Utilising Customisable Motion Zones with your Ring devices

Customisable Motion Zones allow you to define a specific area that you want see while ignoring everything outside of that area. By drawing your Motion Zones to exclude frequently accessed areas such as public paths and roads, you can reduce the number of "false positive" motion alerts (such as cars driving by) and greatly increase the effectiveness of your Ring devices.

Note: Customisable Motion Zones have been a standard feature on wired Ring devices for some time, but more recently they became available for battery-powered devices.

They replaced adjustable motion zones, which looked like the image below.

Customisable Motion Zones allow you to draw different shapes that are more dynamic than adjustable motion zones. You can add up to three different Motion Zones.

This article will help you set up your Motion Zones and give you some tips in making them more effective. 

How to set up Customisable Motion Zones

1. Tap the three lines on the top left of the screen
2. Tap Devices
3. Select the device that you want to adjust
4. Once you’re on the screen with the image of your device, tap Motion Settings
5. Then tap Edit Motion Zones
6. Tap Default Zone and adjust zone by dragging the points of the coloured box
7. Tap Done, then add up to 3 motion zones in total
8. Tap Save once finished

Note: When using Customisable Motion Zones, you will need to have at least one Motion Zone set up in order to get notifications from your Ring device.

If you don’t wish to set up a Motion Zone for now, a default zone can be added during setup. You can change or adjust the Motion Zones at any time.

Shared Users will have the view of Motion Zones that you choose.

If you have more than one battery-powered device, you’ll need to change the motion settings on each device individually.

If you have Linked Devices, the device with Customisable Motion Zones won’t work as a part of the Linked Device sequence until at least one Motion Zone has been set up or you choose the default zone option. 

Pro tips: Making the most of your Motion Settings

Optimise your Motion Zones: When creating your motion zones, note the potential paths people take to approach your home and draw your Motion Zones to exclude areas you do not want the Ring device to monitor, such as busy streets or neighbours' houses.

Look for high traffic areas: When adjusting your motion zones, take note of any high traffic areas, such as busy streets. If you receive too many motion alerts from your Ring device, you may have to adjust the motion zones so they don't include these areas.

Get familiar with the Motion Settings control in your Ring app: In addition to the motion zones control, there are two other tools there that can help you adjust the number of motion alerts you receive:

• Motion Scheduling: The motion scheduling control allows you to schedule coverage to avoid receiving alerts triggered by a regular occurrence. For example, if you know your garbage always gets picked up between 7:30 AM and 7:45 AM on Tuesdays, you can schedule your motion detection to turn off during that time.

• • While you have a Motion Schedule active, you will not be able to turn on your Motion Notifications (during the time the Motion Schedule is set to turn them off). You will have to disable the Motion Schedule to enable the Motion Notifications for that time again.
  • If you set up a Motion Schedule, you will not receive an notification during your selected time frame, but the Ring device will still record.

• Motion Frequency: Motion Frequency allows you to tweak your motion detection protocols to provide a balance between consistent alerts and preserving the battery life of battery-powered devices. Ring's Smart Alert algorithm is an internal program that runs inside of your Ring device. It analyses the traffic patterns of detected motions, looking for repetitive patterns. When it detects such a pattern, it essentially "sleeps" your device for a certain period of time, cutting down the number of motion alerts you'll get from the same set of stimuli. The more times a repetitive pattern of motion continues, the longer the time between issuing motion alerts. There are three settings to choose from:
   
  • Frequently: Motion detection always stays active.
  • Regularly: Motion detection takes a short break after each Motion Notification.
  • Periodically: Motion detection takes a longer break after each alert.

For more information on Motion Frequency, please click here.

Motion Sensitivity: 

The Motion Sensitivity slider will help you fine tune the area your device covers to  trigger a motion event.

To adjust the Motion Sensitivity:

1. Tap the three lines on the top left of the screen
2. Tap Devices
3. Tap the device you want to view
4. Tap Motion Settings
5. Tap Motion Sensitivity
6. Adjust the Motion Sensitivity slider
   
7. Then Save in the upper right corner

Note: Motion detection can sometimes trigger false alerts because of moving trees, lightning, the rising or setting sun, reflections off a shiny object, headlights or shadows. To reduce the number of false alerts, you need to look at your Motion Zone the way your Ring does. That might mean removing shiny objects, cutting back certain tree branches that create moving shadows on the ground or even angling the Ring itself to avoid the sun.