Ring Doorbell Audio and Sound Guide: Troubleshooting Tips

All Ring Doorbells come with two-way audio, which allows you to talk to anyone at your door through the Ring app and a built-in speaker and microphone on the doorbell itself. 

But if the speaker or microphone isn’t working on your Ring Doorbell or camera, you’ll need to troubleshoot the issue.  

Why Can’t People Hear Me on My Ring Doorbell?

You can hear people talk to you on your Ring Doorbell’s speaker, but for some reason, they can’t hear anything you say. This could be due to:

• Incorrect sound settings
• Poor Wi-Fi connection
• Microphone issues

Below, we’ll discuss some troubleshooting steps to ensure you can always be heard on your Ring Video Doorbell.

Incorrect Sound Settings

There are a lot of different sound settings you might need to tweak to ensure people can hear you talk through your doorbell.

Enable the Microphone

First things first, make sure the microphone is enabled. 

To do this, open your Ring Doorbell’s Live View and look at the microphone icon. Make sure the icon doesn’t have a diagonal line running through the microphone.

Raise the Speaker Volume

People might not be able to hear you on your Ring Doorbell because your speaker volume is too low. Follow the steps below to raise it:

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Select the settings icon above your Doorbell’s camera thumbnail.
3. Tap General Settings > Volume Settings.
4. Adjust the volume for “Device Speaker.”

Disconnect from Bluetooth Devices

If your phone is connected to AirPods or another device you can talk into, it might not pick up sounds when you talk into the microphone.

Disconnect your phone from all Bluetooth devices, then try using two-way audio again.

Poor Wi-Fi Connection

Ring devices need a strong Wi-Fi connection to use internet-enabled features. If you have a poor Wi-Fi connection, you may experience issues with two-way audio.  

Follow the steps below to check your Wi-Fi signal in the Ring app:

1. Tap the settings icon above your camera’s thumbnail.
2. Select “Device Health.”
3. Look under “Signal Strength” to find your RSSI number.

Generally, if the font color is green, Wi-Fi is not an issue. But if it’s orange or red, you might need to:

• Reconnect to Wi-Fi
• Move your router closer to your doorbell
• Get a Wi-Fi extender

Microphone Issues

Even after enabling the microphone, the Ring app needs permission to access your phone’s microphone. 

It’ll ask for permission the first time you try to use the microphone, but if you pressed “Don’t Allow,” you’ll need to change it in your phone’s settings.

If you have an iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and select “Ring.”
3. Make sure “Microphone” is toggled on.

And if you have an Android:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select “Privacy.”
3. Tap “App Permissions,” then “Microphone.”
4. Toggle “Ring” on.

Why Can’t I Hear Audio from My Ring Doorbell?

There are a few reasons why you can’t hear the visitor at your door speaking through your Ring Doorbell. These include:

• Your volume is too low. You won’t hear sounds if your phone’s volume is muted!
• The sound is too far away to pick up. Ring Doorbells can generally hear sounds from 10 feet away.
• Bluetooth is enabled. You won’t hear anything on your phone if it’s actually playing on a speaker across the house.
• The speaker isn’t enabled. Open your Doorbell’s Live View and tap the Speaker icon to turn it white.
• You have a weak Wi-Fi signal. Without a strong connection, you may experience audio issues with Live View and recorded footage.

Two-Way Audio Still isn’t Working

If you’ve followed the basic troubleshooting steps and Two-Way Talk still doesn’t work, the problem might be with your device. You can try:

• Rebooting your doorbell
• Factory resetting your doorbell

Reboot Your Ring Doorbell

Before doing a full factory reset, it’s a good idea to try power cycling your doorbell.

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Tap the settings icon above your camera’s thumbnail.
3. Tap “Device Health.”
4. Scroll down and select “Reboot This Device.”
5. Confirm your selection and wait a few minutes for it to reboot.

Factory Reset Your Ring Doorbell

If a reboot didn’t work, factory resetting your Ring Doorbell is your best bet. The exact steps will vary based on which model you own, but most can be reset following the process below:

1. Remove the security screw at the bottom of your doorbell to remove it from the mounting bracket.
2. Find the reset or setup button. This is the orange button on the front or back of the device.
3. Press and hold the reset button for about 10 seconds, or until the light on the front begins to flash.

The light will either turn off or enter setup mode when the reset is complete.

Note: Performing a factory reset on the device will erase all your settings and data. You will need to set your Ring Doorbell up again before it’ll work.

Can You Increase or Decrease the Volume on Your Ring Doorbell?

In addition to changing your Ring Doorbell’s speaker volume, which we discussed above, you can change the chime volume. 

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Select the settings icon above your doorbell’s camera thumbnail.
3. Tap General Settings > Volume Settings.
4. Adjust the volume for “Doorbell Sounds.”

Following the above steps adjusts the volume of your Ring Doorbell’s chime. 

Ring Doorbell Two-Way Audio Issues with Alexa Devices

You can start a two-way conversation on your Ring Doorbell through Alexa using the command, “Alexa, talk to [doorbell name].” 

If you’re experiencing two-way audio issues while using an Alexa device, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot it: 

• Select the Alexa device as a Ring Doorbell Announcement Device.
• Make sure your Alexa device’s microphone isn’t muted.
• Verify that both devices are connected to Wi-Fi.
• Ensure the Ring Skill is enabled in the Alexa app and your Ring account is properly linked. 

Further Troubleshooting

Ring isn’t Recording Audio

If your Ring Doorbell isn’t recording audio, ensure Audio Streaming and Recording is enabled:

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Select the settings icon above your doorbell’s camera thumbnail. 
3. Tap Device Settings > Privacy Settings.
4. Toggle “Audio Streaming and Recording” on.

Ring Device Audio is Choppy/Muffled

If you’re experiencing audio quality issues with your Ring Doorbell, it probably has something to do with your Wi-Fi signal. 

Make sure your doorbell is connected to Wi-Fi, and if necessary, connect to a new network or take some steps to improve your signal.