Ring App Won't Connect? Troubleshoot Connection Issues
When you open your Ring app to check on your property, the last thing you want to see is a spinning "Connecting" wheel or a "Streaming Error" message. When the app itself won't connect, you're cut off from all your devices. This issue is usually related to the connection on your smartphone or a temporary glitch, and is often easy to fix.
This guide will help you diagnose why your Ring app isn't connecting and get it working again.
## Is It Your Connection or Ring's?
The first step is to determine where the problem lies: your phone's internet connection, or a wider issue with the Ring service.
- Check the Official Ring Status Page: Before you spend time troubleshooting your own devices, check for a service outage. Open a web browser on your phone or computer and go to status.ring.com. This page provides real-time information on the operational status of all Ring services. If it reports an issue, the only solution is to wait for Ring's engineers to fix it.
- Test Your Phone's Internet Connection: If the Ring status page shows all systems are operational, the problem is likely on your end. Open a web browser on your phone and try to load a new website. If it fails to load, you've found the problem: your phone has no internet access.
## Troubleshooting Your Smartphone's Connection
If your phone is the issue, here's how to fix it.
### Switch Your Network
The most common issue is simply a poor connection in your current location.
- If you are on Wi-Fi: Your Wi-Fi signal may be weak. Turn off Wi-Fi in your phone's settings to force it to use your mobile data connection. Now, try opening the Ring app again.
- If you are on Mobile Data: You may be in an area with poor mobile coverage. Try connecting to a known, working Wi-Fi network and see if the app connects.
If the app works on one type of connection but not the other, you've isolated the problem to either your home Wi-Fi or your mobile network provider.
### Restart and Refresh
Sometimes, the app or your phone just needs a fresh start.
- Force Close the App: Don't just go back to your home screen. You need to fully close the app.
- On iOS (iPhone): Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button) to show all open apps, then swipe the Ring app's card up and off the screen.
- On Android: Swipe up from the bottom, hold, and then swipe the Ring app card away. (This can vary slightly by model). Re-launch the app to see if this fixed the issue.
- Reboot Your Smartphone: A full reboot can clear up underlying network-related glitches on your phone. Turn your phone completely off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.
## App-Specific Fixes
If your internet connection is fine and a reboot didn't help, the issue might be with the app's data or version.
- Check for App Updates: Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search for the Ring app. If an "Update" button is available, install it. Running an old version can cause connection problems.
- Clear the App Cache (Android Only): On Android devices, you can clear the app's temporary data without losing your settings.
- Go to your phone's "Settings" > "Apps" > "Ring".
- Tap on "Storage" and then select "Clear Cache".
- Restart the app.
By systematically checking the Ring service status, verifying your own internet connection, and refreshing the app, you can quickly resolve most issues that prevent the Ring app from connecting.