This guide walks you through how to change Ring Doorbell notification settings step by step. You’ll learn to adjust alert types, customize sounds, set quiet hours, and troubleshoot common issues—all from the Ring app.
Key Takeaways
- Customize Alert Types: Choose between motion, doorbell rings, or both to receive only the notifications you want.
- Adjust Notification Sounds: Personalize your phone’s alert tone for Ring events to distinguish them from other apps.
- Set Quiet Hours: Silence notifications during specific times (like nighttime) to avoid disturbances.
- Use Motion Zones: Limit alerts to specific areas in front of your doorbell to reduce false alarms.
- Enable Smart Alerts: Use AI-powered detection to get notified only for people, packages, or vehicles.
- Check Device Health: Ensure your doorbell is online and properly connected to avoid missed alerts.
- Troubleshoot Common Issues: Fix problems like delayed notifications or app crashes with simple fixes.
How to Change Ring Doorbell Notification: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve ever been woken up by a midnight motion alert or missed a delivery because your Ring Doorbell didn’t notify you, you’re not alone. The good news? You can easily customize your Ring Doorbell notification settings to match your lifestyle. Whether you want fewer alerts, different sounds, or smarter detection, this guide will show you exactly how to change Ring Doorbell notification preferences—no tech degree required.
In this comprehensive how-to, we’ll walk you through every step of adjusting your Ring Doorbell notifications using the Ring app. You’ll learn how to turn off unnecessary alerts, personalize notification sounds, set quiet hours, and even use advanced features like motion zones and smart alerts. By the end, you’ll have full control over when, how, and why your Ring Doorbell sends you notifications.
Let’s get started!
Why Customize Your Ring Doorbell Notifications?
Before diving into the steps, it’s helpful to understand why adjusting your notification settings matters. Ring Doorbells are designed to keep you informed, but too many alerts can become overwhelming—or worse, cause you to ignore important ones.
For example, if your doorbell sends alerts every time a leaf blows past or a car drives by, you might start dismissing notifications altogether. That’s dangerous because you could miss a real visitor or security threat. On the flip side, if your notifications are too quiet or delayed, you might not hear them when it counts.
Customizing your Ring Doorbell notification settings helps you:
– Reduce false alarms
– Stay alert during key times
– Protect your privacy and peace
– Improve battery life (fewer alerts mean less app usage)
Think of it like tuning a radio: you want to hear the station clearly, but not the static. With the right settings, your Ring Doorbell becomes a smart, reliable partner in home security—not a noisy distraction.
Step 1: Open the Ring App
The first step to changing your Ring Doorbell notification settings is opening the Ring app on your smartphone or tablet. The app is available for free on both iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play).
How to Access the App
- Unlock your phone and look for the Ring app icon (a blue circle with a white “R”).
- Tap the icon to open the app.
- If you’re not already logged in, enter your email and password to sign in.
Tip: Make sure you’re using the latest version of the app. Outdated versions may not have all the features or could cause glitches. You can check for updates in your device’s app store.
Once you’re in, you’ll see the main dashboard showing your Ring devices. If you have multiple Ring products (like a doorbell, camera, or alarm), they’ll all appear here.
Step 2: Select Your Doorbell Device
Now that you’re in the app, you need to choose the specific doorbell you want to adjust. This is especially important if you have more than one Ring device at your home.
How to Choose Your Doorbell
- On the home screen, tap the device you want to customize. It should be labeled something like “Front Door” or “Ring Video Doorbell.”
- Tap the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner of the device screen. This opens the Device Settings menu.
You’ll now see a list of options like Motion Settings, Video Settings, and Notification Settings. We’re focusing on notifications, so let’s head there next.
Step 3: Access Notification Settings
This is where the magic happens. The Notification Settings menu lets you control everything about how and when your Ring Doorbell alerts you.
How to Find Notification Settings
- In the Device Settings menu, scroll down and tap Notification Settings.
- You’ll see several options, including:
- Motion Alerts
- Doorbell Press Alerts
- Smart Alerts
- Notification Schedule
- Sound Settings
Each of these can be customized to fit your needs. Let’s go through them one by one.
Step 4: Customize Motion and Doorbell Alerts
By default, your Ring Doorbell sends notifications for both motion and doorbell presses. But you might not want both—or you might want to adjust their sensitivity.
