Ring Doorbell Hardwire Guide: Wires, Drills, Screws, and More

Congratulations! You have successfully purchased your first Ring Doorbell. While your new device may already be giving you peace of mind, upon unboxing it, the installation process could be weighing heavily on you, especially with the amount of hardware that’s involved.

This guide will show you how to install your Ring Doorbell­­ and what to do with its wires, drills, and screws. By the end of this article, you will have the skillset and tools you need to install your Ring Doorbell!

What Will I Need to Install My Ring Doorbell?

Your Ring Doorbell will come with everything necessary to install it. However, if you lost a piece or aren’t satisfied with its tools, you could use the following:

• Four T6 screws
• Screwdriver
• A power drill

What Size Drill Bit Do I Need?

To mount your Ring Doorbell to the wall, you will need a 15/64 drill bit (although you could also use a 7/32 drill bit). Additionally, you will need a T6 and T15 screwdriver head.

What Size Wires Do I Need?

If you purchased the traditional Ring Doorbell, you will not need to wire it into the wall. However, if you opted for the Ring Doorbell Pro, the wires from your pre-existing doorbell should work.

The types of wires you need will depend on your setup. You can read more about it here.

What Size Allen Wrench Do I Need?

Allen wrenches usually come in sets of five. The smallest wrench should work on your device.

You could buy all of the above-listed parts at once on Amazon.

Do I Need to Buy a Resistor for the Ring Doorbell?

Whether you need to buy a resistor for your Ring Doorbell depends on your home’s setup. Most people will not need to buy this extension. However, if you are connecting a Ring Doorbell Pro to a low-voltage transformer, you may need to spend a few extra dollars on this component.

You can learn more about whether you need a resistor here.

How to Install Your Ring Doorbell

How to set up your product will depend on which Ring Doorbell you purchased. The key difference between the Ring Doorbell and the Ring Doorbell Pro is that the latter connects to the old doorbell’s existing wires. The former comes with its own battery pack and wires.

If you want to learn more about installing your Ring Doorbell Pro, skip down to the bottom of the page. If you have the first, second, or third generation of the standard model, continue reading.

Installing a Traditional Ring Doorbell

Your Ring Doorbell will come with something called a “mounting bracket.” This is the frame that will hold your device against the wall. Your setup package will also come with T6 screws that you will use to mount the mounting bracket.

Now:

1. Take the level and insert it into the center of the mounting bracket.
2. Place the mounting bracket in the desired location, angling the level’s bubble so that it is centered.
3. Take a pencil and mark the four corners of the mounting bracket.
4. IMPORTANT: if you are installing the Ring Doorbell onto a wooden surface, you can use drill the mounting bracket onto the wall. If you are installing your doorbell on a stucco, brick, or concrete surface, you will need to drill holes into the wall first using a 15/64 drill bit. (Be sure to use the plastic anchors that came with it.)
5. Remove the level.
6. Snap the Ring Doorbell onto the mounting bracket.

From there, you will take the T16 head (the one that looks like a star) and fasten the two screws onto the bottom of your doorbell.

Note: If needed, this article covers how to install the Ring Doorbell in a narrow space.

Installing the Ring Doorbell Pro

As mentioned, your Ring Doorbell Pro will work in tandem with your pre-existing doorbell system. You will need to have a basic understanding of how to wire your device for it to work.

1. Before you do anything, turn off the doorbell’s power supply.You could do this by toggling with your home’s breaker.
2. Then, you will need to locate your home’s inner doorbell system. This will probably be somewhere by your front door. Take off the inner doorbell’s cover and locate two wires, one that will say “front” and the other that will say “transformer.”
3. Using a screwdriver (the bit will depend on the size of the screw in your doorbell), loosen the screws holding the two wires in place. Do not remove them completely. 

Connecting the Power Kit

Your Ring Doorbell Pro will come with a square called the “pro power kit.” Take one prong connected to the power kit and attach it to the “front” transistor. Do the same thing with the one that says “transformer.” To hold the prongs in place, fasten the screws back in place.

It does not matter which prongs connect to which transistors, as long as they are both attached. At this point, you can either stick the pro power kit onto the wall or put it inside your doorbell. Put the cover back on.

Mounting Your Ring Doorbell Pro to the Wall

Now comes the part where you screw your Ring Doorbell Pro onto the front of your house. First, remove the pre-existing doorbell that you had before. Again, the screwdriver head you will need depends on your doorbell’s size.

From there, you will have two wires protruding from the wall. Here, you should:

1. Mark the places where you intend to connect your doorbell to the wall.
2. If you have stucco, brick, or concrete walls, refer to the instructions above for drilling your doorbell into the wall; otherwise, you can screw it right in. 
3. Loosen the two screws on the back of the doorbell.
4. Loop the two wires around the screws, then fasten them.

Finally, secure your doorbell to the wall. This should follow a similar set of instructions to the ones listed above.

In Conclusion

The setup process, tools you will need, and other details will depend on what type and generation of Ring Doorbell you bought. You can learn more about installing your device by consulting your user manual or checking out Ring Doorbell’s YouTube channel.