Using Motion Detection

You can adjust your Motion Settings so your Ring device captures the events most important to you. Make sure your device is online by checking the status from the main dashboard in the Ring app. If your device is offline, it will not detect motion. Learn how to reconnect your offline device.

Note: Ring devices are packaged with a protective film covering that will prevent the device from detecting motion. Before you begin troubleshooting, make sure that you have removed the plastic film from the front of your device.

Turning Motion Detection on or off

Motion Detection must be enabled for your Ring device to detect and record motion events. Follow these steps to turn Motion Detection on or off:

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard.

2. Tap more (•••) on the camera you want to access.

3. Tap your device's Settings.

4. Toggle Motion Detection on or off.

Adjusting Motion Settings

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard.

2. Tap more (•••) on the camera you want to access.

3. Tap your device's Settings.

4. Tap

   Motion Settings

   . Select from the list of available settings.

• Using Motion Wizard:

  You can use Motion Wizard to guide you through the customisation of motion settings for optimal performance by tapping the magic wand icon in the top right corner.
• Adjust Motion Zones:

  Make sure the Motion Zones for your device are set to detect and record motion events or avoid unwanted motions coming from the road, flags, wind chimes and other motions.

  Learn more about using Motion Zones

  .
• Adjust or disable Bird’s Eye Zones:

  On select devices, you can set up Bird's Eye Zones for more precise motion detection and more relevant Motion Alerts up to 9 metres from your Video Doorbell or Security Camera.

  Learn more about Bird's Eye Zones

  .
• Adjust Motion Sensitivity:

  You can adjust the motion detection range of your Ring device using the Motion Sensitivity slider (maximum range varies by device type). Lowering Motion Sensitivity reduces the detection range, which helps decrease false alerts. If your device is missing motion events, try increasing Motion Sensitivity.
• Turn on Smart Alerts:

  You can enable

  Smart Alerts

  to improve motion accuracy in detecting people and other objects, including packages. To turn on Smart Alerts, tap the Motion Settings tile on the device’s page in the Ring app. A

  Ring Home plan

  is required to use Smart Alerts.
• Add Motion Schedules:

  With Motion Schedules, you can schedule periods of time when you will not receive alerts from your Ring device.

  Learn how to manage Motion Schedules

  .
• Change the Motion Frequency:

  Under

  Advanced Settings

  , tap

  Motion Frequency

  . You can adjust how often

  battery-powered

  devices check for motion. If your device is missing motion events, increase the Motion Frequency to

  Frequently

  (Shortest battery life; Motion detection always stays active) in the Ring app. If too much motion is being detected, change the frequency to

  Regularly

  (Medium battery life; Motion detection takes a short break after each motion alert) or

  Periodically

  (Maximum battery life; Motion detection takes a longer break after each alert).
• Turn on Advanced Motion Detection:

  To get the most accuracy in the motion detection of your

  battery-powered

  device, you might need to turn on Advanced Motion Detection. Under

  Advanced Settings,

  tap

  Advanced Motion Detection

  and

  toggle the switch on.

Fixing missed and unwanted motion events

If your Ring device is missing motion events or detecting too much motion, you can take steps to improve the accuracy of your motion detection.

Check Event History

Check Event History to confirm the time of any missed motion events or false motion triggers. If you did not receive an alert, but there is a recording, you might need to turn on Motion Alerts. Learn more about managing alerts. Recording requires a Ring Home plan.

Disable Mode Settings and Motion Schedules

• If Modes or Motion Schedules are enabled, there might be times where motion detection is turned off. If you have Modes enabled for your device, go to Mode Settings to disable it, then test a motion event.

  Learn more about Mode Settings

  .
• Delete any Motion Schedules that you have set up.

  Learn how to manage Motion Schedules

  .

Check for privacy zones

Make sure privacy zones are not blocking areas you want to detect and record. Learn more about privacy zones.

Change the position of your Ring device

You can also adjust the position of your device to improve the accuracy of motion detection. Learn more about positioning your Video Doorbell or Security Camera.

Check the wifi signal strength

Poor wifi signal strength can prevent Ring devices from performing optimal motion detection. A poor signal can be caused by the distance between the router and your Ring device, the layout of your home, or interference caused by other devices (for example TVs, games consoles) or materials in your home, such as stucco, brick, metal, large mirrors, or glass doors. Learn more about wifi speed.

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard.

2. Tap more (•••) on the camera you want to access.

3. Tap your device's Settings.

4. Tap the Device Health tile.

5. Scroll down to

   Signal Strength

   under Network.

Tips for improving signal strength:

• Move your Ring device closer to your router.
• Add a Chime Pro

  to your network.
• Consider a mesh network as a replacement for your existing wifi router.