Ring Camera Stopped Working? A Troubleshooting Guide

Ring Camera Stopped Working? Your Step-by-Step Repair Guide

A Ring camera is a cornerstone of modern home security, but its effectiveness depends on it being online and operational. It can be alarming when you open the app to find your Ring camera has stopped working, shows as "Offline," or is completely unresponsive.

Fortunately, most issues that cause a Ring camera to stop working can be traced back to a few common culprits related to power and connectivity. This troubleshooting guide will help you diagnose the problem and get your camera back to protecting your home.

## Top Reasons Why Your Ring Camera Is Offline

Before you start troubleshooting, it helps to know what you're looking for. The issue is almost always one of the following:

• Loss of Power: This is the #1 reason. For battery models, the battery has died. For wired models, the power source has been interrupted (unplugged, a fuse has blown).
• Wi-Fi Connection Lost: The camera has disconnected from your home Wi-Fi. This could be due to a changed password, a router issue, or a weak signal.
• Poor Wi-Fi Signal: Even if connected, a weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal can make the camera appear offline or fail to stream video.
• Your Home Internet is Down: If your home internet service is out, none of your devices, including your Ring camera, will be able to connect.

## How to Fix Your Non-Working Ring Camera

Let's start with the simplest fixes and work our way up.

### 1. Check the Power Source

No power means no camera. How you check depends on your model.

• For Battery-Powered Cameras (Ring Stick Up Cam Battery, Doorbell):

  • Open the Ring app and check the device's battery level. If it's low, this is your problem.
  • Physically remove the battery from the device.
  • Charge it fully using the provided orange USB cable. The lights on the battery will indicate when it's fully charged (usually just the green light remains).
  • Reinsert the battery firmly until it clicks into place.

• For Wired Cameras (Ring Floodlight, Spotlight Cam Wired, Indoor Cam):

  • Check that the device is securely plugged into a working power outlet.
  • Verify that the circuit breaker or fuse that controls that outlet hasn't been tripped.
  • Ensure any switches controlling the power to the camera (like a light switch for a Floodlight Cam) are in the ON position.

### 2. Reboot Your Ring Device

A soft reset can often resolve temporary software glitches.

• For Battery Models: Simply removing the battery for about 20 seconds and then reinserting it will force the device to reboot.
• For Wired Models: If it's easily accessible, unplug it for 20 seconds. If not, you can turn it off at the circuit breaker for the same amount of time.
• Using the Setup Button: For many models, pressing and holding the orange or black setup button on the camera for about 20 seconds will perform a factory reset. Warning: This will erase your settings and you will need to set up the device again in the Ring app. Use this as a last resort.

### 3. Troubleshoot Your Wi-Fi Connection

If the power is fine, the issue is almost certainly your Wi-Fi.

• Check Your Internet: Use your phone (on Wi-Fi) to see if you can browse the web. If not, your home internet is down. Restart your router and modem.
• Restart Your Router: Unplug your Wi-Fi router from power for 60 seconds and plug it back in. This resolves the vast majority of connectivity issues.
• Check the Ring App's Device Health: In the Ring app, go to the camera's Device Health page. It will show you its Wi-Fi signal strength (RSSI). A high RSSI value (e.g., -65 to -90) indicates a poor signal, which is likely the cause of the problem.
• Move Router or Use an Extender: If the signal is weak, try moving your router closer to your Ring device or install a Ring Chime Pro, which acts as a Wi-Fi extender.
• Reconnect to Wi-Fi: If you recently changed your Wi-Fi password, you'll need to reconnect your Ring device. Go to Device Health in the app and select Reconnect to Wi-Fi or Change Wi-Fi Network to go through the setup process again.

By systematically checking the power and Wi-Fi, you can solve over 95% of the issues that cause a Ring camera to stop working.