How to Change the Wi-Fi Network on Your Ring Video Doorbell

Switching to a new router, upgrading your internet plan, or simply changing your Wi-Fi password — any of these will disconnect your Ring Video Doorbell from your network. The good news: reconnecting it doesn't require reinstalling anything from scratch. The process runs entirely through the Ring app, takes about five minutes, and works across most Ring doorbell models.

Here's what's actually happening, how to do it, and the variables that affect how smoothly it goes.

Why Ring Doorbells Lose Their Wi-Fi Connection

Your Ring doorbell stores the credentials (network name and password) for one specific Wi-Fi network. When that network changes — new router, new SSID, new password, or you've moved — the doorbell can no longer authenticate, so it drops offline.

Ring devices don't automatically detect or switch to new networks. You have to manually update the network credentials through the app. There's no shortcut around this; it's a security design, not a flaw.

What You'll Need Before You Start

• The Ring app installed on your smartphone (iOS or Android)
• Your Ring account credentials
• Your new Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password
• Physical access to your doorbell — you'll need to put it into Setup Mode
• A charged doorbell (or one still wired to power)

If your doorbell is battery-powered and the battery is critically low, charge it first. A doorbell that powers off mid-reconnection can occasionally require a full reset.

Step-by-Step: Changing Wi-Fi on a Ring Video Doorbell

1. Open the Ring App and Navigate to Device Settings

• Tap the three-line menu (☰) in the top-left corner
• Select Devices
• Tap your Ring Video Doorbell from the list

2. Go to Device Health

• Inside the device dashboard, tap Device Health
• Scroll to the Network section — this shows your currently connected network
• Tap Change Wi-Fi Network (on some app versions this reads Reconnect to Wi-Fi)

3. Put the Doorbell Into Setup Mode

The app will prompt you to press the orange button on the back of the doorbell (battery models) or the setup button on the side or front (depending on the model). Hold it until the front light ring spins — that spinning pattern means it's in Setup Mode and broadcasting a temporary hotspot.

4. Connect Your Phone to the Ring's Temporary Hotspot

The app will ask you to go into your phone's Wi-Fi settings and connect to a network called something like "Ring-XXXXXX." Once connected, return to the Ring app.

📶 This step trips people up most often. Your phone needs to manually join the Ring's setup network — some phones will warn you that this network has no internet access and may try to switch back automatically. Stay connected to it.

5. Select Your New Wi-Fi Network

The app will scan for available networks. Select your new Wi-Fi SSID from the list and enter the password. The doorbell will attempt to connect — this usually takes 30–60 seconds.

6. Confirm Connection

Once connected, the app shows a success screen and your Device Health page updates to reflect the new network. The doorbell's light ring will return to normal standby behavior.

Variables That Affect the Process 🔧

Not every reconnection goes identically. A few factors shape the experience:

The 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz Question

This is worth understanding clearly. 2.4 GHz offers longer range and better wall penetration; 5 GHz offers faster speeds at shorter distances. First and second-generation Ring Video Doorbells are 2.4 GHz only. If your router broadcasts separate SSIDs for each band, make sure you're selecting the compatible one during setup.

If your router uses a unified/merged SSID (same network name for both bands), the router and doorbell negotiate the band automatically — though results vary by router firmware.

What If the Doorbell Won't Enter Setup Mode?

A few situations complicate this:

• Wired doorbells may need the power to be briefly cut at the breaker before the setup button responds
• Frozen firmware occasionally prevents the button from registering — a full factory reset via the app or button hold sequence may be needed
• Very low battery on wireless models can prevent Setup Mode from initiating at all

What "Reconnect" vs. "Factory Reset" Actually Means

These are different operations. Changing Wi-Fi through Device Health preserves all your settings, motion zones, schedules, and history. A factory reset wipes the device back to defaults and requires full reinstallation as if it were new hardware.

You only need a factory reset if the standard reconnection process fails entirely or you're transferring the doorbell to a new owner/account.

The Part That Depends on Your Setup

The steps above apply broadly, but how straightforward the process feels depends on your specific router configuration, which Ring model you own, and whether your network uses any non-standard security settings. A Ring Doorbell Pro 2 on a modern dual-band router is a different situation than a first-generation doorbell trying to connect to a mesh network with band steering enabled.

Understanding your own hardware — both the doorbell model and router configuration — is what closes the gap between "following the steps" and actually getting it right on the first try.