Marshmallow Streaming Logo
← Back to Knowledge Hub
Home Security

Ring - Video Doorbell and Camera Features

#ring#home security
📑 Table of Contents ▼
Last updated on February 26, 2026

Notification Settings

If your phone is buzzing every time a car drives by, or if you aren't getting alerts when someone is at the door, you can easily adjust your notification preferences for each individual camera.

  1. Open the Ring app.
  2. Tap the Menu (☰) icon in the top left corner, then tap Devices.
  3. Select the specific doorbell or camera you want to adjust.
  4. At the top of the device dashboard, you can simply toggle Ring Alerts and Motion Alerts on or off.

View Camera Footage

To see a quick list of everything that has happened recently, you can check your Event History. (Note: Viewing past footage requires an active Ring Home subscription).

  1. Open the Ring app and tap the Menu (☰) icon.
  2. Tap History.
  3. Here, you will see a list of all recent events. You can use the tabs at the top to filter the list by Rings, Motion, Live Views, or Starred events.
  4. Tap any event in the list to watch the recorded video clip.

Go Back in Time

The most intuitive way to review past footage is by using the Event Timeline on your camera's main screen.

  1. From the main app dashboard, tap the thumbnail image of the camera you want to view.
  2. This opens the Event Timeline. You will see a scrollable timeline at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Simply swipe left or right on the timeline to scroll backwards and forwards in time. The timeline will be color-coded to show when motion was detected or when the doorbell was rung.

View Live

If you hear a noise outside or just want to check in on your front yard, you can pull up a live feed at any time.

  1. Open the Ring app to view your main dashboard.
  2. Tap the thumbnail image of the camera you want to view.
  3. Tap the Tap to Go Live button on the screen to initiate the real-time video feed.

Microphone and Audio

Ring's Two-Way Talk feature lets you speak to visitors (or warn off intruders) directly through the app.

  1. Open a Live View of your camera or doorbell.
  2. Tap the Microphone icon (or the green phone icon, depending on your device) to unmute your phone's microphone and start speaking. The person outside will hear you through the camera's speaker.
  3. To hear them, make sure the Speaker icon on your screen is unmuted.
  4. When you are done talking, tap the red phone icon to end the session.

Turn on Lights (If Appropriate)

If you have a Ring Spotlight Cam or Floodlight Cam, the lights are designed to turn on automatically when motion is detected at night. However, you can also trigger them manually.

  1. Open the Ring app and tap the Menu (☰) icon.
  2. Navigate to Devices and select your Spotlight or Floodlight camera.
  3. On the device dashboard, tap the Lights toggle switch to turn them on or off manually. You can also do this directly from the Live View screen using the lightbulb icon.

View Device Health

If your camera is offline, lagging, or the battery is dying, the Device Health menu will tell you exactly what is wrong.

  1. Open the Ring app and navigate to Menu (☰) > Devices.
  2. Select your specific doorbell or camera.
  3. Tap the Device Health tile (it looks like a heart with a gear).
  4. Here, you can check your Battery Level (if it's a battery-powered device) and your Signal Strength (RSSI) to see if your camera is getting a strong enough Wi-Fi connection.

Chimes

A Ring Chime is a small speaker you plug into a wall outlet so you can hear the doorbell ring inside your house, even if your phone is in another room.

Adding a Chime:

  1. Plug your new Chime into a standard wall outlet.
  2. Open the Ring app and navigate to Menu (☰) > Set Up a Device.
  3. Select Chimes and follow the on-screen instructions to connect it to your Wi-Fi.

Managing Notifications:

  1. Once set up, navigate to Menu (☰) > Devices and select your Chime.
  2. Tap Audio Settings > Chime Alerts.
  3. Here, you can select which specific cameras or doorbells will cause this Chime to sound. You can also tap Chime Tones to change the actual sound it makes for rings and motion.

Set Motion Zones

Motion Zones allow you to define exactly where you want your camera to look for motion. This is crucial for preventing false alerts from cars driving on the street or neighbors walking on the sidewalk.

  1. Open the Ring app and navigate to Menu (☰) > Devices.
  2. Select your camera or doorbell.
  3. Tap Motion Settings > Camera Motion Zones.
  4. Tap Edit Zones.
  5. Use your finger to drag the colored dots and resize the box so it only covers your property (like your driveway or porch), excluding the street. Tap Save when you are done.