Ring is a popular brand that a lot of people who like smart home stuff use. They make sturdy and dependable gadgets that help make our neighborhoods safer. Ring cameras let you keep an eye on your house from far away, work well with virtual helpers like Alexa, and, most importantly, they help keep our homes safe!
But there’s a catch: Ring cameras have to stay connected to your home’s Wi-Fi, or else they won’t work. So, if they go offline, we lose our extra set of eyes!
Why Does My Ring Camera Go Offline?
Mainly, Ring cameras stop working when they’re not connected to Wi-Fi or when there’s no power. They always need to be connected and powered to stay in sync with Ring’s cloud servers. If they’re not in sync, the app will show them as offline.
Normally, once the problem is fixed, the Ring camera will sync back up and be online again.
If your app is showing your camera as offline, it might be because of a few different reasons, like:
- There’s a power outage, or it’s unplugged
- The Wi-Fi signal is weak or disconnected
- You changed your Wi-Fi settings and need to update them on your device
- Too many devices are using the Wi-Fi, slowing it down
- You’ve used the device for a very long time without restarting it
- Sometimes, Ring’s own servers are down – that’s called a Ring outage
If it’s just a power or Wi-Fi problem, restarting the camera should fix it once it connects back to your Wi-Fi.
So, before you get all into the detailed fixing steps, try a simple restart or “power cycle” of your camera to see if it connects back. But remember, if your camera is offline, you can’t restart it using the app.
To restart or power cycle, you just unplug the camera, wait for about one or two minutes, and then plug it back in.
Once it starts up again, refresh your Ring app to check the status of your camera.
Fixing Your Offline Ring Camera
The “Device Health” feature on the Ring app is like a doctor for your camera! It tells you why your camera isn’t working. If your camera is having trouble with Wi-Fi, the app will say the Wi-Fi is “offline”.
Step by Step: Getting Your Camera Working Again!
Check if Your Camera Has Power
Sometimes, if the power cord is loose or the outlet isn’t working, your camera won’t work, and you might think there’s a bigger problem. So first, make sure your Ring camera is getting power and is turned on.
You can see if your camera has power by looking at the “Device Health” on the app. If everything looks good, then you can check your Wi-Fi next.
Remember, sometimes, all your devices might stop working after a power outage. Unplugging and plugging them back in should fix this.
Check Your Wi-Fi Network
Losing Wi-Fi is a common reason why cameras stop working. Sometimes, some devices need to be restarted to connect to Wi-Fi again.
Is your Wi-Fi working? You can check by seeing if you can browse the internet on your phone or tablet. If it’s not working or the signal is weak, you might need to call your internet provider for help.
Your smart cameras need a strong and steady Wi-Fi connection to talk to the Ring servers. A strong Wi-Fi connection is super important for all smart home gadgets!
You can use the Ring app to see how strong your Wi-Fi signal is in “Device Health.” It shows a value called RSSI. If the RSSI value is higher than -50 dBm (shown in green), your signal is strong! If it’s between -50 dBm and -70 dBm, it’s okay. But if it’s lower than -70 dBm, your signal is weak.
Also, remember to update your devices if you change your Wi-Fi password or any other settings!
Reminder: Network Compatibility
Ring cameras like the 2.4 GHz network. If your router uses 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, make sure they are separated, so your camera connects to the right one.
Quick Tip: Restarting Might Solve the Issue!
Most of the time, restarting the router and the camera fixes Wi-Fi issues. To do this, unplug them, wait for about 20-30 seconds, and plug them back in!
How to Reset and Reconnect Your Ring Camera
Guess what? If your Ring camera goes offline, hitting the setup button on it will put it into pairing mode, kind of like giving it a little reset. Don’t worry; this won’t erase all your settings!
To get it reconnected, open up your Ring app. Then, hit Menu > Devices and pick the camera that’s being stubborn. Tap on Device Health and scroll until you see the Network section. If it says “Offline,” hit “Reconnect to Wi-Fi” and follow the directions the app gives you.
Move the Camera Closer to Your Router
Wi-Fi gets weaker the further you go from the router and when there are lots of walls or other stuff in the way. If your camera is super far from the router, it might not get a good signal. If you’re getting an RSSI value lower than -70 dBm (that’ll be in red), it’s time to move the camera closer to the router.
If that doesn’t work, think about upgrading your network or getting a new router. The Ring chime can also make your network stronger if you’re using it with doorbells.
Believe it or not, sometimes Ring’s own servers have problems. It’s rare, but it happens, and it can make some or all Ring products go offline or delay.
Final Thoughts:
Your Ring camera helps keep an eye on things, so it going offline can be annoying! Usually, it’s because it’s not talking to the server due to Wi-Fi or power issues. Figuring out why it’s offline and fixing it fast is super important.
Remember to check if it’s powered and whether it’s getting good Wi-Fi. And if it’s offline, hit the setup button and follow the app’s directions to get it back online. Keep it close to the router for a strong signal, and maybe give your network a boost if you need to!