Turn On or Off Motion Alerts
- Under Notification Settings, tap Motion Alerts.
- Toggle the switch to turn motion alerts on or off.
- If you keep them on, you can adjust sensitivity:
- Tap Motion Sensitivity.
- Slide the bar to Low, Medium, or High.
- Low = fewer alerts (good for busy streets)
- High = more alerts (good for quiet areas)
Turn On or Off Doorbell Press Alerts
- Go back to Notification Settings.
- Tap Doorbell Press Alerts.
- Toggle the switch to enable or disable alerts when someone rings the bell.
Pro Tip: If you have a Ring Chime or Chime Pro, you can also set it to play a sound when the doorbell is pressed—even if your phone is on silent. This is great for hearing alerts inside your home.
Step 5: Set Up Smart Alerts (Person, Package, Vehicle Detection)
One of the best features of newer Ring Doorbells is Smart Alerts. Instead of getting notified for every movement, you can choose to receive alerts only for specific events—like when a person approaches or a package is delivered.
How to Enable Smart Alerts
- In Notification Settings, tap Smart Alerts.
- Toggle on the types of alerts you want:
- People Only: Get notified only when a person is detected.
- Packages: Alerts when a delivery is left at your door.
- Vehicles: Notifications when a car enters your driveway.
- You can choose one, some, or all of these options.
Note: Smart Alerts require a Ring Protect Plan (subscription), but they’re worth it if you want fewer false alarms. Without the plan, you’ll still get basic motion and doorbell alerts.
Adjust Smart Alert Sensitivity
- Under each Smart Alert type, tap Sensitivity.
- Choose from Low, Medium, or High.
- High sensitivity means the AI is more likely to detect and alert you—even for smaller movements.
For example, if you get a lot of false package alerts from wind-blown trash, try lowering the sensitivity.
Step 6: Create Motion Zones
Motion zones let you define specific areas in front of your doorbell where you want to receive alerts. This is perfect for ignoring busy sidewalks or driveways while still monitoring your front step.
How to Set Up Motion Zones
- In Device Settings, tap Motion Settings.
- Tap Motion Zones.
- You’ll see a live view of your doorbell’s camera with a grid overlay.
- Tap and drag to create custom zones. You can make up to three zones.
- Name each zone (e.g., “Front Step,” “Driveway”).
- Toggle each zone on or off depending on when you want alerts.
Example: If your doorbell faces a busy street, create a zone only around your front door and mailbox. That way, you’ll only get alerts when someone approaches your home—not every time a car passes by.
Adjust Zone Sensitivity
- After creating a zone, tap it to open settings.
- Adjust the sensitivity slider for that zone only.
- This lets you fine-tune alerts for different areas.
Step 7: Customize Notification Sounds
Did you know you can change the sound your phone makes when you get a Ring notification? This helps you distinguish Ring alerts from texts, emails, or other apps.
How to Change the Notification Sound
- Go to your phone’s Settings app (not the Ring app).
- Tap Notifications (on iPhone) or Apps & Notifications (on Android).
- Find and tap Ring in the app list.
- Tap Notification Sound.
- Choose from your phone’s default sounds or add a custom one.
Tip: Pick a sound that’s loud and distinct—like a doorbell chime or alarm tone. Avoid soft or similar-sounding alerts that might get missed.
Use Vibration Patterns (Android Only)
- In the same notification settings, look for Vibration.
- Choose a pattern or create a custom one.
- This is helpful if you keep your phone on silent but still want to feel alerts.
Step 8: Set a Notification Schedule (Quiet Hours)
If you don’t want to be disturbed at night or during meetings, you can set a notification schedule—also known as “Quiet Hours.”
How to Enable Quiet Hours
- In the Ring app, go to Notification Settings.
- Tap Notification Schedule.
- Toggle on Enable Schedule.
- Set the start and end times (e.g., 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM).
- Choose whether to silence motion alerts, doorbell alerts, or both.
Bonus Feature: You can also set different schedules for different days. For example, silence alerts on weekends but keep them on during weekdays.
Override Quiet Hours for Important Alerts
If you’re worried about missing a real emergency, you can allow certain alerts to come through even during quiet hours:
- In Notification Schedule, tap Allow During Quiet Hours.
