Changing the chime on your Ring doorbell is simple and can be done in just a few steps using the Ring app. Whether you want a louder tone, a custom sound, or to fix a silent chime, this guide walks you through everything you need to know—from setup to troubleshooting.
Key Takeaways
- Use the Ring app to customize your chime: All chime changes are managed through the Ring mobile app, not the physical doorbell.
- Choose from built-in tones or upload custom sounds: Ring offers a variety of default chimes, and newer models support custom audio uploads.
- Ensure your Ring Chime or Chime Pro is connected: For indoor chimes, your Ring Chime device must be linked to your Wi-Fi and paired with your doorbell.
- Check volume and settings regularly: Low volume or muted settings are common reasons the chime doesn’t sound.
- Test after every change: Always test the chime after adjusting settings to confirm it’s working properly.
- Troubleshoot connectivity issues first: If the chime won’t change, Wi-Fi or power issues may be the root cause.
- Update your app and firmware: Outdated software can prevent chime customization and cause performance problems.
How to Change the Chime on Your Ring Doorbell
If you’ve ever stood at your front door, pressed the button, and heard nothing—or worse, a faint, annoying beep—you’re not alone. Many Ring doorbell users don’t realize that the chime isn’t just a fixed sound. You can change it. Whether you want something cheerful, loud, or completely custom, Ring gives you the tools to personalize your doorbell’s chime. And the best part? It’s easier than you think.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn how to change the chime on your Ring doorbell, whether you’re using a Ring Video Doorbell, Ring Doorbell 2, Ring Doorbell 3, Ring Doorbell 4, Ring Doorbell Pro, Ring Doorbell Pro 2, or a Ring Video Doorbell Wired. We’ll cover everything from basic chime selection to uploading your own sounds, adjusting volume, syncing with Ring Chime devices, and troubleshooting common issues.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to customize your doorbell chime like a pro—and never miss a visitor again.
What Is a Ring Doorbell Chime?
Visual guide about How to Change the Chime on Your Ring Doorbell
Image source: slashgear.com
Before we dive into the steps, let’s clarify what we mean by “chime.” The chime is the sound your doorbell makes when someone presses the button. With Ring, there are actually two types of chimes:
1. The outdoor chime: This is the sound emitted directly from the Ring doorbell itself. It’s a short, electronic tone that alerts you someone is at the door—even if you’re outside.
2. The indoor chime: This is the sound played through a Ring Chime or Ring Chime Pro device inside your home. These plug-in devices connect to your Wi-Fi and sync with your doorbell to play a louder, more customizable tone throughout your house.
Most people think of the indoor chime when they want to “change the chime,” but both can be adjusted. And yes—you can change both using the Ring app.
Why Change Your Ring Doorbell Chime?
You might be wondering, “Why bother changing the chime?” After all, the default sound works fine, right? Not necessarily. Here are some great reasons to customize your chime:
- Personalization: Make your home feel more unique with a chime that matches your style—like a classic doorbell, a bird song, or even a funny sound effect.
- Hearing assistance: If you have hearing difficulties, a louder or more distinct chime can help you hear when someone’s at the door.
- Multiple entry points: If you have more than one doorbell (front, back, gate), different chimes help you know which door was pressed.
- Kids or pets: A fun chime can make doorbell presses more exciting for children or alert pets to visitors.
- Avoid confusion: If you have other smart devices that make sounds (like a smoke detector or appliance), a unique chime helps you identify the doorbell quickly.
Changing your chime is a small tweak that can make a big difference in your daily routine.
What You’ll Need
Before you start, make sure you have the following:
- A Ring doorbell installed and connected to Wi-Fi
- The Ring app downloaded on your smartphone or tablet (available for iOS and Android)
- Your Ring account login information
- A Ring Chime or Chime Pro (optional, for indoor chimes)
- A stable Wi-Fi connection
- Custom audio file (if uploading your own sound) – must be in MP3 or M4A format, under 10 seconds, and less than 1MB
If you don’t have a Ring Chime device, you can still change the outdoor chime on your doorbell. But for indoor sound, a Chime or Chime Pro is required.
