Motion Detection Not Working
Ring Smart Doorbell / Camera
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Your Ring camera is not detecting motion or sending alerts. This is usually a settings issue — not a hardware fault. Check the steps below to get alerts working again.
Affected Models
- Ring Video Doorbell 4
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
- Ring Video Doorbell Wired
- Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus
Common Causes
- Motion alerts are turned off in the Ring app
- Motion zones are set too small or aimed in the wrong direction
- Motion sensitivity is set too low
- Do Not Disturb or Snooze mode is active
- The camera's Wi-Fi signal is too weak to send alerts quickly
How to Fix It
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Open the Ring app, tap your device, then tap the bell icon at the top right.
Make sure 'Motion Alerts' is toggled ON. This is the most common cause.
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Go to 'Motion Settings' and check your motion zones.
Draw zones to cover the area you want monitored. Avoid including the road — too many cars will flood your alerts.
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Increase the Motion Sensitivity slider in 'Motion Settings'.
Start at about 70% and adjust from there.
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Check if Snooze is active — tap the bell icon and look for an active snooze timer.
Snooze silences all alerts for a set time. Cancel it to restore alerts immediately.
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Check your phone's notification settings and make sure Ring is allowed to send notifications.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Ring. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Ring > Notifications.
When to Call a Professional
If your camera passes all settings checks but never detects motion, contact Ring Support. The motion sensor hardware may have failed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ring sending too many motion alerts?
Your motion zones may be too large or sensitivity too high. Shrink the zone to exclude traffic and trees. Lower the sensitivity slider slightly until false alerts stop.
Does Ring detect motion at night?
Yes — Ring cameras use infrared night vision and still detect motion in the dark. If motion alerts stop at night, check that night vision is enabled in the app.
Why does Ring detect motion but not record a video?
Recording requires an active Ring Protect subscription. Without a plan, Ring detects motion but does not save video clips. You can still use live view for free.