How to install a Ring video doorbell
Installing a wired Ring doorbell such as this Ring Pro 2 takes about 45 minutes.Installing a Ring video doorbell is one of the easiest smart home upgrades to tackle (with the possible exception of screwing in a smart lightbulb)....
Installing a Ring video doorbell is one of the easiest smart home upgrades to tackle (with the possible exception of screwing in a smart lightbulb). Made up of a motion-activated camera with a microphone and speaker, a Ring video doorbell will send alerts to your smartphone and smart speakers to tell you when there’s someone at your door so you can see and talk to them. This is handy for making sure you don’t miss a visitor as well as for keeping an eye on packages if you’re not home.
Getting a Ring video doorbell set up on your front or backdoor should take between 10 and 45 minutes, depending on which of the seven models you decide to go with and whether you choose battery-powered or wired. If you have existing doorbell wires, I highly recommend opting for a wired doorbell. In my testing, they tend to be more reliable because they don’t have to “wake up” their battery to record video.
However, the battery-powered versions — Ring Video Doorbell 4, Ring Video Doorbell 3, and Ring Video Doorbell 2020 — are the easiest to install. The hardwired ones — Ring Video Doorbell Wired, Ring Video Doorbell Pro, and Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 — are a little more involved, but the process is pretty simple and generally involves low-voltage wiring. If you are uncomfortable with messing with wiring, an electrician can certainly do this job for you, but as long as you can find your breaker and the indoor chime box, the whole thing shouldn’t take more than 30 to 45 minutes.
The only time you might consider an electrician is if you want a wired doorbell and you don’t have an existing doorbell transformer. In that instance, I recommend professional help. A cheaper solution is to buy a Ring plug-in adapter to permanently power your doorbell, but that may require drilling holes through your wall.
Ring provides everything you need to install the doorbell except a drill. The screws and wires are marked with letters to help you select the right ones.Most Ring doorbells come with everything you need to install them right in the box, including a screwdriver, screws, wall anchors, wire extenders, and wire nuts. In fact, Ring provides everything but the drill (which you only need if you’re dealing with concrete or stucco), although it does include a specialized drill bit. The Ring Pro models as well as the Ring 3 and 4 also come with optional wedge kits to change the angle of the video doorbell. The Ring Wired and Ring 2020 don’t come with these, but you can buy them separately.
The Ring Pro 2 (pictured), Ring Pro, and Ring Wired are all wired doorbells, but they are easy to install.Ring has four “true wired” video doorbells: the Ring Wired, Ring Pro and Pro 2, and the Ring Elite. The Elite requires professional installation, so we will skip that. But, for the other three, the installation steps are very similar. The Pro models require a 16- to 24-volt doorbell transformer, which Ring also sells. And the Ring Wired requires a transformer between 10 and 24 volts. Here’s how to install these doorbells:
First, check that your existing doorbell is working by pressing the doorbell and making sure you hear the chime. Next, turn off the power to your doorbell at the breaker. Now locate your indoor chime and remove the cover. For the Ring Wired, attach the provided jumper cable. This bypasses the existing chime so it will not ring when your doorbell is pressed. See How to install the Ring Chime later in this article if you need a chime to ring inside your home.You can now use Ring’s smartphone app to connect the doorbell to your Wi-Fi network and set up features such as motion detection and alerts.
Battery-powered Ring doorbells work with a built-in or removable battery. They can also be wired to your doorbell wiring to trickle charge the battery. The main advantage of a battery doorbell is that it will continue to record if the power is out and, since you don’t have to connect it via wires, you can put it anywhere you like. The disadvantage is you have to remember to charge it.
Ring has three battery doorbells: the Ring 4, Ring 3, and Ring 2020. While the steps to install these are similar, they are not identical, so I will go over the Ring 2020 separately.
How to install a Ring Video Doorbell 4 or Ring 3
The Ring 4 and 3 have a removable faceplate. First, fully charge the provided battery using the included USB charging cable. Next, remove the faceplate and use the doorbell to mark the positions for the mounting holes with a pencil. Insert the provided mini level in the small hole on the front of the doorbell to make sure the doorbell is straight.Complete the setup in Ring’s smartphone app by connecting the doorbell to your Wi-Fi network to enable features such as motion detection and alerts.
How to install a Ring Video Doorbell 2020
The Ring Video Doorbell 2020 attaches to a mounting bracket. Charge the doorbell using the included USB charging cable by plugging it into the port at the back of the doorbell. Once the blue LED is fully lit, it is charged. Remove the mounting bracket from the back of the doorbell and hold it up against the wall where you plan to mount it.Open the Ring smartphone app to complete the setup, which includes connecting the doorbell to your Wi-Fi network and activating features such as motion detection and alerts.
A Ring Chime lets you hear your doorbell inside your home if you don’t have a wired chime.Image: RingRing sells a Ring Chime ($34.99) and Ring Chime Pro ($59.99). The Chime allows you to hear the alert from your Ring doorbell inside your home, the same way a traditional doorbell chime box does. A Chime Pro does the same thing but also acts as a Wi-Fi extender, which can be useful if your Ring Doorbell has a weak connection to your Wi-Fi. You can use a Chime with a wired or battery-powered Ring doorbell.
Plug the Chime into an electrical outlet between your Wi-Fi router and your Ring doorbell. Open the Ring app on your smartphone. Tap Set up device. Choose Chime or Chime Pro depending on which device you have. Follow the steps in the app. Once complete, connect your doorbell to your Chime by opening the app and tapping Chime Pro. Tap Linked Devices. Find your doorbell in the list and tap Connect to Chime Pro. Follow the steps to complete the connection.