Step-by-Step: How to Change the Chime on Your Ring Doorbell
Now, let’s get into the actual process. We’ll break it down into clear, easy-to-follow steps.
Step 1: Open the Ring App
Start by unlocking your phone and opening the Ring app. If you don’t have it installed, download it from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Log in with your Ring account credentials.
Once you’re in, you’ll see a dashboard with all your Ring devices. Look for your doorbell—it should be listed with a live view or a snapshot.
Step 2: Select Your Doorbell Device
Tap on your Ring doorbell from the device list. This will open the device’s control screen, where you can view live footage, check motion settings, and access device options.
Look for the gear icon (settings) in the top-right corner and tap it. This opens the device settings menu.
Step 3: Navigate to Chime Settings
In the settings menu, scroll down until you find the Chime Settings section. Depending on your Ring model, this might be labeled slightly differently—like “Audio Settings” or “Chime Tone.”
Tap on it to open the chime customization options.
Step 4: Choose Your Chime Type
Here, you’ll see two main options:
- Outdoor Chime: This controls the sound your doorbell makes outside. You can choose from a list of default tones like “Classic,” “Ding Dong,” “Bell,” or “Chime.”
- Indoor Chime (if you have a Ring Chime): This controls the sound played through your Ring Chime or Chime Pro device inside your home.
Tap on the one you want to change.
Step 5: Select a Default Chime
Ring offers a variety of built-in chimes to choose from. These include:
- Classic: A traditional two-tone “ding-dong” sound.
- Ding Dong: A clear, crisp version of the classic chime.
- Bell: A single, resonant bell tone.
- Chime: A softer, melodic tone.
- Harp: A gentle, musical sound.
- Glockenspiel: A bright, chime-like tone.
- Bird Song: A cheerful bird chirp (great for kids!)
- Dog Bark: A playful bark sound (fun but use wisely!)
Tap on the chime you like. You’ll usually hear a preview play so you can test it before saving.
Step 6: Upload a Custom Chime (Optional)
If you want something truly unique, you can upload your own sound. This feature is available on most newer Ring models and requires a Ring Chime or Chime Pro.
To upload a custom chime:
- Tap Upload Custom Chime (or “Add Custom Sound”).
- Choose a file from your phone’s music or audio library. Make sure it’s in MP3 or M4A format, under 10 seconds long, and less than 1MB in size.
- Trim the audio if needed—most phones will let you select a 5–10 second clip.
- Tap Save or Upload.
- Give your custom chime a name (e.g., “Baby Laughing” or “Piano Chime”).
- Select it from the list and save your changes.
Pro Tip: Use a short, clear audio clip. Long or muffled sounds may not play well through the Chime device.
Step 7: Adjust the Volume
After selecting your chime, make sure the volume is set correctly. In the same Chime Settings menu, you’ll find a Volume Slider.
Slide it to your preferred level—low, medium, or high. If you have hearing concerns, set it to high. If you have a small home or light sleepers, medium or low might be better.
Note: The outdoor chime on the doorbell itself has limited volume control. For louder indoor sound, use a Ring Chime Pro, which has a built-in amplifier.
Step 8: Test the Chime
Now it’s time to test! Go back to the main device screen and tap the Test Chime button (usually found in the Chime Settings or under “Device Health”).
This will simulate a doorbell press and play your new chime. Listen carefully—does it sound the way you want? Is it loud enough? If not, go back and adjust the tone or volume.
You can also ask someone to press the actual doorbell button while you’re inside to test the real-world experience.
Step 9: Save Your Changes
Once you’re happy with your selection, make sure to tap Save or Done at the top of the screen. The Ring app will sync the new settings to your doorbell and Chime device.
It may take a few seconds for the change to take effect. If it doesn’t work immediately, wait 30 seconds and test again.
How to Change the Chime on a Ring Chime or Chime Pro
If you’re using a Ring Chime or Chime Pro, the process is similar—but you’ll manage the chime through the Chime device settings.
Step 1: Open the Ring App
Launch the Ring app and log in.
