Connecting a chime to your Ring Doorbell enhances your home security setup by providing an audible alert inside your home. This guide walks you through the entire process—from choosing the right chime to troubleshooting common issues—so you can enjoy reliable doorbell notifications with ease.
Key Takeaways
- Choose the right chime: Ring offers both wired and wireless chime options—pick one that fits your home’s setup and power availability.
- Ensure compatibility: Most Ring Doorbells work with Ring Chimes, but always double-check your model in the Ring app or on the official website.
- Use the Ring app for setup: The Ring app guides you through pairing your chime to your doorbell with simple on-screen instructions.
- Test after installation: Always test the chime after setup to confirm it’s working and adjust volume or tone as needed.
- Troubleshoot connectivity issues: If the chime doesn’t ring, check Wi-Fi signal, power source, and app settings before resetting the device.
- Consider multiple chimes: For larger homes, add more chimes in different rooms to ensure you never miss a visitor.
- Keep firmware updated: Regularly update your Ring devices via the app to maintain performance and security.
How to Connect a Chime to a Ring Doorbell
If you’ve installed a Ring Doorbell, you’ve already taken a big step toward smarter home security. But did you know you can make it even more effective by connecting a Ring Chime? A chime acts as an indoor alert system, playing a sound whenever someone presses your doorbell—even if your phone is on silent or in another room. Whether you have a wired or wireless Ring Doorbell, adding a chime ensures you never miss a delivery, visitor, or package thief again.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about connecting a chime to your Ring Doorbell. From choosing the right model to step-by-step setup and troubleshooting, you’ll learn how to get the most out of your Ring ecosystem. By the end, you’ll have a fully functional doorbell system that keeps your home safe and your family informed.
Why Add a Chime to Your Ring Doorbell?
Visual guide about How to Connect a Chime to a Ring Doorbell
Image source: storables.com
Before diving into the setup, let’s talk about why a chime is such a valuable addition. Ring Doorbells send push notifications to your phone, but those alerts can be easy to miss—especially if you’re in a noisy environment, wearing headphones, or your phone is charging in another room. A chime solves this problem by providing a loud, clear sound right where you are.
Imagine this: You’re in the basement doing laundry, and the doorbell rings. Without a chime, you might not hear the notification. But with a Ring Chime plugged into an outlet nearby, you’ll hear a friendly “ding-dong” and know someone’s at the door. It’s especially helpful for families with kids, elderly relatives, or people who work from home and need to stay aware of visitors.
Plus, Ring Chimes offer customization. You can choose from multiple tones, adjust the volume, and even set different sounds for different doors if you have more than one Ring Doorbell. Some models also support Alexa, so you can integrate your chime with your smart home system for voice alerts.
Types of Ring Chimes: Which One Is Right for You?
Ring offers two main types of chimes: the Ring Chime and the Ring Chime Pro. Each serves a slightly different purpose, so it’s important to pick the one that best fits your needs.
Ring Chime (Standard Model)
The standard Ring Chime is a plug-in device that connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network. It’s simple to install—just plug it into an electrical outlet, pair it with your Ring Doorbell via the app, and you’re done. It supports multiple tones, volume control, and can be used with any Ring Doorbell model.
This chime is ideal for most homes. It’s affordable, easy to set up, and works reliably as long as you have a stable Wi-Fi connection. You can place it in a central location like a living room or hallway, or use multiple chimes throughout the house.
Ring Chime Pro
The Ring Chime Pro does everything the standard chime does—but with one major upgrade: it includes a built-in Wi-Fi extender. If your Ring Doorbell is located far from your router and struggles with a weak signal, the Chime Pro can boost your Wi-Fi coverage and improve connectivity.
The Chime Pro also has a louder speaker and more tone options. It’s a great choice if you have a large home, thick walls, or areas with poor Wi-Fi reception. Plus, it can act as a bridge between your doorbell and other Ring devices, enhancing overall system performance.
Wired vs. Wireless Chimes
It’s worth noting that Ring does not currently offer a traditional wired chime that connects directly to your doorbell’s wiring. Instead, all Ring Chimes are wireless and rely on Wi-Fi and the Ring app to communicate with your doorbell. This makes installation much easier—no need to mess with electrical wiring or hire an electrician.
