Notifications Not Working
Ring Video Doorbell
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
Your phone is not receiving motion alerts or doorbell press notifications from Ring. This is almost always a phone notification permission issue, not a problem with the Ring device itself. Checking your phone's notification settings and the Ring app's alert settings resolves most cases.
Affected Models
- Ring Video Doorbell (all generations)
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
- Ring Stick Up Cam
- Ring Spotlight Cam
Common Causes
- Notifications are disabled for the Ring app in your phone's system settings
- Do Not Disturb or Focus mode on your phone is silencing Ring alerts
- Motion alerts or doorbell alerts have been turned off inside the Ring app settings
- The Ring app has been denied background app refresh permission, so it cannot receive alerts
- A Ring app update or phone OS update changed notification permissions without warning
How to Fix It
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On your phone, go to Settings > Apps > Ring and confirm that Notifications are set to 'Allowed' or 'On'.
On iPhone: Settings > Ring > Notifications > Allow Notifications. On Android: Settings > Apps > Ring > Notifications > toggle on.
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Check that Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is not active on your phone.
When Do Not Disturb is on, almost all notifications are silenced. Swipe down from the top of your screen to check the quick settings panel.
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Open the Ring app, tap the three-line menu, then go to Account > Notification Settings.
Confirm that Motion Alerts and Doorbell Alerts are toggled on for the specific device you expect alerts from.
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In the Ring app, tap your device, then tap 'Motion Settings' and confirm motion detection is enabled.
If motion detection is off, Ring will not detect events and therefore will not send any notifications.
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On iPhone, go to Settings > Ring and confirm that Background App Refresh is enabled.
Without Background App Refresh, the Ring app cannot receive push notifications when it is not open. This is one of the most common causes on iPhone.
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If none of the above works, log out of the Ring app, force-close it, then log back in.
This refreshes your device's push notification token and often resolves notification issues caused by app or OS updates.
When to Call a Professional
Ring notification issues are always a software or settings problem — no professional service is needed. If problems persist after reinstalling the app, contact Ring support through the Ring app or website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ring notifications suddenly stop working?
A phone OS update or Ring app update can silently reset notification permissions. Go to your phone's Settings > Apps > Ring and check that notifications are still enabled. This is the most common reason notifications suddenly stop after working fine.
Why do I get notifications on one phone but not another?
Each phone has its own notification permission settings and Ring app settings. Log into the Ring app on the other phone and go through the notification setup steps above for that device. Also check that the account owner has not shared limited access to the second phone's profile.
Can I get Ring notifications without a Ring Protect subscription?
Yes — motion alerts and doorbell press notifications are free and do not require a subscription. A Ring Protect subscription is only needed for video recording, storage, and person detection features. If you are not receiving basic alerts, the issue is a settings problem, not a missing subscription.