Step 2: Select Your Ring Chime Device
From the device list, tap on your Ring Chime or Chime Pro. This will open its control screen.
Step 3: Go to Chime Settings
Tap the gear icon to open settings, then select Chime Settings.
Step 4: Choose a Tone or Upload Custom Sound
Just like with the doorbell, you can pick from default tones or upload a custom sound. The options are the same.
Step 5: Adjust Volume and Repeat Settings
Here, you can also set how many times the chime repeats (once, twice, or three times) and whether it plays during motion alerts (if enabled).
Step 6: Test and Save
Tap Test Chime to hear it, then save your changes.
Bonus Tip: You can assign different chimes to different doorbells if you have multiple. For example, “Front Door” plays a classic chime, while “Back Door” plays a bird song.
Troubleshooting Common Chime Issues
Even with the best setup, things can go wrong. Here are some common problems and how to fix them.
Chime Won’t Play at All
If your chime doesn’t sound when the doorbell is pressed:
- Check power: Make sure your Ring Chime is plugged in and the outlet is working. Try a different outlet.
- Verify Wi-Fi connection: Open the Ring app and check the device health. If it shows “Offline,” reconnect it to Wi-Fi.
- Restart the device: Unplug the Chime for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait for it to reconnect.
- Check mute settings: In the app, make sure the chime isn’t muted. Look for a mute icon or volume set to zero.
Chime Sounds Distorted or Too Quiet
If the sound is fuzzy or too soft:
- Move the Chime closer to the doorbell: The Chime uses your Wi-Fi, but signal strength matters. Place it within 100 feet of your router or use a Wi-Fi extender.
- Use Ring Chime Pro: The Chime Pro has a stronger speaker and built-in Wi-Fi extender, ideal for large homes.
- Check audio file quality: If using a custom chime, re-upload a higher-quality MP3 file.
Custom Chime Won’t Upload
If you can’t upload your custom sound:
- Check file format: Only MP3 and M4A files are supported.
- Reduce file size: Compress the audio to under 1MB. Use a free online converter if needed.
- Shorten the clip: Trim it to 5–10 seconds. Longer files may fail to upload.
- Update the app: Make sure you’re using the latest version of the Ring app.
Chime Plays the Wrong Sound
If the chime plays a different tone than selected:
- Re-sync the device: Go to Chime Settings and re-select your preferred tone.
- Clear app cache: On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Ring > Storage > Clear Cache. On iOS, delete and reinstall the app.
- Check for firmware updates: Outdated firmware can cause glitches. The app will notify you if an update is available.
Chime Doesn’t Work with Motion Alerts
By default, the chime only plays when the doorbell button is pressed. To enable chime for motion:
- Go to your doorbell settings.
- Tap Motion Settings.
- Enable Motion Alerts.
- Under Chime Settings, toggle on “Play Chime for Motion.”
Note: This may increase false alerts, so use it wisely.
Tips for the Best Chime Experience
To get the most out of your Ring doorbell chime, keep these tips in mind:
- Use descriptive names: If you upload multiple custom chimes, name them clearly (e.g., “Grandkids Visit” or “Package Delivery”).
- Test at different times: Sound travels differently at night. Test your chime in the evening to ensure it’s audible.
- Keep firmware updated: Ring regularly releases updates that improve performance and add new features.
- Use Chime Pro for large homes: It boosts Wi-Fi signal and plays chimes louder and clearer.
- Don’t overload with custom sounds: Too many custom chimes can make the app slow. Stick to 3–5 favorites.
Conclusion
Changing the chime on your Ring doorbell is a simple yet powerful way to personalize your smart home experience. Whether you prefer a classic “ding-dong,” a cheerful bird song, or a custom laugh from your grandkids, Ring gives you the flexibility to make your doorbell truly yours.
With just a few taps in the Ring app, you can select a new tone, upload a custom sound, adjust the volume, and ensure your chime works perfectly—every time. And if you run into issues, the troubleshooting steps above will help you get back on track quickly.
So go ahead—press that button, hear that chime, and smile. Your doorbell just got a whole lot more fun.