However, if you already have a wired doorbell system and want to keep using it, you can still use a Ring Chime alongside it. The Ring Doorbell will trigger both the existing wired chime and the Ring Chime, giving you dual alerts.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before you begin the setup process, make sure you have the following:
- A Ring Doorbell: Any model (Video Doorbell, Doorbell 2, Doorbell 3, Doorbell 4, Doorbell Pro, etc.)
- A Ring Chime or Chime Pro: Purchased separately from the Ring website or major retailers
- A smartphone or tablet: With the Ring app installed (available on iOS and Android)
- A stable Wi-Fi connection: At least 2.4 GHz (5 GHz is not supported by most Ring devices)
- Access to an electrical outlet: Near where you want to place the chime
- Your Ring account login: Email and password
If you’re using the Ring Chime Pro, you’ll also want to place it within range of your router but close enough to your doorbell to improve signal strength.
Step-by-Step: How to Connect a Chime to Your Ring Doorbell
Now that you’re prepared, let’s walk through the setup process. Whether you’re using a standard Ring Chime or the Chime Pro, the steps are nearly identical. We’ll cover both scenarios.
Step 1: Plug in the Chime
Start by plugging your Ring Chime into an electrical outlet. Choose a location that’s central to your home—like a living room, kitchen, or hallway—so the sound can be heard easily. Avoid placing it behind furniture or in a closet, as this can muffle the sound.
If you’re using the Ring Chime Pro, consider placing it about halfway between your router and your doorbell to maximize Wi-Fi coverage.
Once plugged in, the chime will power on automatically. You’ll see a light on the front of the device. This light indicates the status:
- Solid white: The chime is powered on and ready to connect
- Blinking white: The chime is in setup mode
- Solid green: The chime is connected to Wi-Fi
- Blinking red: There’s an error (we’ll cover troubleshooting later)
Give the chime a minute or two to initialize. The light should eventually turn solid white.
Step 2: Open the Ring App
Next, open the Ring app on your smartphone or tablet. Make sure you’re logged into the same account used to set up your Ring Doorbell.
From the home screen, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top-left corner. Then select “Devices” from the menu.
You should see your Ring Doorbell listed here. If not, make sure it’s properly installed and connected to Wi-Fi.
Step 3: Add the Chime to Your Account
In the Devices menu, tap the “+” (plus) icon in the top-right corner. This opens the “Add a Device” screen.
Scroll down and select “Chime” from the list of device types. The app will prompt you to confirm that your chime is plugged in and the light is on.
Tap “Continue” to proceed.
Step 4: Put the Chime in Setup Mode
The app will now ask you to press and hold the setup button on your chime. This button is located on the side of the device (for the standard Chime) or on the back (for the Chime Pro).
Press and hold the button for about 5 seconds until the light on the chime starts blinking white. This means it’s in pairing mode and ready to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
Return to the app and tap “Continue.”
Step 5: Connect to Wi-Fi
The Ring app will now search for your chime. Once it’s found, you’ll be asked to select your Wi-Fi network from a list.
Choose your 2.4 GHz network (most home networks broadcast both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz—make sure you pick the 2.4 GHz one, as Ring devices don’t support 5 GHz).
Enter your Wi-Fi password when prompted. The app will send this information to the chime.
Wait a few moments while the chime connects to your network. You’ll see a progress bar in the app. Once connected, the light on the chime should turn solid green.
Step 6: Name Your Chime
Now it’s time to give your chime a name. This helps you identify it if you have multiple chimes in different rooms.
Tap “Name Your Chime” and enter a descriptive name, such as “Living Room Chime” or “Basement Alert.”
You can also choose a location (e.g., “Downstairs,” “Master Bedroom”) to help organize your devices.
Tap “Save” when done.
Step 7: Link the Chime to Your Doorbell
The final step is linking the chime to your Ring Doorbell. The app will automatically detect your doorbell and ask if you want to connect the chime to it.
Tap “Yes” to confirm.
You can also choose which doorbell events trigger the chime. By default, it will ring when someone presses the button, but you can customize this:
- Doorbell Press: Rings when the button is pressed
- Motion Detected: Rings when motion is detected (optional)
- Live View: Rings when you start a live view (optional)
We recommend enabling “Doorbell Press” and leaving the others off unless you want extra alerts.
