Changing the time on your Ring Doorbell is simple and essential for accurate event timestamps. This guide walks you through the process using the Ring app, troubleshooting tips, and best practices to keep your device in sync.
Key Takeaways
- Use the Ring app to adjust time settings: All time changes must be made through the Ring mobile app, not the device itself.
- Enable automatic time zone detection: This ensures your Ring Doorbell stays accurate when traveling or after daylight saving changes.
- Check your phone’s date and time settings: Incorrect phone time can prevent the Ring app from syncing properly.
- Reboot your device if time doesn’t update: A quick restart can resolve syncing glitches.
- Update the Ring app regularly: Outdated apps may cause time or connectivity issues.
- Ensure strong Wi-Fi connection: Weak signals can delay time updates and notifications.
- Contact Ring Support if problems persist: Persistent time errors may indicate a deeper system issue.
How to Change the Time on a Ring Doorbell
If you’ve noticed that your Ring Doorbell is showing the wrong time on motion alerts or video recordings, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many users experience time sync issues, especially after daylight saving time changes, traveling across time zones, or after a power outage. The good news? Changing the time on your Ring Doorbell is quick, easy, and can be done entirely through the Ring mobile app.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn exactly how to update the time on your Ring Doorbell, why accurate timekeeping matters for your home security, and how to troubleshoot common issues. Whether you have a Ring Video Doorbell, Ring Doorbell 2, Ring Doorbell Pro, or Ring Doorbell Elite, the steps are nearly identical. By the end of this article, you’ll have your device displaying the correct time and your security footage properly timestamped.
Let’s dive in.
Why Accurate Time Matters on Your Ring Doorbell
Visual guide about How to Change the Time on a Ring Doorbell
Image source: m.media-amazon.com
Before we get into the steps, it’s important to understand why the correct time setting is crucial. Your Ring Doorbell logs every motion event, doorbell press, and video recording with a timestamp. These timestamps are used in several key ways:
- Security investigations: If a package is stolen or suspicious activity occurs, law enforcement may request video footage. Accurate timestamps help verify when events happened.
- Reviewing footage: When you check your Ring app for recent activity, correct time stamps make it easy to find the right clip.
- Smart home automation: If you use Ring with Alexa or other smart home systems, time-based routines (like turning on lights at sunset) rely on accurate time data.
- Legal and insurance purposes: In rare cases, video evidence may be used in insurance claims or legal matters. Precise timestamps add credibility.
If your Ring Doorbell is off by even a few minutes, it can cause confusion and reduce the usefulness of your security system. That’s why keeping the time accurate is a small but essential part of maintaining your home’s safety.
How Ring Doorbell Gets Its Time
You might be wondering: Does the Ring Doorbell have its own internal clock? The answer is yes—but it doesn’t set the time manually. Instead, your Ring device syncs its time with the Ring app on your smartphone, which in turn pulls time data from your phone’s system clock.
Here’s how it works:
- Your smartphone gets the correct time from your mobile carrier or Wi-Fi network.
- The Ring app uses this time to communicate with your doorbell.
- When you open the app or receive a notification, the doorbell updates its internal clock to match.
This means that if your phone’s time is wrong, your Ring Doorbell will be wrong too. So before you try to change the time on your doorbell, always check your phone first.
Step-by-Step: How to Change the Time on a Ring Doorbell
Now that you understand how the system works, let’s walk through the actual process. Follow these steps carefully to ensure your Ring Doorbell displays the correct time.
Step 1: Open the Ring App
Start by unlocking your smartphone and opening the Ring app. Make sure you’re logged into the account associated with your doorbell. If you have multiple Ring devices, ensure you’re viewing the correct one.
- Tap the three-line menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner.
- Select Devices from the menu.
- Find your doorbell in the list and tap on it to open its control panel.
Step 2: Access Device Settings
Once you’re in your doorbell’s control panel, you’ll see options like Live View, Motion Settings, and Device Health. We need to go deeper into the settings.
- Tap on the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner. This opens the Device Settings menu.
- Scroll down until you see Device Health and tap on it.
Step 3: Check Current Time and Time Zone
In the Device Health section, you’ll see a summary of your doorbell’s status, including battery level, Wi-Fi strength, and—most importantly—the current time and time zone.
- Look for the Time Zone field. It should display your correct local time zone (e.g., “Eastern Time (US & Canada)”).
- Check the Current Time listed. If it’s wrong, that’s what we’re here to fix.
If the time zone is incorrect, that’s likely the root of the problem. Ring uses time zones to calculate the correct local time, so even a small mismatch can throw everything off.
Step 4: Update Your Phone’s Time and Time Zone
Before making changes in the app, double-check your phone’s settings. Here’s how to do it on both iPhone and Android:
For iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.
- Make sure Set Automatically is turned ON. This ensures your phone syncs with network time servers.
