Do you have a Ring Video Doorbell? If so, the chances that you are taking full advantage of all the amazing features it has to offer are probably slim. Most people get their camera, install it, create the basic settings, and are finished. Little do they know, making a few simple upgrades to your settings can really beef up your home security and home automation. I wanted to share some cool tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your Ring Video Doorbell. This home security device isn’t crazy expensive, but when you leverage it to its full capacity, you really feel like you are getting the complete value from it. Plus…why not squeeze every ounce of awesomeness from your Ring video camera? Whether you’re looking to create a custom motion detection zone or want to know how to lengthen video recordings on-demand, we’ve got you covered.
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Ring Doorbell Tips and Tricks To Do Right Now
As with most security doorbells, Ring Doorbell detects motion and button presses. Despite its simplicity, it does contain some exciting features and tricks. Here are some tips you need to apply to your Ring video doorbell. A lot of these are super easy to do and in my opinion, are no-brainers.
Tip #1: Sharing Access
Your family can also benefit from knowing when someone rings the Doorbell. It’s up to you whether to give your kids access (I don’t), but having your significant other know how to use the Ring camera is very important. You can do this by opening the Ring Doorbell app. You can invite other users to the device by tapping the “Shared Users” option. Before the user can use the service, they must create a Ring Doorbell account (which takes like a minute).
BUY NOW: The Ring Video Doorbell
Tip #2: Configure Motion Sensitivity
You will receive an alert whenever someone pushes the Ring Doorbell. A motion detector outside your door generates a signal similar to this. The function works regardless of whether a person rings the Doorbell.
Motion detectors are sometimes too sensitive, sending alerts for even the slightest motion (and I’ll admit these can’t get annoying if not set up properly). When this occurs, you can adjust the sensitivity in the app. You can change the motion sensitivity of the Ring Doorbell as follows:
- Select a specific doorbell from the Ring Doorbell app.
- Click on Motion Settings > Zones and Ranges.
- You can now adjust the sensitivity of each zone.
And it’s not just motion sensitivity either. There are multiple motion-based settings you should explore and customize to your liking: motion detection, motion alerts, and motion warnings.
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Tip #3: Lengthening Video Recordings
Ring Doorbells can record video for as long as you need using the Ring app. When you are not available, you can record with the app. This way, you can preserve your device’s battery life. On top of that, sometimes you need to see more than 10 or 15 seconds of video to figure out what’s going on.
To adjust Ring Doorbell’s recording length:
- Launch the Ring app.
- You can adjust the settings of a specific device.
- Select ‘Device Settings.’
- Click on ‘Video Settings.’
- Select ‘Video Recording Length.’
- Tap ‘Max Recording Length’ to set your desired recording length.
There are three options to choose from 15, 20, and 25 seconds. Individual Ring Doorbells can also record at different lengths.
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Tip #4: Enable Two-Step Verification
This is all about protecting your security with this smart home device. Most people have Ring to protect physical things on their property. But what about digital? Enabling two-step verification will give you that added level of security to protect your personal data. You have to enable 2FA within the Ring app.
How do you enable two-factor authentication in Ring? Go into your Account Settings and under the Account Security section select the “Two Step Verification” option. You can either use a text message or the Authenticator App to verify the codes.
EXPLORE: What Is Two Factor Authentication?
Tip #5: Keep It Charged (If Using Batteries)
You’ll have to recharge the Ring Doorbell every three months if you decide not to use the doorbell wiring.
It displays the remaining battery power and sends you an alert when it runs out. While recharging isn’t exactly easy (you can’t use it during charging), all you have to do is remove the device and plug in a micro USB cable on the back.
Tip #6: Use IFTTT For More Awesome Features
This little tip will up your smart home game quite a bit. And there are some fun things you can do. There are also some triggers you can create that will make your home more secure. You can connect your Ring Doorbell to IFTTT (available for both iOS and Android devices) to ensure it can do even more things, such as integrating all kinds of products and services.
What Is IFTTT?
IFTTT is a free online service that helps you automate tasks between different web services. IFTTT is short for “If This, Then That.” Essentially, IFTTT lets you create so-called “recipes” that trigger an action whenever a certain event happens. For example, you could create a recipe that sends you an email whenever it rains in your area. In the case of Ring cameras, you could create a recipe that has your smart home lights blink, when the doorbell is rung OR you could have a movie pause while you’re watching Amazon Prime. I’ve seen some cool recipes where porch lights will turn on when the Ring doorbell detects motion. IFTTT recipes are created using a simple drag-and-drop interface and there are hundreds of different channels (web services) that you can use to create your recipes. I also love that there are pre-built Ring recipes you can connect to your devices rather easily. IFTTT is a great way to automate simple tasks, and it’s completely free to use.
You can control many things with the Ring Doorbell. With IFTTT, the sky’s the limit and Ring Doorbell gains a lot of incredible functionality.
Don’t Have A Ring Camera Yet?
These days, it seems like everyone has a Ring camera. And for good reason too! Ring cameras are one of the best ways to keep an eye on your home and its exterior, whether you’re there or not. With Ring cameras, you can see who’s at your door, check in on your kids while they’re playing in the backyard, and even keep an eye on your pets while you’re away. But that’s not all Ring cameras can do. They can also help you stay connected to your neighborhood by sending alerts when someone is approaching your home, and they can even help you deter crime.
One of my favorite features of Ring cameras is the neighborhood alerts you get through the community. And this also bears mentioning that you don’t even need a Ring device to be part of that community. You can download the app and get all the community alerts without the device. But…the devices are pretty cool. It helps you stay apprised of crime in the area and how to protect your property more efficiently. If you’re looking for a way to keep your home safe and secure, a Ring camera is a great option. If you don’t have one yet (or some other home security camera), make it one of the next purchases you make.
These tips and tricks are just a handful of the real basic ones. The Ring app has a lot more to offer and so does IFTTT. Bookmark this page and come back because we plan on updating it regularly with all the cool tips and tricks we find for your Ring camera.