Tap “Save” to complete the setup.
Step 8: Test the Chime
Now it’s time to test your setup. Go to your front door and press the doorbell button.
You should hear the chime play a sound inside your home. If you don’t, check the following:
- Is the chime plugged in?
- Is the Wi-Fi connection strong?
- Is the chime linked to the correct doorbell?
- Is the volume turned up?
You can also test the chime from the Ring app. Go to the Devices menu, select your chime, and tap “Test Chime.” This will play a sample sound to confirm it’s working.
Customizing Your Chime Settings
Once your chime is connected, you can personalize it to suit your preferences. Here’s how:
Change the Chime Tone
Ring offers a variety of tones, from classic “ding-dong” to modern chimes and even seasonal sounds (like jingle bells during the holidays).
To change the tone:
- Open the Ring app
- Go to Devices > Your Chime
- Tap “Chime Tone”
- Select a tone from the list
- Tap “Save”
You can preview each tone before selecting it.
Adjust the Volume
If the chime is too loud or too quiet, you can adjust the volume:
- Go to Devices > Your Chime
- Tap “Volume”
- Use the slider to set your preferred level
- Tap “Save”
Volume levels range from 1 (very quiet) to 10 (very loud). We recommend setting it between 5 and 7 for most homes.
Set Do Not Disturb Hours
If you don’t want the chime to ring during certain times (like late at night), you can enable Do Not Disturb:
- Go to Devices > Your Chime
- Tap “Do Not Disturb”
- Toggle it on
- Set the start and end times
- Tap “Save”
During Do Not Disturb hours, the chime won’t ring, but you’ll still receive phone notifications.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with careful setup, you might run into problems. Here are some common issues and how to fix them.
Chime Doesn’t Ring When Doorbell Is Pressed
If your chime isn’t ringing, try these steps:
- Check the connection: Make sure the chime is linked to the correct doorbell in the app.
- Test the chime: Use the “Test Chime” feature in the app to see if it plays a sound.
- Restart the chime: Unplug it for 10 seconds, then plug it back in.
- Check Wi-Fi signal: Weak Wi-Fi can cause delays or failures. Move the chime closer to the router or use a Wi-Fi extender.
- Update the app and firmware: Make sure both the Ring app and your devices are up to date.
Chime Light Is Blinking Red
A blinking red light usually means there’s a connection error. Try:
- Reconnecting to Wi-Fi through the app
- Resetting the chime (press and hold the setup button for 20 seconds)
- Moving the chime closer to the router
Chime Rings Randomly or Without Doorbell Press
This could be due to motion alerts or a glitch. Check your chime settings and disable “Motion Detected” if it’s enabled. Also, ensure your doorbell isn’t accidentally being triggered by wind, pets, or passing cars.
Chime Pro Not Boosting Wi-Fi
If your Chime Pro isn’t improving your doorbell’s signal:
- Make sure it’s placed within range of both the router and the doorbell
- Check that it’s connected to the same Wi-Fi network
- Restart both the Chime Pro and the doorbell
Tips for Best Performance
To get the most out of your Ring Chime, follow these best practices:
- Use multiple chimes: Place chimes in key areas like the kitchen, bedroom, and basement.
- Keep firmware updated: The Ring app will notify you when updates are available.
- Avoid interference: Keep the chime away from microwaves, cordless phones, and other wireless devices.
- Use a dedicated outlet: Don’t plug the chime into a power strip or outlet with other high-draw devices.
- Monitor battery levels: If your Ring Doorbell is battery-powered, low battery can affect chime performance.
Conclusion
Connecting a chime to your Ring Doorbell is a simple yet powerful upgrade that enhances your home’s security and convenience. With just a few steps in the Ring app, you can enjoy loud, customizable alerts that ensure you never miss a visitor—no matter where you are in the house.
Whether you choose the standard Ring Chime or the Wi-Fi-boosting Chime Pro, you’ll benefit from reliable notifications, easy setup, and seamless integration with your existing Ring ecosystem. And with the ability to customize tones, volume, and alert settings, your chime can be tailored to fit your lifestyle perfectly.
So go ahead—plug in that chime, follow the steps in this guide, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your home is protected and connected.