Ring devices use motion detection technology to detect motion events in your surroundings, triggering motion alerts and video recordings.
Click here for more information on using Motion Zones for your video doorbell.
Does Motion Detection at night work the same as during the day?
Motion Detection works differently at night than during the day. For example, if the Advanced Motion Detection sees a lighting change (or something that may not be motion), the PIR detector (Passive Infrared) checks to see if it was something with a heat signature moving around as opposed to a lighting change.
During the day, your video doorbell uses Advanced Motion Detection to actively look for objects within the defined Motion Zones you set in the Ring app. During the night, the object the motion is looking for might be hard to see because of certain lighting conditions or physical obstructions.
I get too many motion alerts. How do I adjust Motion Sensitivity for my video doorbell?
To adjust the range of Motion Sensitivity:
- Open the Ring app.
- Tap the three lines (≡) on the top left of the dashboard.
- Tap Devices.
- Select the device you want to adjust.
- Go to Motion Settings.
- Use the slider to adjust detection sensitivity.
How far out does motion detection go?
Motion detection on video doorbells can detect motion up to 30 feet from the camera. For enhanced motion detection, make sure you have the latest version of the Ring app downloaded on your iOS or Android.
Read more about Bird’s Eye View, which provides an aerial map for motion events around your property.
How do I temporarily stop recording motion detection?
If you would like to disable motions completely, follow these steps:
- Open the Ring app.
- Tap the three lines(≡) on the top left of the dashboard.
- Tap Devices.
- Select the device you want to adjust.
- Toggle Motion Detection Off.
- You will receive a notification that says, “Are you sure you want to stop recording motion?”
- Tap on Stop Recording.
- Toggle Motion Detection on.
How do I create new Motion Zones?
- Open the Ring app.
- Tap the three lines (≡) on the top left of the dashboard.
- Tap Devices.
- Select the device you want to adjust.
- Go to Motion Settings.
- Tap on Edit Zones to create up to three Motion Zones by dragging the dots.
- Tap on Done and Save to save your settings.
My Motion Zones are active, but I am not receiving any alerts. What should I do?
If you are not receiving notifications for your motion alerts, try these steps below:
- Verify your camera is picking up motion.
- Review Event History on your dashboard to ensure there’s a record of the motion.
- If there is no record, your Ring device didn’t capture a motion event.
- Double-check Motion Settings.
- Ensure your Motion Zones are correctly drawn and the Motion Sensitivity slider is set.
- Make sure your device is connected to wifi in the Device Health section of the Ring app.
- Verify there is no Motion Schedule enabled during the time of the event.
- You will see a clock icon next to your Ring device on the dashboard of the Ring app if there is an active Motion Schedule set to the current time.
If the above options don't work, check your device settings:
On iOS, click here to troubleshoot notification issues.
On Android, click here to troubleshoot notification issues.
I keep receiving false notifications. What should I do?
- Check your Motion Zones to see if there is anything that could be triggering a Motion Alert, such as a car, a moving tree, sunlight coming into the video or shadows moving.
- Try adjusting your motion zones or your Motion Sensitivity slider.
- Make sure you have enabled the Smart Alerts feature in the Ring app. You can then decide whether to record video and receive alerts when your device detects a person, other motion or package.
My Ring device is facing a window. Does that affect the motion detection?
Windows generally block heat sensing, making it difficult for PIR sensors to accurately detect motion. Devices that utilize PIR will not be able to accurately detect motion through a window.