This guide walks you through how to change Ring Doorbell notifications on your smartphone or tablet. You’ll learn to customize alert types, adjust motion sensitivity, and manage notification schedules for a smarter, quieter experience.
Key Takeaways
- Access notification settings via the Ring app: All changes are made directly in the Ring mobile app, not through your phone’s system settings.
- Customize alert types for different events: Choose whether to receive notifications for motion, doorbell rings, or both.
- Adjust motion sensitivity to reduce false alerts: Fine-tune detection zones and sensitivity levels to avoid unnecessary notifications from passing cars or animals.
- Use Smart Alerts for advanced filtering: Enable person detection or package alerts to get only the most relevant notifications.
- Set up notification schedules: Silence alerts during specific times like nighttime or work hours using Do Not Disturb mode.
- Manage multiple devices from one place: If you have more than one Ring doorbell, customize notifications for each individually.
- Troubleshoot common issues quickly: Learn how to fix delayed, missing, or duplicate notifications with simple fixes.
How to Change Ring Doorbell Notifications: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve ever been woken up by a Ring Doorbell alert because a squirrel tripped the motion sensor—or worse, missed an important visitor because notifications didn’t come through—you’re not alone. The good news? You can take full control of your Ring Doorbell notifications with just a few taps in the Ring app.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to change Ring Doorbell notifications to match your lifestyle. Whether you want fewer false alarms, more detailed alerts, or scheduled quiet times, we’ve got you covered. You’ll learn how to customize every aspect of your notification settings, from motion sensitivity to alert types and timing.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to:
– Turn on or off specific types of notifications
– Adjust motion detection zones and sensitivity
– Enable Smart Alerts like person or package detection
– Set up Do Not Disturb schedules
– Fix common notification problems
Let’s get started!
Why Customize Your Ring Doorbell Notifications?
Visual guide about How to Change Ring Doorbell Notifications
Image source: images.macrumors.com
Ring Doorbells are designed to keep you informed—but sometimes, they can be too informative. Without proper settings, you might get alerts every time a leaf blows past your door or a neighbor walks by. On the flip side, you don’t want to miss a real visitor or delivery because your notifications are turned off or delayed.
Customizing your notifications helps you:
– Reduce notification fatigue
– Stay alert to real threats or visitors
– Protect your privacy and battery life
– Improve the overall performance of your smart doorbell
Think of it like tuning a radio: you want to hear the stations you care about, not the static. With the right settings, your Ring Doorbell becomes a helpful tool—not a noisy distraction.
Step 1: Open the Ring App and Select Your Device
The first step in changing your Ring Doorbell notifications is accessing the right menu in the Ring app. Here’s how:
Launch the Ring App
Make sure you have the latest version of the Ring app installed on your smartphone or tablet. You can download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store if needed.
Once installed, open the app and log in with your Ring account credentials.
Choose Your Doorbell
On the home screen, you’ll see a list of all your Ring devices. Tap on the doorbell you want to adjust. If you have multiple Ring Doorbells (like one at the front door and another at the back), make sure you select the correct one.
Go to Device Settings
After selecting your doorbell, tap the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner. This opens the Device Settings menu, where you’ll find all customization options, including notifications.
Step 2: Navigate to Notification Settings
Now that you’re in the Device Settings, it’s time to find the notification controls.
Find the “Notifications” Section
Scroll down until you see a section labeled “Notifications”. Tap on it to open the notification settings.
Here, you’ll see several options that let you control how and when you receive alerts.
Understand the Notification Types
Ring offers three main types of notifications:
– Doorbell Press: Alerts when someone rings the doorbell.
– Motion Alerts: Notifications triggered by movement in the detection zone.
– Smart Alerts: Advanced notifications based on what the camera detects (e.g., person, package, vehicle).
You can toggle each of these on or off independently, giving you full control over what triggers a notification.
Step 3: Customize Your Alert Types
Let’s dive into how to adjust each type of notification.
Enable or Disable Doorbell Press Alerts
If you want to stop getting notifications every time someone rings the doorbell (maybe you’re expecting a guest and don’t need constant updates), you can turn this off.
