Turn your Ring camera into a doorbell-only device by adjusting motion settings, disabling unnecessary alerts, and optimizing your app preferences. This guide walks you through every step to ensure your Ring only notifies you when someone presses the doorbell—keeping your home secure without constant interruptions.
Key Takeaways
- Disable Motion Alerts: Turn off motion detection in the Ring app to stop unwanted notifications from passing cars or animals.
- Use Smart Alerts Wisely: Customize motion zones and sensitivity to reduce false alarms while keeping doorbell alerts active.
- Adjust Notification Settings: Set your phone or tablet to only receive doorbell press notifications, not motion-based ones.
- Enable Chime Only Mode: If you have a Ring Chime, configure it to ring only for doorbell presses, not motion events.
- Regularly Review Activity: Check your Ring app’s event history to ensure only doorbell events are being recorded and notified.
- Update Firmware and App: Keep your Ring device and app updated to access the latest features and bug fixes.
- Use Privacy Zones: Block out areas like busy streets or neighbor’s yards to prevent accidental motion triggers.
Introduction: Why Make Your Ring Camera Doorbell-Only?
So, you’ve installed a Ring doorbell camera—great choice! It’s one of the most popular smart home security devices on the market. But here’s the thing: while it’s designed to alert you when someone approaches your door, many users find themselves overwhelmed by constant motion notifications. Whether it’s the mail carrier, a neighbor walking by, or even a squirrel darting across your lawn, these alerts can quickly become annoying.
That’s why more and more people are choosing to make their Ring camera doorbell-only. This means the device will only notify you when someone actually presses the doorbell button—not every time it detects motion. It’s a simple change that can drastically improve your experience, reduce digital clutter, and help you focus on what really matters: knowing when someone is at your door.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step to transform your Ring camera into a doorbell-only device. Whether you have a Ring Video Doorbell, Ring Doorbell Pro, Ring Doorbell Elite, or Ring Doorbell Wired, the process is similar. We’ll cover how to disable motion alerts, customize your notification settings, use smart features like motion zones, and even troubleshoot common issues.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a streamlined, efficient system that only alerts you when someone rings the bell—no more false alarms, no more unnecessary interruptions. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Understand How Ring Doorbell Alerts Work
Visual guide about How to Make Ring Camera Doorbell Only
Image source: static01.nyt.com
Before making any changes, it’s important to understand how your Ring doorbell currently operates. Ring devices are built to detect both motion and doorbell presses. When motion is detected, the camera records a short clip and sends a notification to your phone. When someone presses the doorbell, it triggers a chime (if you have one) and sends a live video feed to your device.
By default, both motion and doorbell alerts are enabled. This is great for full surveillance, but not ideal if you only want to know when someone is at your door. The good news? You can easily turn off motion alerts while keeping doorbell notifications active.
How Motion Detection Works
Ring uses advanced PIR (passive infrared) sensors to detect heat and movement. When something warm (like a person or animal) moves within the camera’s field of view, the sensor triggers a recording. This is why you might get alerts from passing cars, blowing leaves, or even shadows.
How Doorbell Presses Work
When someone presses the physical button on your Ring doorbell, it sends a signal to the Ring app and any connected chimes. This is a deliberate action, so it’s more reliable than motion detection for knowing when someone is actually at your door.
Understanding this difference is key. You want to keep the doorbell press alerts but disable the motion-based ones. Let’s dive into how to do that.
Step 2: Disable Motion Alerts in the Ring App
The first and most important step is to turn off motion alerts in the Ring app. This will stop your phone from buzzing every time the camera detects movement. Here’s how to do it:
Open the Ring App
Launch the Ring app on your smartphone or tablet. Make sure you’re logged into the account connected to your doorbell.
Select Your Device
Tap on the device icon (usually a camera or doorbell image) for the Ring doorbell you want to configure.
Go to Device Settings
Tap the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner to access the device settings menu.
Find Motion Settings
Scroll down and tap on Motion Settings. This is where you control how and when your camera detects motion.
Turn Off Motion Alerts
Toggle off the switch next to Motion Alerts. This will disable all motion-based notifications. You’ll still receive alerts when someone presses the doorbell, but not from movement.
Optional: Disable Motion Recording
If you want to go a step further, you can also turn off Motion Recording. This stops the camera from saving clips when motion is detected. However, we recommend keeping this on if you want a record of activity—just disable the alerts to avoid notifications.
Save Your Changes
Once you’ve made your adjustments, exit the settings. The changes are saved automatically.
Now your Ring camera will only notify you when the doorbell is pressed. But there’s more you can do to fine-tune the experience.
Step 3: Customize Notification Settings on Your Phone
Even with motion alerts disabled, it’s a good idea to double-check your phone’s notification settings. Sometimes, apps can still send background alerts or badges. Here’s how to ensure only doorbell presses trigger notifications:
Go to Phone Settings
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Ring. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Ring > Notifications.
Allow Notifications
Make sure notifications are enabled for the Ring app. You want to receive alerts when someone rings the doorbell.
