Wondering Why Your Ring Camera Has Limited Features?
When you first set up your Ring camera or doorbell, you might notice that a number of advertised features seem to be missing or greyed out in the app. You can view the live feed, but perhaps you can't see past recordings or the "Person Alert" toggle is unavailable. This isn't a fault with your device; it's by design.
Many of the most powerful features of the Ring ecosystem are not included with the hardware itself—they are activated with a Ring Protect Plan subscription. This guide will explain what this subscription is, what it unlocks, and why it's essential for getting the most out of your home security.
## The Ring Business Model: Hardware + Subscription
It's important to understand that Ring operates on a two-part model. You purchase the physical camera or doorbell, which provides the basic hardware for live viewing and motion detection. The ongoing service that records, stores, and analyses your video footage is a separate, optional subscription.
When you first activate a new device, Ring typically gives you a free 30-day trial of the Ring Protect Plan so you can experience the full feature set. The "limited features" issue usually arises once this trial period expires.
## What You Get Without a Subscription
If you choose not to subscribe, your Ring device will still function in a basic capacity. You get:
- Motion-Activated Notifications: You will receive alerts on your phone when the camera detects motion.
- Real-Time Live View: When you get an alert, you can open the app and watch a live video stream from your camera.
- Two-Way Talk: You can listen and speak to whoever is in front of the camera.
What you do not get is any form of video recording. If you miss a notification, you cannot go back and see what caused it. The event is lost forever.
## Key Features Unlocked by a Ring Protect Plan
Subscribing to a Ring Protect Plan transforms your device from a simple live-streaming camera into a comprehensive security system. Here are the crucial features it enables:
- Video History: This is the most important feature. Every time motion is detected or you initiate a Live View, the event is recorded and saved to your account. You can review this footage for up to 180 days.
- Video Saving and Sharing: You can download important video clips to your phone or computer and share them with family, neighbours, or law enforcement.
- Person and Other Motion Alerts: The subscription enables more advanced AI detection. This allows the camera to specifically notify you when it sees a person, helping to filter out less important motion from pets or swaying trees.
- Rich Notifications: Instead of just getting a text alert, you'll receive a notification with a snapshot image of the event, allowing you to see at a glance what's happening without even opening the app.
- Snapshot Capture: Your camera will periodically take still photos between motion events, giving you a more complete timeline of what happened throughout the day.
## How to Subscribe and Unlock Your Features
If your features are limited because your free trial has ended, activating a subscription is simple.
- Log in to your account on the Ring.com website (not in the mobile app).
- Navigate to the "Protect Plan" section.
- You will see options for different plans (e.g., Basic, Plus, Pro).
- The Basic plan typically covers a single camera.
- The Plus or Pro plans cover all devices at a single location and often include other benefits like an extended warranty.
- Choose the plan that best suits your needs and complete the subscription process.
Once subscribed, the advanced features will be instantly re-enabled in your Ring app, giving you access to the full power and security of your camera system.