How to change your Ring device's WiFi connection
To change your Ring doorbell or camera to a different WiFi network, open the Ring app on your phone, tap the menu icon, select your device, go to Device Settings, then WiFi Network, and choose Reconnect to WiFi. You'll be prompted to enter your new network name and password. The device will disconnect from the old network and connect to the new one — the process usually takes two to five minutes.
You don't need to reset the device or lose your settings. The Ring app remembers your device even after you switch networks, so your recordings, schedules, and notifications stay intact. If you're moving to a new home, upgrading your router, or splitting your network into separate bands, this is the standard way to do it.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Ring app, find your device in settings, and select Reconnect to WiFi to switch networks without resetting.
- Your device settings, recordings, and notification history remain unchanged when you switch networks.
- The new network must be 2.4 GHz if your Ring device is older; newer models support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
- If reconnection fails, move your phone closer to the device, restart your router, or perform a factory reset as a last resort.
- You can change networks as many times as you need without affecting your Ring account or subscription.
Step-by-step process in the Ring app
Start by opening the Ring app on your smartphone or tablet. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap Devices, then select the specific Ring device you want to reconnect — for example, "Front Door" or "Backyard Camera".
Once you're on the device page, tap Device Settings (the gear icon). Scroll down to find WiFi Network and tap it. You'll see your current network name listed. Tap Reconnect to WiFi. The app will search for available networks in range of your device.
When the list appears, select your new WiFi network name from the list. Enter the password for that network. The Ring device will attempt to connect. You'll see a confirmation message when the connection succeeds, usually within two to five minutes. If the connection takes longer than ten minutes, the process may have stalled — try again from the beginning.
WiFi band compatibility and what to check first
Ring devices released before 2020 only connect to 2.4 GHz WiFi networks. Newer Ring doorbells and cameras support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. If your router broadcasts both bands under the same network name (called band steering), your device may struggle to connect or drop frequently.
Before you start, check your router settings. If you can separate your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks into different names, do that. Connect your Ring device to the 2.4 GHz network specifically. This is more stable for devices that are far from the router or have walls between them and the access point.
You can find your device's WiFi band compatibility in the Ring app. Go to Device Settings, then Device Information. Look for the WiFi specifications listed there. If you're unsure whether your router supports separate bands, check the manual or log into your router's admin panel — most modern routers have this option in the wireless settings.
What happens to your settings and recordings
Changing WiFi networks does not reset your device or erase your settings. Your motion detection zones, recording schedules, notification preferences, and any custom names you've given the device all stay the same. Your Ring subscription and any video history stored in the cloud remain linked to your account.
The only thing that changes is which network the device uses to send and receive data. Your Ring account recognizes the device by its unique identifier, not by the network it's connected to. You can switch networks as many times as you need without losing anything.
Troubleshooting when reconnection fails
If the Ring device won't connect to the new network, start with the simplest fixes. Move your phone closer to the device so the app can communicate with it more reliably. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait for it to fully boot before trying again.
Check that you entered the WiFi password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive. If your network uses special characters or spaces, make sure they're typed exactly as they appear. Some routers hide the password by default; you may need to log into the router's settings to see it in plain text.
If the device still won't connect after two or three attempts, try a factory reset. On most Ring doorbells, hold the setup button (usually on the back or bottom) for 15 to 20 seconds until the light flashes. On Ring cameras, look for a small reset button and hold it for the same duration. After the reset, the device will restart and you can reconnect it to your new network from scratch using the Ring app's setup wizard.
Switching networks when moving or upgrading your router
If you're moving to a new home with a different WiFi network, the reconnection process is the same. Your Ring account and all your settings move with you automatically — you're just telling the device which network to use. You don't need to remove the device from your old account or create a new one.
When you upgrade to a new router, you may keep the same network name and password. In that case, your Ring device should reconnect automatically without any action from you. If your new router uses a different network name or password, use the Reconnect to WiFi process described above.
If you're splitting a single network into separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for the first time, reconnect your Ring device to the 2.4 GHz band specifically. This prevents the device from jumping between bands and losing connection.
When to reset versus when to just reconnect
You only need a factory reset if the device won't respond to the Reconnect to WiFi command at all, or if it keeps dropping connection to every network you try. A reset erases all your settings and removes the device from your Ring account, so you'll have to set it up again from the beginning — but it fixes persistent connection problems that reconnection alone cannot solve.
For a simple network change, reconnection is always the first choice. It takes less time and preserves everything you've configured. Reserve the reset for situations where the device is unresponsive or behaving erratically across multiple networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing WiFi networks affect my video recordings or subscription?
No. Your recordings and subscription are tied to your Ring account, not to any specific network. Switching networks does not interrupt your service or cause you to lose any video history. Your device will continue recording and sending notifications once it connects to the new network.
Can I connect my Ring device to a guest network instead of my main network?
Yes, you can connect to a guest network if it's available in your router settings. However, guest networks sometimes have restrictions that prevent devices from communicating with each other or with cloud services. If you use a guest network, make sure it allows outbound internet traffic and doesn't isolate devices. Test the connection for a few hours to confirm notifications and recordings work properly.
What if my new network has the same name as my old one but different password?
Use the Reconnect to WiFi process and enter the new password. The Ring device will disconnect from the old network and connect to the new one using the updated credentials. This is common when you upgrade your router but keep the same network name.
How long does it take for the device to connect to a new network?
Most Ring devices connect within two to five minutes. If it takes longer than ten minutes, the connection likely failed. Check that you entered the password correctly and try again. If the device still won't connect after multiple attempts, restart your router and try once more.
Do I need to remove the device from my Ring account before switching networks?
No. Your device stays in your account the entire time. You're only changing which WiFi network it uses to communicate. Removing and re-adding the device is unnecessary and will erase your settings, so avoid it unless you're troubleshooting a serious problem.