Why Your Ring Floodlight Keeps Coming On

Ring Floodlight Keeps Turning OnRing Floodlight Keeps Turning On

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Ring Floodlights are a fantastic addition to any smart home. They are a security camera and a floodlight that turns on to alert you of motion all in one device. One small problem is that they may turn on when you don’t want them to.

To keep your Ring Floodlight Cam from coming on when it shouldn’t, adjust your device settings so that:

  • Your floodlight coverage zones do not include troublesome triggers
  • The distance level is set appropriately
  • Your camera’s motion zone is sized correctly

For best results, it is important to optimize your camera’s settings. Adjusting your Ring app to the right settings is one way to limit when your floodlight cam triggers. But there may be other reasons your floodlight camera keeps coming on when it’s not supposed to.

How to Stop Ring Floodlight from Constantly Turning On

A Ring Floodlight Cam can provide immeasurable peace of mind. While you’re asleep or away from home, it helps keep a watchful eye over the exterior of your home. 

At 1800 lumens, a Ring floodlight that keeps coming on at night when it’s not supposed to can be a nuisance for you and your neighbors. 

The first thing to do is to actually check if there is motion. To do this, you can either view the footage when the Ring Floodlight turns on or watch the Live View to see if there is motion.

  1. Open the Ring app on your smart device.
  2. Tap the “Menu” icon.
    Open the menu in the RIng app
  3. Go to “Devices” and select your Ring Floodlight Cam.
    Select devices in the RIng app
  4. Either scroll through the event history or tap “Live View” to watch the footage and determine what is triggering your Ring Floodlight Cam.
    Ring events

Most common issues can be resolved through the Ring app. The device settings controlling your Ring Floodlight Cam can be accessed through the dashboard. To access this control center:

  1. Open the Ring app on your smart device.
  2. Tap the Menu button (the icon with three horizontal lines).
  3. Click on “Devices.”
  4. Select your Ring Floodlight Cam.
    RIng floodlight control center

Tapping on the corresponding tiles can access the motion and light settings. Adjusting the motion and light sensitivity levels and their coverage areas can stop your Ring Floodlight Cam from constantly turning on. 

Adjust Light Settings

Tapping on the Light Settings tile on the Ring app’s device dashboard provides access to the floodlight settings. Here, you can manage the coverage zones that trigger the floodlights coming on.

  1. Access the device dashboard in the Ring app.
  2. Tap on the “Light Settings” tile.
  3. Tap on “Motion Zones for Lights.” You will see three 90° coverage zones that can be enabled by tapping on them.
  4. Drag your finger along the slider between Min and Max to set the distance from the Ring Floodlight Cam that will trigger the floodlights.
  5. Use the scrolling selector to set the duration the lights will remain on after they are triggered.

You can control when your Ring floodlights turn on and reduce false triggers by changing the coverage zones and distance settings.

Adjust Motion Settings

From the Ring app’s device dashboard, you can also adjust the settings for motion detection that trigger an alert.

  1. From the device dashboard, tap on the “Motion Settings” tile.
    Select motion settings
  2. Select “Motion Sensitivity.”
    Open motion sensitivity
  3. Use the slider to set the sensitivity level. “All Motion” (slider to the right) is the maximum sensitivity level. Moving the slider to the left toward “People Only” reduces sensitivity.
    Blink motion sensitivity slider
  4. Tap on “Camera Motion Zone” to adjust the coverage area for your Ring Floodlight Cam.
    Ring camera motion zone
  5. Tap “Add a Motion Zone” to create a motion detection area.
    Ring add zone
  6. Drag the various set points to create a Motion Zone that suits your monitoring needs. Avoid including areas prone to frequent false alarms, such as a neighbor’s driveway or a high-traffic area.
  7. Add additional zones as needed and tap “Save.”
  8. You can also set rules to disable motion alerts during certain times.

You can customize the motion settings on your Ring Floodlight Cam to detect motion only in specific areas. You can also decrease the sensitivity of your camera’s motion sensors so that only larger motion events trigger alerts. 

If adjusting your light and motion settings doesn’t reduce false triggers, there may be another reason your Ring floodlight is turning on.

Nearby Heat Sources

Your Ring camera’s floodlights rely on passive infrared sensors to detect heat signatures passing in front of the device. A nearby heat source can cause your Ring Floodlight Cam to trigger unnecessarily. 

Check for nearby heat sources that can result in false trigger events, such as:

  • A dryer vent
  • Bathroom fan vent
  • A furnace vent

Direct the heat flow away from the camera or relocate the camera to another area.

Software Glitch

A software glitch could affect a Ring Floodlight Camera that keeps coming on for no apparent reason. This has been known to happen and should be considered as a possibility.

First, make sure that the firmware on your Ring Floodlight Cam is updated:

  1. Open the Ring app
  2. Tap on the Menu icon
  3. Select “Devices
    Select devices
  4. Select your Ring Floodlight Cam
  5. Tap “Device Health
    Ring app device health
  6. Look for “Firmware” and then see if there is an update. Tap it to let the camera update.
    Checking the RIng device firmware

If all else fails, performing a hard reset of your Ring Floodlight Cam may be a good idea. To do this:

  1. Locate the reset button on top of the camera.
  2. Press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds.
  3. The indicator light at the bottom of the Ring Floodlight Cam will flash several times.
  4. The device will restart automatically, and its factory settings will be restored.

Other Triggers

Environmental factors can also cause your Ring Floodlight Cam to keep coming on. For instance:

  • Tree branches in any coverage zone can trigger false alarms by swaying in windy conditions.
  • Changing light conditions, such as clouds moving in front of the sun, can trigger a motion alert.
  • Shadows creeping in front of the Ring Floodlight Cam’s sensors can cause the device to activate.

FAQ: Ring Floodlight Camera Triggers

Why Won’t My Ring Cam Floodlight Turn On?

There are several reasons why a Ring Floodlight Cam won’t turn on when it is supposed to:

  • Your Ring Floodlight Cam isn’t mounted high enough.
  • The Light Settings in the Ring App are too confined. 
  • The motion trigger zone is too narrow to capture movement. 
  • The motion sensitivity setting is set too low. 
  • For a battery-powered unit, low battery power can prevent your Ring Floodlight Cam from turning on. 
  • If you have a wired unit, improper wire connections or a tripped breaker can cause a Ring Floodlight Cam not to turn on.

Does a Ring Floodlight Camera record if the light is on?

Not always. The floodlights have a wider field of detection than the camera. Activity can occur within the Ring Floodlight Cam’s floodlight radius but outside the camera’s coverage area. 

The floodlights are triggered by passive infrared heat detection and have a coverage area of 270 degrees. The camera is motion-activated with a range of 140 degrees.

Does Ring Floodlight Camera have a warranty?

The Ring Floodlight Camera comes with a 1-year warranty covering parts. It also includes lifetime protection against theft. If your Ring Floodlight Cam is stolen, provide a copy of the police report to Ring for a free replacement.

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