How to Fix a Ring Camera or Doorbell That Is Offline
It's a common and frustrating problem: you open the Ring app to check on your home, only to be greeted by the message "Your device is offline." When your Ring camera or doorbell is offline, it cannot record video, send you motion alerts, or let you see who is at your door, defeating its purpose.
This guide provides a professional and clear set of troubleshooting steps to help you identify the cause and get your Ring device back online. We use British English and a helpful, second-person tone to guide you through the process.
## Step 1: Check the Obvious - Power and Internet
First, let's rule out the two most common culprits for any smart device going offline: a lack of power or a loss of internet connection.
### Is There a Power Cut in Your Area?
Check if other lights and appliances in your home are working. If there's a power cut, your Wi-Fi router and wired Ring devices will not have power. You will need to wait for the power to be restored.
### Is Your Home Wi-Fi Working?
Check if you can connect to your Wi-Fi network using your smartphone or a computer. Try to browse a website. If your internet is down, your Ring device cannot connect. In this case, you will need to troubleshoot your internet service, which usually starts with restarting your router.
## Step 2: Check the Device's Power Source
Even if the power in your home is on, the device itself might have a power issue.
### For Battery-Powered Ring Devices
- Check Battery Level: Open the Ring app and navigate to your device. Go to the Device Health screen. It will show you the battery percentage. If the battery is very low (less than 10%), it may not have enough power to maintain a stable connection.
- Recharge the Battery: Remove the battery and charge it fully using the provided USB cable. Once it's fully charged, reinsert it securely into the device.
### For Wired Ring Devices
- Check Connections: Ensure the device is securely wired. For doorbells, check that the transformer is supplying adequate power.
- Check Breaker Box: A circuit breaker may have tripped. Check your home's consumer unit (fuse box) to ensure the circuit your Ring device is on has not been tripped.
## Step 3: Assess Your Wi-Fi Connection Strength
A weak Wi-Fi signal is one of the most frequent causes of Ring devices dropping offline.
### Check Your RSSI Value
RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is a measurement of how well your Ring device can 'hear' the signal from your router.
- In the Ring app, select the offline device.
- Tap on the Device Health tile.
- Under the 'Network' section, look for Signal Strength. The value will be shown as an RSSI number (e.g., RSSI -55).
- RSSI -40 to -60: This is a good, strong signal.
- RSSI -61 to -75: This is a weak signal. Your device may work intermittently but is likely to drop offline.
- RSSI -76 and lower: This is a very poor signal, and it's almost certain to be the cause of the problem.
### How to Improve a Weak Wi-Fi Signal
If your RSSI value is high (a lower number is better), you need to improve the signal.
- Move Your Router: Try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to your Ring device. Even moving it a few feet, away from thick walls or metal objects, can make a significant difference.
- Use a Wi-Fi Extender: A Ring Chime Pro is an excellent solution. It's a Wi-Fi extender designed specifically for Ring products. Place it halfway between your router and the offline device to boost the signal directly to it.
## Step 4: Perform a Reconnection Cycle
If power and signal strength seem fine, the next step is to force the device to re-establish its connection.
- Restart Your Router: Unplug your internet router from the power. Wait for a full 60 seconds. Plug it back in and wait for it to fully restart (this can take 5-10 minutes).
- Restart Your Ring Device:
- For battery devices: Remove the battery for 30 seconds, then reinsert it.
- For wired devices: Press and hold the main setup button on the device for 20 seconds. This will perform a soft reset.
- Attempt Reconnection: After both the router and the device have restarted, see if it comes back online automatically.
## Step 5: Reconnect to the Wi-Fi Network
If the device is still offline after a restart, you may need to manually reconnect it to your Wi-Fi network. This is necessary if you have recently changed your Wi-Fi name (SSID) or password.
- In the Ring app, go to the Device Health screen for the offline device.
- Tap on Change Wi-Fi Network or Reconnect to Wi-Fi.
- The app will guide you through the process, which involves putting your Ring device into setup mode by pressing the setup button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password again.
By methodically working through these steps, you can diagnose the reason your Ring device is offline and take the appropriate action to restore its connection and your peace of mind.