Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. How tos

How to factory reset a Ring Doorbell

Add as a preferred source on Google

Ring has quickly become a staple brand in the smart home space thanks to its Video Doorbell. The standard doorbell version has had four iterations along with a Pro model. Yet even with all the upgrades and different models, there are times when it, just like any other electronic device, can have issues. Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to fix that issue is a factory reset.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Ring Video Doorbell

  • Tiny Screwdriver (ideally the one that came with the doorbell)

Factory resetting your Ring Video Doorbell will completely erase all the information and settings on it as if you had just taken it out of the box. A reset fixes most problems and should be performed before selling or giving away the doorbell. If you are giving it away, make sure to remove the doorbell from the Ring app.

There is a slight difference in how you reset the Doorbells depending on which model you have. First and second-generation doorbells have a slightly different method than the rest. The current Video Doorbell roster includes the Ring Video Doorbell 2/3/3 Plus/4, Wired, Pro/Pro 2, and Elite. We will explain each one down below. Let’s get to it.

How to reset Ring Video Doorbell

Step 1: Undo the security screw to remove the doorbell from its bracket or the faceplate from the doorbell.

The first and second-generation doorbells will need to be removed from their bracket once the screw is removed. For all recent and current Video Doorbells, you’ll remove the faceplate after removing the screw.

Step 2: Find the Setup button, then press and hold it for 10 seconds.

On most doorbells, the setup button will be a bright orange color. For the current crop of Video Doorbells, the setup button is just below the camera lens.

Step 3: The Doorbell light will flash for several seconds or minutes. Once the flashing stops, the doorbell has been reset and will be back in setup mode.

FAQ

How do I get my ring doorbell back online?

Once you’ve reset a Ring Video Doorbell and it is back in setup mode, you can use the Ring app on your phone to add it to your Ring account.

How do I reset my 2nd generation ring doorbell?

The earlier versions of Ring’s Video Doorbells can still easily be factory reset. The main difference in erasing them is that you have to remove the doorbell from its bracket. This is the only way to get access to its Setup button.

Now that your Ring Doorbell is reset go ahead and get it back online, upgrade it to a new model, or give it away.

Keyan Riddick
Keyan Riddick is a freelance writer based in the mountains on North Carolina. When he isn't writing you can find him behind…
Apple’s next home robot could turn its screen to follow you, but it might cost you $1,000 to do so
A smart display that pans, watches, and decides.
Apple HomeView feature

Remember the hopping Pixar lamp that famously squashes the letter “I” in the studio logo at the beginning of almost every Pixar movie? Apple may be building something similar, except this Pixar-inspired device won't actually hop or roll around your room. 

Instead, its motorized robotic arm could swivel the screen around (basically moving it left to right, or vice versa, on an axis). According to a new report from The Information, the Cupertino giant is working on a larger, robotic version of its recently-announced HomeView smart display, and it might arrive as soon as next year. 

Read more
Apple might be turning its HomeView into a security camera, and it makes perfect sense
HomeView's built-in camera might soon have a few more uses beyond FaceTime calls.
Apple HomeView feature

Apple’s recently unveiled HomeView smart display could also function as a home security camera, according to a new finding in its software. The device, which already has a built-in camera for FaceTime calls and facial recognition, could supposedly use the same hardware for motion detection, live streaming, and video recording through HomeKit Secure Video.

The feature was spotted by a Reddit user in the settings files of HomeView Software 27.2 (via TheVerge). Apple hasn’t officially announced anything about it yet, but the references suggest there are going to be a few more uses for the built-in camera.

Read more
What Mattress Firmness Is Right for Back Pain?
Why the right balance of cushioning and support matters for better sleep
Sleeping

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Sleep Number.

Waking up with a stiff back is a miserable way to start the day. The usual advice is to buy the firmest mattress you can find. It sounds reasonable, but your spine, shoulders, and hips don’t work that way. The needs differ for each person, but there are a few ways you can get that healthy sleep with the right mattress.

Read more