Free Guide to Changing Your Ring Camera WiFi Network

Understanding Your Ring Camera WiFi Connection

Ring cameras rely on a stable WiFi connection to send video footage to your phone, store recordings, and receive notifications about motion or doorbell activity. When you first set up a Ring camera, it connects to your WiFi network using your password. Over time, you might need to change which network your camera uses. This could happen if you switch internet providers, upgrade your router, change your password for security reasons, or want to move the camera to a different location in your home.

Free Guide to Checking Your Mastercard Balance →

Your Ring camera stores the WiFi network name (called an SSID) and password in its memory. When the camera powers on, it looks for that specific network and connects automatically. If that network no longer exists or the password has changed, your Ring camera will lose its connection. You'll notice this when you can't see live video in your app, don't receive motion alerts, or see a "Not Connected" message in the Ring mobile application.

The process of changing your Ring camera's WiFi network involves telling the device to "forget" the old network and providing it with new connection details. This isn't complicated, but it does require a few specific steps. The camera itself doesn't have a screen or keyboard, so you'll control everything through the Ring mobile app on your smartphone or through the Ring website on a computer.

Different Ring camera models—such as the Ring Video Doorbell, Ring Stick Up Cam, Ring Floodlight Cam, and Ring Indoor Cam—follow the same basic process, though some steps might look slightly different depending on which model you own. Understanding how your camera connects to WiFi helps you troubleshoot problems when they occur and know what to expect during the changeover process.

Takeaway: Ring cameras need WiFi to function. If your network changes, you'll need to reconnect the camera to the new network using the Ring app. This process takes just a few minutes but requires you to have the camera physically nearby and access to your new WiFi password.

Preparing Your Ring Camera and New Network

Before you begin changing your Ring camera's WiFi network, gather the information you'll need. First, locate your new WiFi network name and password. Your WiFi password is different from your Ring account password. You can usually find your network name and password on a sticker attached to your router, in your router's settings menu, or by asking whoever manages your internet connection. Make sure you know the exact spelling and capitalization, as WiFi passwords are case-sensitive.

Free Guide to Medicare Plans and Costco Pharmacy →

Next, make sure your Ring camera is powered on and positioned where you can see it. If it's a wired camera like a Ring Video Doorbell, it should already be powered. If it's a battery-operated model like a Ring Stick Up Cam, check that the battery isn't completely drained. A camera with low battery might not have enough power to complete the connection process. If you need to charge it first, do that before proceeding.

Check that your smartphone has the Ring app installed and that you're logged into your Ring account. You'll need the app open and ready to use when you start the process. If you don't have the app installed, download it from your phone's app store (Apple App Store for iPhones or Google Play Store for Android devices).

Consider the location of your phone and router during this process. Your phone needs to stay connected to your new WiFi network while you're changing the camera's settings. Ideally, you'll be standing near both the camera and your router so you can see what's happening and have a strong signal on your phone.

If you're connecting the camera to a different router entirely—for example, if you got a new internet provider—power on the new router and wait about five minutes for it to fully start up before beginning the camera connection process.

Takeaway: Write down your new WiFi network name and password, ensure your Ring camera has power, install the Ring app on your phone, and log into your account. Having these items ready before you start prevents interruptions and makes the process smoother.

Using the Ring App to Disconnect from Old Network

Open the Ring mobile app on your smartphone and log in with your Ring account credentials. Once you're logged in, you'll see a menu of your Ring devices. Find the camera you want to change from the list. Tap on that device to open its settings page. You should see various options including name, status, and network information.

Get Your Free Glassport Dental Implants Information Guide →

Look for a menu option that shows "Devices," "Device Settings," or similar wording. This might be represented by three horizontal lines (a hamburger menu), a gear icon, or another symbol depending on your phone type. The exact location varies, but Ring places this option in a consistent spot on each device's page.

Once you're in the device settings, scroll down until you find an option labeled "WiFi Network," "Change WiFi," "Reconnect to Network," or "Network Settings." This option tells the camera to forget its current connection. Tap on this option. The app will ask you to confirm that you want to forget the WiFi network. This confirmation prevents accidental disconnection.

When you confirm, the Ring camera will disconnect from your old WiFi network. You might see the camera status change to "Offline" or "Not Connected" in the app. This is normal and expected. The camera is no longer connected to any network, which is the first step in connecting it to your new network.

Leave the app open on this screen. Don't close it or navigate away. The next steps happen in sequence, and having the app ready on your camera's device page will make the transition to your new network quicker.

Takeaway: Use the Ring app's device settings to find and select the option to change or forget your WiFi network. Confirm the action, and the camera will disconnect. Keep the app open and ready for the next step.

Reconnecting Your Camera to the New Network

With your camera now disconnected from any network, you're ready to connect it to your new WiFi. Stay in the Ring app on your camera's device page. Look for an option that says "Set Up Device," "Connect to WiFi," "Add Network," or "Reconnect." This button will look different from the previous option and usually appears near the top of the screen or in a blue or highlighted color. Tap this option to begin the reconnection process.

Free Guide to Cars for Older Drivers →

The app will ask you to confirm that you're ready to set up the device. It will then show you a list of WiFi networks that your phone can currently detect. Your new WiFi network name should appear in this list. Find your network name in the list and tap on it. If you don't see your network name, make sure your router is powered on and broadcasting its signal. You might need to scroll through the list if you have many networks nearby.

After selecting your network, the app will ask you to enter your WiFi password. Type the password exactly as it is, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters. Many people make mistakes at this step by mistyping the password or forgetting that WiFi passwords are case-sensitive. If you're unsure about your password, check your router or contact your internet provider before entering it.

Once you've entered the password, tap a button labeled "Connect," "Next," or "Continue." The Ring camera will now attempt to connect to your new network using the credentials you provided. This can take between 30 seconds and a few minutes. During this time, you might see a loading screen or status message like "Connecting" or "Please Wait."

When the connection is successful, the app will display a confirmation message. Your camera's status should change from "Offline" to "Connected" or "Online." You can now close this setup screen and return to your main device view in the Ring app.

Takeaway: The Ring app guides you through selecting your new network and entering your password. After you tap confirm, wait for the connection to complete. When you see a connected status, your camera is now using your new WiFi network.

Troubleshooting Connection Problems

Sometimes the connection doesn't work on the first attempt. If your Ring camera isn't connecting to your new WiFi network, here are the most common reasons and solutions. First, verify that you typed your WiFi password correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, meaning uppercase and lowercase letters matter. Go back to your router to confirm the exact password and try again. This solves the majority of connection failures.

Learn How to Pay Your Quest Diagnostics Bill Online →

Check that your new WiFi network is actually