– Toggle the “Doorbell Press” switch to off.
– Note: This won’t stop the doorbell from working—it just silences the notification on your phone.
Alternatively, if you’ve turned it off and want to re-enable it, simply toggle it back on.
Adjust Motion Alerts
Motion alerts are often the biggest source of unwanted notifications. Here’s how to manage them:
– Toggle “Motion Alerts” on or off.
– If you keep it on, you can further refine it using sensitivity and detection zones (we’ll cover that next).
Tip: If you live on a busy street, consider turning off motion alerts during peak traffic hours using a schedule (more on that later).
Use Smart Alerts for Better Filtering
Smart Alerts use Ring’s AI to detect specific objects. This helps reduce false alarms.
To enable Smart Alerts:
– Tap “Smart Alerts” under the Notifications menu.
– Toggle on “Person”, “Package”, or “Vehicle” alerts.
– You can choose to receive notifications only when these objects are detected, ignoring general motion.
For example, enabling “Person” alerts means you’ll only get a notification when someone walks up to your door—not when a cat runs by.
Note: Smart Alerts require a Ring Protect Plan (subscription), but they’re worth it for the added precision.
Step 4: Adjust Motion Sensitivity and Detection Zones
Even with Smart Alerts, you might still get unwanted motion notifications. That’s where sensitivity and detection zones come in.
Set Motion Sensitivity
Higher sensitivity means your doorbell detects smaller movements from farther away. Lower sensitivity reduces false alerts but might miss subtle motion.
To adjust:
– In Device Settings, tap “Motion Settings”.
– Use the slider to set sensitivity from 1 (low) to 10 (high).
– Start with a mid-level setting (5–6) and adjust based on your environment.
Tip: If you get alerts from cars passing by, lower the sensitivity. If you miss visitors approaching slowly, increase it slightly.
Customize Detection Zones
Detection zones let you define exactly where your doorbell should “look” for motion.
To set up zones:
– Tap “Motion Zones” in the Motion Settings menu.
– You’ll see a live view of your camera’s field of view.
– Drag the corners of the zone(s) to cover only the areas you care about (e.g., your front walkway).
– Avoid areas like streets, sidewalks, or neighbor’s yards.
You can create up to three custom zones. For example:
– Zone 1: Front porch (high priority)
– Zone 2: Driveway (medium priority)
– Zone 3: Side yard (low priority or disabled)
This way, you’ll only get alerts when motion happens where it matters.
Step 5: Set Up Notification Schedules (Do Not Disturb)
Sometimes, you don’t want any notifications at all—like when you’re sleeping or in a meeting. That’s where notification schedules come in.
Enable Do Not Disturb Mode
Do Not Disturb lets you silence all Ring notifications during specific times.
To set it up:
– In the Notifications menu, tap “Do Not Disturb”.
– Toggle it on.
– Set the start and end times (e.g., 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM).
– Choose whether to apply it daily or only on certain days.
During this time, your doorbell will still record events (if enabled), but you won’t receive push notifications.
Create Custom Schedules
You can also set different schedules for different days. For example:
– Weekdays: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (work hours)
– Weekends: 11:00 PM – 8:00 AM (sleep time)
This flexibility ensures you’re only alerted when it’s convenient.
Override for Important Alerts
Even in Do Not Disturb mode, you can choose to receive critical alerts—like a doorbell press from a frequent visitor (if you’ve tagged them in the app).
To allow exceptions:
– Tap “Allow Exceptions” in the Do Not Disturb menu.
– Select specific contacts or alert types that should still notify you.
This is great for family members or trusted delivery drivers.
Step 6: Manage Notifications for Multiple Devices
If you have more than one Ring Doorbell (or other Ring devices like cameras or security systems), you can customize notifications for each one individually.
Select Each Device Separately
Go back to the home screen and tap on each device one by one. Repeat the steps above to adjust notification settings for each.
For example:
– Front door: High sensitivity, person alerts on, no Do Not Disturb
– Back door: Lower sensitivity, motion alerts off, Do Not Disturb from 10 PM to 6 AM
This ensures each doorbell is optimized for its location and use.
