How to Fix Ring Geofencing Not Working
Ring's geofencing feature is designed to add a layer of convenience to your home security. By using your smartphone's location, it can remind you to arm the system when you leave and disarm it upon your return. When this feature doesn't work, you miss out on these helpful prompts, which can sometimes compromise your home's security.
This guide provides a clear, step-by-step process to troubleshoot and fix the issues preventing Ring's geofencing from working correctly. We use professional, empathetic language and British English to help you resolve the problem.
## Understanding How Ring Geofencing Works
The feature relies on a constant, low-level communication between your smartphone's GPS and the Ring app. It establishes a virtual boundary around the address you set in the app. To do this reliably, it needs three things:
- Unrestricted access to your phone's location.
- A correctly configured home address in the Ring app.
- Enabled geofencing settings for Arm/Disarm reminders.
A failure in any of these areas will cause the feature to stop working.
## Step 1: Grant Correct Location Permissions
This is the most common reason for geofencing failure. For the feature to know when you cross the boundary, the Ring app needs permission to check your location even when it isn't open on your screen.
### For iOS (iPhone) Users
- Go to your iPhone's Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Privacy & Security, then Location Services.
- Ensure Location Services at the very top is turned on.
- Find Ring in the list of apps and tap on it.
- Under 'Allow Location Access', you must select Always. If it is set to 'While Using the App' or 'Never', geofencing will not function.
### For Android Users
The path can vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer, but the principle is the same.
- Go to your phone's Settings app.
- Tap on Apps, then find and tap on Ring.
- Tap on Permissions.
- Tap on Location.
- Select the option for Allow all the time. If you only allow it 'while using the app', it will not work correctly.
## Step 2: Disable Battery Optimisation for the Ring App
Modern smartphones use aggressive battery-saving techniques that can 'put to sleep' apps running in the background. This action will stop the Ring app from checking your location.
- On iOS: Ensure 'Low Power Mode' is turned off.
- On Android: The setting is often called 'Battery Optimisation' or 'App power management'. Go to the Ring app's settings page (as in the previous step) and look for a 'Battery' section. You want to set the usage to Unrestricted or ensure it is exempted from optimisation.
## Step 3: Check Your Geofence Settings in the Ring App
Once you've confirmed your phone's settings are correct, you need to check the configuration inside the Ring app itself.
- Open the Ring app and tap the Menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
- Tap on Settings.
- Tap on Modes and Automations.
- Go to the Geofence tab.
- First, ensure the main Geofence toggle is turned on.
- Check the Location Settings. Verify that the pin for your home is dropped in the correct location on the map. If it's in the wrong place, the boundary will be too. You can tap 'Edit Location' to adjust it.
- Adjust the Boundary: You can drag the slider to make the geofence circle larger or smaller. If you live in a dense area, making the circle slightly larger can sometimes improve accuracy.
- Configure Reminders: Below the map, ensure you have enabled 'Arm Reminders' and 'Disarm Reminders'. If these are off, you won't get any prompts.
## Step 4: Restart Your Phone
If all the settings appear to be correct, a simple restart of your smartphone can often resolve temporary glitches with its GPS or location services. Turn your phone completely off, wait 30 seconds, and then turn it back on.
By carefully checking and correcting your phone's permissions and the settings within the Ring app, you can restore the geofencing feature and once again benefit from its convenient, location-based reminders.