Why Is My Ring Doorbell Lagging?
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My brother loves his Ring Video Doorbell, but sometimes he complains about delays in hearing the doorbell chime, connecting to the video stream, and receiving notifications. I wanted to help him out, so I went online to find out what was causing his Ring Doorbell to lag.
Why is my Ring Doorbell lagging? The most common causes of lagging are poor Wi-Fi signal strength and slow internet speeds. A poor Wi-Fi signal may be caused by physical obstructions between your router and your doorbell or too many devices using the network. Internet speeds are determined by your internet provider and plan.
Lagging is a major cause for concern for Ring Doorbell owners like my brother because it means you may miss seeing the face of someone who came to your front door briefly. Once you have determined why your Ring Doorbell is lagging, the next step is to fix the problem. There are several troubleshooting options to get your doorbell working as fast as possible.
My Ring Video Doorbell is Lagging
To determine the reason for your lag, go to the Device Health page of the Ring app on your phone or tablet. Under “Network”, you will find the strength of the Wi-Fi signal to your doorbell. Under “Tools”, you will find a link to test your Wi-Fi upload and download speeds. You can also find internet speed tests online. I use this website to check my Wi-Fi speed.
If you have never done an internet speed test before, you may be wondering how slow is too slow? Ring recommends a minimum upload and download speed of 2 Mbps. You should perform the speed test while standing next to your router first and then again next to your doorbell for the most accurate information about why your doorbell is lagging.
If you are still unsure about the cause of your lag issue, try using the Device Health Report tool or the Contact Support tool in the Ring app.
Troubleshooting Poor Wi-Fi Signal
If your internet speed was at least the recommended 2 Mbps inside your home but slower outside next to your doorbell, that’s a sign that your lag issue is caused by poor Wi-Fi signal.
Here are some DIY steps to increase the strength of your Wi-Fi signal:
- To minimize physical obstructions, move your router as close to the doorbell as possible. It is also helpful to put it up higher in the room.
- If your router is more than 2 years old, consider purchasing a new one with antennas and built-in power amplifiers such as this one.
- Reduce the number of devices that use your Wi-Fi network. Ring Doorbells use a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal. Your Wi-Fi router most likely has both a 2.4GHz signal and a 5GHz signal. Switch other devices to the 5GHz signal to increase the strength of the 2.4 GHz signal to your doorbell. You could also unplug or turn-off devices that use the 2.4 GHz signal when you are not actively using them.
- Purchase a Wi-Fi extender such as the Ring Chime Pro. This device is specifically designed to boost Wi-Fi signal for Ring products. It also doubles as a doorbell chime in your home.
Troubleshooting Slow Wi-Fi Speeds
If your internet speed is less than 2 Mbps inside your home, that’s a sign that your lag issue may be due to low internet speed rather than a poor signal to the doorbell.
The steps to boost Wi-Fi signal listed above also have the potential to increase your internet speed.
Ultimately, though, your internet service provider determines your internet speed. If your upload and/or download speed are less than 2 Mbps, I recommend calling your internet provider to see if you can upgrade to a faster internet plan. When I called, my provider actually upgraded me to a faster plan for free! Others may offer faster plans for a higher monthly cost.
Ring Video Doorbell Delays
When your doorbell detects motion, it automatically begins recording. However, this process isn’t instant. It takes a few seconds for the doorbell to process the motion and initiate the recording.
This delay causes frustration for many Ring Doorbell owners. Something may move past your home and trigger the motion sensor, but the person, vehicle, or animal may be gone before the recording even starts, so you will never know what triggered it.
Ring Video Doorbells double as security cameras, and even a delay of a few seconds can make a big difference. For example, a thief can run up to your porch, steal a package, and turn away to leave in just a few seconds. You may miss seeing the face of the person who ran off with your package even though you have a security camera.
Unfortunately, this delay is not a lagging issue that can be completely eliminated with troubleshooting. As Ring continues to improve and release newer versions of their doorbell, hopefully this delay will become a thing of the past.