Disable Motion Notifications (if applicable)
Some phones allow you to customize notification types. If you see options like “Motion Alerts” or “Activity Alerts,” turn those off. Keep only “Doorbell Press” or “Live View” notifications active.
Set Notification Style
Choose how you want to be alerted—banner, alert, or none. For doorbell presses, we recommend “Banner” so you see the alert without it taking over your screen.
Test the Settings
Ask someone to press your doorbell and confirm you receive a notification. Then walk in front of the camera to ensure no motion alert appears.
This extra step ensures your phone isn’t sending redundant alerts, even if the app settings are correct.
Step 4: Use Motion Zones to Reduce False Alerts (Optional)
If you’re not ready to completely disable motion alerts but want to reduce false alarms, consider using Motion Zones. This feature lets you define specific areas where motion detection is active. For example, you can exclude busy sidewalks or your driveway.
Access Motion Zones
In the Ring app, go to your device settings and tap Motion Settings > Motion Zones.
Draw Your Zones
Use your finger to draw boxes around areas where you want motion detection. Avoid areas with frequent false triggers, like streets or trees.
Adjust Sensitivity
Lower the motion sensitivity to “Low” or “Medium” to reduce alerts from small movements.
Save and Test
Save your zones and test by walking through different areas. Only movement within your defined zones should trigger alerts.
While this doesn’t make your Ring doorbell-only, it’s a great middle ground if you still want some motion awareness without constant notifications.
Step 5: Configure Your Ring Chime (If You Have One)
If you have a Ring Chime or Chime Pro, you can configure it to only ring when the doorbell is pressed—not when motion is detected. This is especially useful if you want an audible alert inside your home.
Open the Ring App
Go to the main dashboard and tap on your Chime device.
Go to Chime Settings
Tap the gear icon to access settings.
Set Chime Mode
Look for Chime Mode or Ringtone Settings. Choose “Doorbell Only” or disable “Motion Chime.” This ensures the chime only sounds when someone presses the button.
Adjust Volume and Tone
Set your preferred volume and ringtone. You can even choose different tones for different doors if you have multiple Ring devices.
Test the Chime
Press your doorbell and confirm the chime rings. Then trigger motion to ensure it doesn’t sound.
This step ensures your home audio system aligns with your doorbell-only goal.
Step 6: Enable Privacy Zones to Block Unwanted Areas
Privacy Zones let you block out parts of the camera’s view where you don’t want motion detection. This is perfect for hiding neighbor’s yards, busy roads, or reflective surfaces that cause false alerts.
Go to Device Settings
In the Ring app, select your doorbell and tap the gear icon.
Find Privacy Zones
Tap Privacy Zones under the video settings.
Draw Privacy Areas
Use your finger to draw black boxes over areas you want to exclude. These zones will be masked in recordings and won’t trigger motion alerts.
Save and Confirm
Save your changes and review a live view to ensure the zones are correctly applied.
Privacy Zones are a powerful tool for reducing unnecessary alerts while maintaining security where it matters.
Step 7: Regularly Review Activity and Adjust as Needed
Even after disabling motion alerts, it’s smart to check your Ring app regularly. Review the Event History to ensure only doorbell presses are being recorded and notified.
Check Event History Weekly
Open the Ring app and go to the History tab. Look for entries labeled “Motion” or “Doorbell Press.”
Identify False Alerts
If you see motion events, double-check your settings. Sometimes firmware updates or app glitches can reset preferences.
Adjust Settings as Needed
If you notice unwanted alerts, revisit motion zones, sensitivity, or notification settings.
Regular maintenance ensures your doorbell-only setup stays effective over time.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with the best setup, you might run into issues. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:
Still Getting Motion Alerts?
Double-check that Motion Alerts are turned off in the app. Also, ensure your phone’s notification settings aren’t overriding the app preferences.
Doorbell Not Ringing?
Check your Wi-Fi connection. A weak signal can delay or prevent doorbell alerts. Also, verify that your Chime (if used) is powered and connected.
App Not Sending Notifications?
Make sure the Ring app has permission to send notifications. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Ring and enable alerts. On Android, check app permissions in Settings > Apps > Ring.
Camera Not Recording Doorbell Presses?
Ensure Doorbell Press Recording is enabled in the device settings. Also, check your subscription plan—some features require Ring Protect.
Firmware Out of Date?
Go to Device Health in the Ring app and check for updates. Outdated firmware can cause glitches.
If problems persist, contact Ring Support through the app or website.
Conclusion: Enjoy a Smarter, Simpler Doorbell Experience
Making your Ring camera doorbell-only is a simple but powerful way to improve your smart home experience. By disabling motion alerts, customizing notifications, and using features like motion zones and privacy settings, you can ensure your Ring only alerts you when it truly matters—when someone is at your door.
This setup reduces digital noise, saves battery life (on battery-powered models), and helps you stay focused on real visitors. Whether you’re working from home, sleeping, or just enjoying peace and quiet, you’ll appreciate the clarity and control.
Remember, technology should work for you—not the other way around. With the steps in this guide, your Ring doorbell becomes a reliable, unobtrusive tool that enhances your security without the hassle.
So go ahead, make the switch today. Your future self will thank you every time the doorbell rings—and only then.