Use Groups for Bulk Settings
If you want to apply the same settings to multiple devices, consider creating a Device Group in the Ring app.
– Go to “Devices” > “Groups”.
– Create a new group (e.g., “Exterior Doors”).
– Add your doorbells to the group.
– Adjust settings once, and they’ll apply to all devices in the group.
This saves time and keeps your setup consistent.
Step 7: Test Your New Notification Settings
After making changes, it’s important to test them to make sure everything works as expected.
Test a Doorbell Press
Have someone ring the doorbell (or press it yourself if you’re nearby). Check if you receive a notification on your phone.
If you don’t, double-check:
– The Doorbell Press toggle is on
– Your phone’s notification settings allow Ring alerts
– Do Not Disturb isn’t active
Test Motion Detection
Walk through your detection zones to see if motion alerts trigger. If they don’t:
– Increase sensitivity
– Expand the detection zone
– Ensure the camera lens is clean and unobstructed
Check Smart Alerts
If you’ve enabled person or package detection, test it by having someone approach the door. You should receive a notification labeled “Person Detected” instead of a generic motion alert.
Troubleshooting Common Notification Issues
Even with perfect settings, you might run into problems. Here’s how to fix the most common ones.
Notifications Are Delayed or Missing
If alerts take minutes to arrive—or don’t come at all—try these fixes:
– Restart your phone and the Ring app
– Ensure your Wi-Fi signal is strong near the doorbell
– Check that your Ring device is online in the app (green dot)
– Update the Ring app and your phone’s operating system
Getting Too Many False Alerts
If your doorbell is still alerting you to every breeze or passing car:
– Lower motion sensitivity
– Narrow the detection zones
– Enable Smart Alerts to filter out non-human motion
– Trim bushes or trees that might sway in the wind
Duplicate Notifications
Sometimes, you might get multiple alerts for the same event. This can happen if:
– You have multiple devices covering the same area
– Your phone and tablet are both logged into the Ring app
To fix:
– Disable notifications on one device
– Adjust detection zones to avoid overlap
– Use Smart Alerts to reduce redundant triggers
Notifications Not Showing on Lock Screen
If alerts don’t appear when your phone is locked:
– Go to your phone’s Settings > Notifications > Ring
– Enable “Show on Lock Screen” and “Banner Style”
– Make sure “Do Not Disturb” isn’t blocking Ring
Battery Drain from Frequent Alerts
If your Ring Doorbell battery drains quickly due to constant motion alerts:
– Reduce sensitivity
– Limit detection zones
– Use a wired power source (like a Ring Plug-In Adapter) instead of batteries
Pro Tips for Better Notification Management
Here are some expert tips to get the most out of your Ring Doorbell notifications:
– Use Tags for Frequent Visitors: Tag family, friends, or delivery drivers in the app. You’ll get personalized alerts when they arrive.
– Enable Snapshot Capture: This takes a photo before recording, so you can see who’s there even if you miss the notification.
– Pair with Alexa or Google Assistant: Get voice alerts on smart speakers when someone rings the doorbell.
– Review Notification History: Check the “Timeline” in the app to see past alerts and adjust settings based on patterns.
– Keep Firmware Updated: Ring regularly releases updates that improve performance and fix bugs. Enable auto-updates in Device Settings.
Conclusion
Changing your Ring Doorbell notifications doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right settings, you can turn your smart doorbell into a helpful, unobtrusive part of your daily routine—not a source of frustration.
By following this guide, you’ve learned how to:
– Access and customize notification types
– Adjust motion sensitivity and detection zones
– Use Smart Alerts for smarter filtering
– Set up Do Not Disturb schedules
– Manage multiple devices
– Troubleshoot common issues
Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate all notifications—it’s to receive the right ones at the right time. Whether you’re trying to avoid false alarms or stay informed about real visitors, these settings give you the control you need.
Take a few minutes today to review your current setup. You might be surprised how much better your Ring Doorbell works when it’s tailored to your lifestyle.
Now go enjoy a smarter, quieter, and more secure home—one notification at a time.