- If you’re traveling, your phone should automatically update the time zone. If not, toggle Set Automatically off and on again to refresh.
For Android:
- Go to Settings > System > Date & time.
- Enable Automatic date & time and Automatic time zone.
- If the time is still wrong, try turning these off and back on to reset the connection.
Once your phone shows the correct time and time zone, return to the Ring app.
Step 5: Force a Time Sync in the Ring App
Now that your phone is accurate, we need to tell the Ring app to update your doorbell’s time. Here’s how:
- Go back to your doorbell’s Device Health page in the Ring app.
- Tap the Refresh button (usually a circular arrow icon) at the top of the screen.
- Wait 10–15 seconds for the app to reconnect and sync with your doorbell.
After refreshing, check the Current Time and Time Zone fields again. They should now reflect the correct information.
Step 6: Test the Time with a Live View
To confirm the time is correct, open a Live View session:
- Tap the Live View button on your doorbell’s control panel.
- Once the video stream loads, check the timestamp in the top-left or top-right corner of the screen.
- Compare it to your phone’s current time. They should match within a few seconds.
If the timestamp is still wrong, proceed to the troubleshooting section below.
What If the Time Still Won’t Change?
Sometimes, even after following all the steps, the time on your Ring Doorbell may not update. Don’t panic—this is usually fixable. Here are the most common reasons and solutions.
Issue 1: Weak Wi-Fi Signal
Your Ring Doorbell needs a stable internet connection to sync time data. If your Wi-Fi signal is weak, the device may not receive updates.
- Check the Wi-Fi Signal Strength in the Device Health section. It should show “Good” or “Excellent.”
- If it’s “Poor” or “Fair,” try moving your router closer or using a Wi-Fi extender.
- You can also reboot your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.
Issue 2: Outdated Ring App
An old version of the Ring app may have bugs that prevent time syncing.
- Go to your phone’s app store (Google Play or Apple App Store).
- Search for “Ring” and see if an update is available.
- If so, tap Update and restart the app.
Issue 3: Device Needs a Reboot
Like any electronic device, your Ring Doorbell can get stuck. A simple reboot often fixes time and connectivity issues.
- In the Ring app, go to your doorbell’s Device Settings.
- Tap Reboot Device (this option is usually under Device Health or Advanced Settings).
- Wait 1–2 minutes for the doorbell to restart and reconnect to Wi-Fi.
- Once it’s back online, check the time again.
Issue 4: Daylight Saving Time Confusion
If the time is off by exactly one hour, daylight saving time (DST) might be the culprit.
- Make sure your phone’s Automatic time zone setting is on.
- Ring devices should automatically adjust for DST, but if not, manually verify your time zone in the app.
- If you recently traveled across time zones, your phone may not have updated yet—try toggling airplane mode on and off to refresh network settings.
Issue 5: Account or Server Sync Delay
Occasionally, Ring’s servers may experience delays. This is rare but possible.
- Wait 10–15 minutes and check the time again.
- If it still hasn’t updated, try logging out of the Ring app and logging back in.
- As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the app (your device settings will remain intact).
Best Practices to Keep Your Ring Doorbell Time Accurate
Once you’ve fixed the time, follow these tips to prevent future issues:
- Keep automatic time settings on: Always leave “Set Automatically” enabled on your phone. This ensures your device stays in sync with global time servers.
- Update the Ring app regularly: Enable automatic app updates or check for updates monthly.
- Reboot your doorbell monthly: A quick reboot helps clear glitches and keeps the system running smoothly.
- Monitor Wi-Fi performance: Use the Ring app’s Wi-Fi signal tool to check strength. Aim for at least -60 dBm or higher.
- Avoid manual time changes: Never try to set the time manually on the doorbell—it’s not designed for that. Always use the app.
When to Contact Ring Support
If you’ve tried all the steps above and your Ring Doorbell still shows the wrong time, it’s time to reach out for help.
- Open the Ring app and go to the menu (☰).
- Tap Help & Feedback > Contact Us.
- Choose your issue (e.g., “Device Not Working”) and describe the time problem.
- Include your device model, app version, and steps you’ve already tried.
Ring’s support team is generally responsive and can remotely diagnose issues or reset your device if needed.
Final Thoughts
Changing the time on your Ring Doorbell might seem like a small task, but it plays a big role in the effectiveness of your home security system. With accurate timestamps, you can trust your footage, respond quickly to alerts, and maintain seamless integration with other smart devices.
The process is straightforward: check your phone’s time, refresh the Ring app, and let the system sync. If issues arise, a reboot or Wi-Fi check usually does the trick. And remember—keeping your app and device updated is the best way to avoid problems down the line.
By following this guide, you’ve not only fixed your time issue but also learned how to maintain your Ring Doorbell for long-term reliability. Stay safe, stay informed, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a well-functioning security system.