Ring Doorbell is a handy smart home device that allows users to monitor activity at their front door at all times, day and night. If you’re new to using the device, you may be wondering just how long Ring’s battery lasts to ensure it’s always offering the monitoring you need. I have provided an answer to this question below.
The Ring Doorbell’s battery can last from 6 to 12 months. The exact battery lifespan varies depending on several factors like how much activity the device picks up daily and how often you view the video’s live stream.
Although the Ring Doorbell’s battery won’t last forever, you can have peace of mind knowing that its batteries can easily be recharged or replaced when the power finally runs out. Read on to learn more about the Ring Doorbell’s battery life and what you can do to make it last.
How Long Does the Ring Battery Last?
A Ring Doorbell battery’s average life can be anywhere from six months up to an entire year before it needs to be recharged.
The battery life will vary depending mainly on how much activity the doorbell has. Activities such as motion being detected or the doorbell being rang use more battery power, which shortens the battery life.
Three Ring Doorbell models use a rechargeable lithium battery:
- Ring Video DoorbellRing Video Doorbell 2Ring Video Doorbell 3
The other models of Ring Doorbells don’t run on battery power at all. They are hardwired, so you don’t have to worry about battery life with these doorbells:
- Ring Video Doorbell ProRing Elite
Also, if you have a battery-operated Ring Doorbell that you connected to your home’s existing doorbell wires, the battery should never run out of power. The wires power it, so it does not need to be recharged.
How to Check Ring Doorbell Battery Life
When your Ring Doorbell battery life is running row, you will automatically receive notifications through the Ring app and via email.
Your battery-operated Ring Doorbell’s power level can also be monitored directly from the mobile app:
- Select your specific doorbell from the “My Devices” menu.The battery level will be shown in the top-right corner.
The battery status is depicted by an image of a battery with the corresponding levels filled in. To get an exact percentage of how much battery life remains, you can select the gear image right above the battery.
What to Do When Ring Doorbell Battery Is Low
Ring Doorbell batteries are rechargeable using a micro USB cable. You will want to charge the battery before it completely runs out of power. If the battery dies completely, you may have to add the doorbell in the Ring app again.
On the original Ring Doorbell, the lithium battery cannot be removed from the device. To charge the battery, you will need to remove the entire device from its mounting bracket. Simply loosen the two screws on the bottom of the doorbell to slide it off the bracket. Then, plug the charging cable directly into the back of the doorbell.
If you have the Ring Doorbell 2 or 3, the battery is removable. Here are the steps to charge it:
- Remove the screw on the bottom of the doorbell.Take off the face plate.Press the tab and slide the battery out.Plug the charging cable into the battery.
It’s recommended that you buy an extra Ring battery pack if you have the Ring Doorbell 2 or 3. This way, your doorbell can continue to operate while the original battery is charging.
Ring Doorbell Battery Draining Too Fast?
Some users have reported their Ring Doorbell battery is running out of life every three months or less; this can be frustrating because it may cause gaps in your video surveillance. It’s also inconvenient to have to remove the battery every three months, so you will want to maximize your battery life as much as possible.
There are four main reasons why your Ring Doorbell battery is draining too fast:
- Lots of motion eventsLive streaming for long periodsCold weatherWeak Wi-Fi connection
If your Ring Doorbell battery is draining too fast, keep reading for tips on determining what specific reason is causing the problem and how to fix it.
Use Your Ring Doorbell Battery Less
One of the easiest ways to increase your Ring Doorbell’s battery life is to use it less. Anytime you access the doorbell live stream to check on a motion event that just occurred or use the two-way audio to talk to a visitor, you are using a lot of battery life.
Shortening the number of times you access the live stream, and the duration of those times, will increase the Ring battery’s lifespan.
Only view the live stream when necessary. You can view recorded videos as much as you want. Recorded videos are stored in a cloud, not on the doorbell, so watching them does not use any battery power.
Decrease Your Ring Doorbell’s Motion Sensitivity
You can also increase the doorbell’s battery life by decreasing motion sensitivity. Recording fewer motion events and sending fewer notifications saves battery life. You can change motion settings in the Ring app:
- Select the device you want to adjust.Tap “Motion Settings.”Select “Motion Zones.”Slide the motion sensitivity button to the left. The lower the motion sensitivity, the longer the battery will last.
You can also turn off specific motion zones. Using the “Customize Motion Zones” option, you can resize your zones or tap on a specific zone to disable it.
Lastly, you can change the number of motion alerts you receive. Select “Smart Alert” under the motion settings, and choose “Light” to receive fewer alerts.
Protect Your Ring Doorbell from Cold Weather
Ring Doorbells use lithium batteries, and unfortunately, lithium batteries can be significantly affected by the temperature outside.
A Ring Doorbell battery’s operating temperature range is -5 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below -5 or climbs above 120, your doorbell may stop working altogether. However, even inside this operating range, your battery may drain faster than it should, particularly in cold temperatures.
Lithium batteries may fail to hold power when temperatures drop to 36°F. This means that if you live in a cold climate, you can expect your Ring Doorbell battery to last less than six months. Some users reported having to charge their doorbell once a month during the winter.
You can increase the battery life by bringing the doorbell inside on freezing nights or moving it to a more sheltered location like a porch.
Improve Your Ring Doorbell’s Connection to Wi-Fi
It may not seem like a weak Wi-Fi connection could affect the battery life of your Ring Doorbell, but it does. Anytime the Wi-Fi connection is lost, even if just for a second, the doorbell must search for the Wi-Fi network and reconnect; this happens automatically, but it uses more of the doorbell’s battery life.
The easiest way to improve your Wi-Fi connection to your doorbell is to move the Wi-Fi router closer to the doorbell.
If moving the router isn’t possible, we recommend buying a Ring Chime Pro. It extends your home’s existing Wi-Fi network up to 2,000 square feet.
Conclusion
The amount of time your Ring Doorbell battery will last before it needs to be charged can only be estimated. The battery life is based on multiple factors, including the amount of use the device gets, the temperature outside, and the stability of the Wi-Fi connection to the doorbell. However, the average Ring Doorbell owner can expect their battery to last 6-12 months.
