Motion Zones is an in-app feature that lets you select specific areas that you want your video doorbell or security camera to monitor. It’s a helpful tool that highlights high-priority zones on your property and can detect specific objects like packages, people, and animals.
By drawing your Motion Zones to cover only the areas you want to monitor, you can reduce unnecessary motion alerts triggered by cars driving by or trees swaying in the wind.
Ring video doorbells and security cameras use Motion Zones, which can be accessed and customized via Motion Settings in the Ring app.
Learn more about using Motion Zones with your Video Doorbell (2nd Generation).
Setting up Motion Zones
Here’s how to set up Motion Zones for your video doorbell or security camera.
- Open the Ring app. Tap on the three lines (≡) on the top left of your dashboard.
- Tap Devices and select your Ring device.
- Tap Motion Settings from the list of options at the bottom of the app.
- Tap Motion Zones.
- Tap Add Zone button.
- Follow the on-screen directions, and drag the points of the colored box to expand or contract the area you want to monitor.
- Once your Motion Zone is in place, tap Save.
- If you want to customize the name of your Motion Zone, tap the white box with the default name (either “Zone 1,” “Zone 2” or “Zone 3”), and enter the new name in its place.
- Tap Save.
- Repeat this process to create up to three customizable Motion Zones.
Motion Frequency
You can also customize how frequently you want your video doorbell or security camera to check for motion within Motion Settings.
To adjust Motion Frequency for your video doorbell:
1. Open your Ring app.
2. Tap on the three lines (≡) on the top left of your dashboard.
3. Tap Devices and select your video doorbell.
4. Tap on Motion Settings.
5. Tap on Advanced Settings.
6. Tap on Motion Frequency and specify how frequently your device should check for motion.
7. Choose from three options: Frequently, Regularly, or Periodically.
8. Tap Save to update your settings.
For your security camera:
1. Open your Ring app.
2. Tap on the three lines (≡) on the top left of your dashboard.
3. Tap Devices and select your security camera.
4. Tap on Motion Settings.
5. Tap on Advanced Settings.
6. Tap on Motion Schedules.
7. Tap Add Schedule and specify the time and days of the week where you don’t want to receive motion alerts.
How to Effectively Use Your Motion Settings
- Draw your Motion Zones: When drawing your Motion Zones, consider potential paths people may take. Exclude the areas you don’t want your Ring device to monitor (e.g. busy streets or neighbor’s houses).
- Create at least one active Motion Zone: If a Motion Zone is not triggering alerts, it may be inactive. You must create at least one active motion zone or you will not receive any motion alerts. Tap on your Motion Zone again to get the “Active” box to reappear.
- Optimize Motion Detection: Motion detection sometimes triggers 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, remove shiny objects, cut back or change the angle of your device.
- Use 3D Motion Detection: To focus on the motion alerts you want, consider turning on the 3D Motion Detection feature for your security camera. Before opting for the feature, make sure the rear surface of the camera module is at least at a 45-60 degree angle to the closest wall.
- Motion Scheduling: 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 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. on Tuesdays, you can schedule your motion detection to turn off during that time. Here’s how you can adjust the frequency of motion alerts during specific time frames.
- Create Privacy Zones: Privacy Zones are designed so you can block out certain areas of your camera field.
