

Don’t settle for a one-size-fits-all doorbell sound. Take a few minutes today to explore your options and make your Ring Doorbell truly yours. Your future self—and your guests—will thank you.