- Choose options like “Doorbell Press” or “Person Detected.”
- This way, you’ll still hear the doorbell or a visitor, but not every passing car.
Step 9: Check Device Health and Connectivity
Even the best settings won’t work if your doorbell isn’t connected properly. Before blaming the app, make sure your device is online and healthy.
How to Check Device Status
- In the Ring app, go to the home screen.
- Look at your doorbell’s status icon:
- Green = Online and working
- Yellow = Weak signal or low battery
- Red = Offline
- Tap the device and scroll down to Device Health.
- Check:
- Wi-Fi Signal Strength
- Battery Level (for battery-powered models)
- Firmware Version
Fix Common Connectivity Issues
- Weak Wi-Fi: Move your router closer or use a Wi-Fi extender. Ring Doorbells work best within 100 feet of the router.
- Low Battery: Charge or replace the battery. Battery life varies by model and usage.
- Outdated Firmware: The app usually updates automatically, but you can check under Device Health > Firmware Version.
Tip: If your doorbell keeps going offline, try restarting it. Remove the battery (if applicable), wait 10 seconds, and reinsert it.
Step 10: Test Your New Notification Settings
After making changes, it’s important to test them to make sure everything works as expected.
How to Test Your Alerts
- Ask a friend or family member to ring the doorbell or walk in front of it.
- Check if you receive the notification on your phone.
- Verify the sound, vibration, and timing.
- If using motion zones, test different areas to ensure only the right zones trigger alerts.
Pro Tip: Use the Ring app’s Live View feature to watch the test in real time. This helps confirm that motion detection and alerts are working together.
Troubleshooting Common Notification Problems
Even with perfect settings, you might run into issues. Here are some common problems and how to fix them.
Problem: Notifications Are Delayed
Possible Causes: Weak Wi-Fi, app not running in background, phone in Do Not Disturb mode.
Visual guide about How to Change Ring Doorbell Notification
Image source: androidauthority.com
Solution:
- Check Wi-Fi signal in Device Health.
- Ensure the Ring app is allowed to run in the background (check phone settings).
- Turn off Do Not Disturb or allow Ring as an exception.
Problem: No Notifications at All
Possible Causes: App notifications disabled, doorbell offline, battery dead.
Solution:
- Go to phone settings > Notifications > Ring > Enable alerts.
- Check Device Health for connectivity.
- Charge or replace the battery.
Problem: Too Many False Alerts
Possible Causes: High sensitivity, no motion zones, no Smart Alerts.
Solution:
- Lower motion sensitivity.
- Set up motion zones to ignore busy areas.
- Enable Smart Alerts (if subscribed).
Problem: App Crashes or Freezes
Possible Causes: Outdated app, phone storage full, software bug.
Solution:
- Update the Ring app.
- Restart your phone.
- Clear app cache (Android) or reinstall the app.
Final Tips for Better Ring Doorbell Notifications
Now that you know how to change Ring Doorbell notification settings, here are a few extra tips to keep things running smoothly:
- Update Regularly: Ring frequently releases app and firmware updates with bug fixes and new features.
- Use a Ring Chime: If you want audible alerts inside your home, a Ring Chime plugs into an outlet and plays a sound when the doorbell is pressed.
- Share Access: Add family members to your Ring account so everyone gets notifications.
- Review Event History: Check the Ring app’s timeline to see past alerts and adjust settings based on real data.
- Consider a Subscription: Ring Protect Plans unlock Smart Alerts, video recording, and more advanced features.
Conclusion
Changing your Ring Doorbell notification settings doesn’t have to be complicated. With the Ring app, you can easily customize alerts, sounds, schedules, and detection zones to match your daily routine. Whether you want fewer distractions, smarter alerts, or better battery life, the right settings make all the difference.
By following this guide, you’ve learned how to change Ring Doorbell notification preferences step by step—from turning off unnecessary alerts to setting up quiet hours and motion zones. You’ve also discovered how to troubleshoot common issues and test your setup for reliability.
Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate all notifications—it’s to get the right ones at the right time. With a little tweaking, your Ring Doorbell can become a quiet guardian that keeps you informed without interrupting your life.
So go ahead, open the Ring app, and start customizing. Your smarter, quieter, more secure home is just a few taps away.