Why Is My Ring Doorbell Flashing Red?

Ring doorbell flashing blueRing doorbell flashing blue

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The Ring Doorbell allows for advanced video surveillance, adding another layer of security for your smart home. After getting your Ring Doorbell set up, you will notice a series of flashing red lights and probably want to learn more about what the lights indicate. So, why is your Ring Doorbell flashing red?

The Ring Doorbell is flashing red for a couple of reasons, depending on the flashing pattern. A flashing, solid, and multiple red dots will mean different things.

Fortunately, if you’re experiencing red lights on your Ring Doorbell, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try to address the issue.

Why your Ring Doorbell is Flashing Red

The Ring doorbell utilizes red lights to indicate potential issues, or to let you know it’s activated a particular function. Don’t worry; it doesn’t mean that your Ring doorbell is hacked, so here’s a closer look at some of the red light cues you may notice:

What is the Solid Red Light on the Ring Doorbell?

A solid or flashing red light on your Ring Doorbell means the battery is low. If this is the case, you simply need to recharge or replace the battery pack (depending on your model).

Note: While charging, the light indicator will change from red to a blue circle filling up.

If you notice that your Ring doorbell isn’t charging, there are some things you can do to fix it.

What are Three Red Dots on the Ring Doorbell?

If you notice that there’s more than one red dot on your Ring doorbell, you might be wondering, what does three red dots mean on the Ring Doorbell?

The three red dots on your Ring doorbell means that it’s in night vision. These red dots will appear on your device at night and indicate the doorbell is using its IR night vision function.

If you’re wondering what the colors on a Ring Doorbell mean, such as if your Ring Doorbell is flashing white or blue, we have a great guide for you!

Other Ring Doorbell Indicator Light Cues

The Ring Doorbell also relies on other indicator lights to inform you of potential issues or communicate information to the user. It implements a circular light that flashes in different sections depending on the intended message.

Flashing Blue Light

A common light cue, your Ring Doorbell will display a blue light representing different device statuses. If you see a flashing blue light, it most likely means your device is powering on. However, it could also represent other statuses (depending on the visual pattern).

  • Flashing: A flashing blue light indicates your Doorbell’s camera is powering on.
  • Circle (Filling): A blue filling circle on the Doorbell lets you know your device is connecting to a network.
  • Spinning: A spinning blue light occurs after the Doorbell button is pressed.

There are further reasons why your Ring Doorbell is flashing blue; if there’s a problem, it’s an easy fix.

Other Color Cues

The Ring Doorbell doesn’t just use red and blue to communicate to you. There are other colors and patterns for telling you something is up.

White Light (Section of Circle)Indication
Top Section Flashing An incorrect WiFi password has been entered during the setup. Verify your information is correct and reattempt the connection.
Right Section FlashingThis indicates your device is too far from your router and is having trouble establishing a consistent connection.
Left FlashingThe left section flashing indicates the doorbell is experiencing issues with your internet connection.
Spinning LightA spinning light indicates the device is in “Setup Mode” and is ready to be configured.

How to Reset Ring Doorbell (and Other Troubleshooting Tips)

If you’re consistently running into issues with your Ring Doorbell, whether it’s the flashing indicator lights or connectivity issues, there’s usually a quick fix. Performing a reset on the device can often address many connectivity problems you may experience.

You should also ensure that your Ring doorbell’s firmware is up to date.

How to Perform a Reset

  1. Hold down the setup button for 15 seconds
  2. Wait 30 seconds for the device to completely reset
  3. Repeat the Setup process

Connectivity Issues

If you’re noticing connectivity issues with your Ring Doorbell, here’s a few things that might be causing the problem:

Issue Solution
Weak ConnectionCheck your internet connection. If it’s slow in other areas of your house, your modem/router might need to be reset.
Video Playback Displaying Black ScreenTry connecting your device to a different network. This will confirm if your router is having trouble communicating with the doorbell.
It could be an issue with the associated app. Try to view the video playback on your mobile device with WiFi vs. Cellular to help diagnose the source of the weak connection.
No PowerIf your model supports replaceable batteries, try a different battery to isolate the issue.If your model is a “wired” model, confirm that power is being sent to the doorbell via your breaker box.

Summary

If you begin noticing different flashing lights on your freshly installed Ring Doorbell, you’re not alone. The red lights on the doorbell most likely mean it just needs to be charged or activated the IR night vision feature. These are not indicative of a faulty device, but rather act as visual cues to the doorbell’s functionality.

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