Why Does My Ring Spotlight Flash On and Off?

Ring spotlight cam light with the light on and wired to a power source.Ring spotlight cam light with the light on and wired to a power source.

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The Ring Spotlight Cam is a great way to illuminate your property and deter potential intruders. 

But if you notice your Ring Camera’s spotlight flashing on and off, you’ll need to do some troubleshooting.

Troubleshooting a Ring Spotlight Cam Flashing On and Off

There are a few reasons your Ring Spotlight Cam might be flashing on and off. It could signal:

  • Low batteries
  • Something triggering the motion sensors
  • Sensitive Motion Settings
  • Outdated firmware
  • Device issues

Whether a small animal is running back and forth across your yard or you just need to recharge the batteries, we have all the troubleshooting tips you need.

Recharge the Ring Spotlight Cam’s Battery

If you have a battery-powered Ring Spotlight Cam, you might notice that the spotlight is flashing on and off because the batteries are low.

Depending on how much you use it, your battery pack may last anywhere from a few days to an entire year. Before taking the battery out and recharging it, check the battery level in the Ring app.

  1. Open the Ring app.
  2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner, then select “Devices.”
  3. Select your Ring Spotlight Cam.
  4. Tap the battery icon in the top-right corner.
  5. Check the battery level in the Device Health page.

If the charge is at 10% or below, follow these steps to charge the battery:

  1. Remove your Spotlight Cam from the mounting bracket.
  2. Open the battery compartment by pressing the white button and lifting the cover off.
  3. Press the release tab to remove the battery.
  4. Connect a micro-USB charger to the battery’s charging port and plug it into a wall outlet.
  5. Let your battery charge until only the solid green light is illuminated
  6. Slide the fully charged battery back into the camera. You should hear it click into place.
  7. Close the battery compartment and put your camera back on the mounting bracket.

Ring Spotlight Cams have an additional battery slot to keep your camera powered longer. If your batteries are dying frequently, consider adding another Quick Release Battery pack.

Check the Area for Small Animals

Any type of motion can trigger the lights on the Ring Spotlight Cam. Small animals can be hard to see in the dark, but it’s always possible that a stray cat has wandered into your yard.

If you don’t see any critters, check your Live View carefully for plants moving in the wind, windchimes swaying back and forth, or other small motions that could be triggering the camera.

If your Ring Spotlight Cam only flashes at specific times, see if something is happening at a certain time of day that’s triggering the motion sensors. This could include:

  • Automated sprinklers
  • Automatic pool vacuums
  • Cars pulling in or out of driveways

Check Your Motion Controls

Motion Sensitivity controls in the Ring app let you be more selective about how many motion alerts you get

But, if you increase your Motion Sensitivity too much, your Spotlight Cam could be triggered by something as small as a leaf falling to the ground.

Here’s how you can adjust the Motion Sensitivity in the Ring app:

  1. Open the Ring app and tap the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner.
  2. Select “Devices,” then tap your Spotlight Cam.
  3. Press “Motion Settings.”
  4. Select “Motion Sensitivity.”
  5. Drag the slider to the left to decrease Motion Sensitivity.

Be sure not to decrease Motion Sensitivity too much, or your camera may not detect motion at all.

Adjust Your Motion Zones

Ring’s Motion Zones let you precisely control the areas in your camera’s field of view where you want motion detected. 

But if you include a high traffic area in your Motion Zones, motion detection could go into overdrive. 

Here’s how you can manage your Motion Zones in the Ring app:

  1. Select your Spotlight Cam in the Ring app.
  2. In the Settings tab, select “Motion Settings.”
  3. Press “Edit Motion Zones.”
  4. Tap “Default Zone.”
  5. Drag the blue area so it only includes areas where you want motion detected.

 Always exclude roads, sidewalks, and other people’s driveways from your motion zones.

Update Your Camera’s Firmware

Ring Cameras update their firmware automatically. But, issues can sometimes arise that prevent your camera from downloading the latest update.

Outdated firmware can cause all sorts of problems and may cause your spotlights to flash on and off.

Here’s how to check which firmware version your Spotlight Cam is currently running:

  1. Open the Ring app, then tap the three horizontal lines to open the menu.
  2. Select “Devices.”
  3. Tap on your Spotlight Cam.
  4. Select “Device Health.”
  5. Scroll down to “Firmware.”

If it says “Up to Date,” your camera is running the current version. If it says anything else, open your Spotlight Cam’s Live View to push the new update.

Reset Your Spotlight Cam

If you’re still having the issue, you may need to reset your Spotlight Cam to clear any glitches it’s experiencing. 

To reset a Ring Spotlight Cam, press and hold the reset button on the top of the camera for about 30 seconds.

Once you release it, the status light at the bottom will flash. Then, you can set your Spotlight Cam up in the app like new again.

Check the Camera for Damage

If you’ve gone through all the steps listed above and your spotlights are still flashing on and off, your camera is probably damaged. 

Inspect your Spotlight Cam for:

If you see anything out of the ordinary, your best bet is to replace your Spotlight Cam.

Other Flashing Lights on Ring Spotlight Cam

Ring Spotlight Cams communicate different problems via flashing lights. If you’re concerned about a different flashing light, use the table below to diagnose it.

Light PatternMeaning
Flashing white lightYour camera is in setup mode.
Solid white lightYour camera is preparing to enter setup mode.
Flashing red lightYou entered the incorrect Wi-Fi password during setup.
Flashing blue lightYou’re not connected to the temporary Ring access point during setup.
Flashing green lightYou’re not connected to the internet.
Solid green lightSetup was successful.

FAQ: Ring Spotlight Camera’s Lights

How Long Do the Ring Spotlight Camera’s Lights Stay On?

By default, your Ring Spotlight Cam’s lights will stay on for thirty seconds, starting when the camera is triggered.

How Bright is the Ring Spotlight Camera’s Light?

The Ring Spotlight Cam’s lights output between 300-375 lumens

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