How to install a wired or wireless Ring video doorbell

One of the easiest smart home improvements to tackle is the installation of a Ring video doorbell. When there is someone at your door, a Ring video doorbell will send an alert to your phone and smart speakers to let you know. You can use this to make sure you don't miss a visitor and to keep an eye on packages if you aren't home.

It will take between 10 and 45 minutes for you to get a Ring video doorbell set up on your front or back door. I recommend a wired doorbell if you have existing doorbell wires. They don't have to "wake up" their battery to record video because they are more reliable in my testing.

As long as you can find your breaker, the whole thing shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes

The Ring Video Doorbells are the easiest to install. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro, Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, and Ring Video Doorbell wired are all easy to install. The whole thing should take no more than 30 to 45 minutes if you can locate your breaker and indoor chime box.

If you don't have an existing doorbell transformer, and you want a wired doorbell, you should consider hiring an electrician. Professional help is recommended by me. If you want to permanently power your doorbell, you have to drill holes through your wall.

Ring doorbells come with everything you need to install them in a box. Ring only provides the drill, which you only need if you are dealing with concrete or stucco. The Ring Pro models as well as the Ring 3 and 4 have wedge kits that can be used to change the angle of the doorbell. You can purchase the Ring 2020 and Ring 2020 separately.

How to install a wired Ring video doorbell

Ring has four video doorbells that are wired. We won't install the Elite because it requires professional installation. The installation steps are the same for all of the others. The doorbell transformer is sold by Ring. The ring wired requires a transformer. This is how to install doorbells.

• First, check that your existing doorbell is working by pressing the doorbell and making sure you hear the chime.
• Next, turn off the power to your doorbell at the breaker.
• Now locate your indoor chime and remove the cover.
• For the Ring Wired, attach the provided jumper cable. This bypasses the existing chime so it will not ring when your doorbell is pressed. See How to install the Ring Chime later in this article if you need a chime to ring inside your home.

• For the Pro and Pro 2, install the Chime Power Kit. This helps power the doorbell and ensures your existing chime will ring when the doorbell is pressed
• To attach either the jumper cable or the Chime Pro Kit, you’ll need to loosen the two screws connected to the Front and Trans terminals on your chime.
• Loop one end of the jumper cable / Chime Power Kit to Front and the other to Trans, keeping the existing wires in place. It doesn’t matter which goes to which.
• Tighten the screws.
• For the Chime Power Kit, you’ll need to mount the white box somewhere inside or outside of your chime box using the attached tape.
• Now, go outside and remove your old doorbell by unscrewing it from the wall and disconnecting the wires.
• Tape the wires to the wall so they don’t disappear into the hole.

• Take the faceplate off the Ring doorbell and hold it up to where you want to install it. Use a pencil to mark the top and bottom mounting holes.
• If you are placing your doorbell on stucco, brick, or concrete you will need to use the one-fourth-inch masonry drill bit Ring supplies in the box to drill the holes for the provided anchors. If you are installing on wood or siding, you can skip this.
• Connect the wires coming out of your wall to the terminal screws on the back of the Ring doorbell.
• If the wires are too short, use the provided extension wires and attach them to your doorbell wires with the wire nuts.

• Screw the doorbell onto the wall with the included long mounting screws.
• Reattach the face plate.
• Secure the special security screw into the bottom of the doorbell using the supplied blue specialty screwdriver (Ring Wired) or the star-shaped end of the provided Phillips-head screwdriver (Ring Pro and Pro 2).
• Turn the power back on. The LED light on the doorbell should start spinning white, indicating that the setup process has begun.

Ring can be used to connect the doorbell to your wi-fi network and set up features such as motion detection and alert.

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How to install a wireless Ring video doorbell

Ring doorbells can be powered by a built in orremovable battery. To trickle charge the battery, they can be wired to your doorbell. Since you don't have to connect the doorbell to the internet, you can put it anywhere you want. You need to remember to charge it.

Ring has three doorbells. The steps to install the Ring 2020 are not the same as the steps to install the other ones.

How to install a Ring Video Doorbell 4 or Ring 3

• First, fully charge the provided battery using the included USB charging cable.
• Next, remove the faceplate and use the doorbell to mark the positions for the mounting holes with a pencil. Insert the provided mini level in the small hole on the front of the doorbell to make sure the doorbell is straight.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

• If you are placing your doorbell on stucco, brick, or concrete you will need to use the one-fourth-inch masonry drill bit Ring supplies in the box to drill the holes for the provided anchors. If you are installing on wood or siding, you can skip this.
• Optional: if you have existing doorbell wires, you should attach them to the back of the doorbell at this point, having turned off the power at the breaker before beginning installation.

• Now, screw the doorbell directly to the wall or doorframe depending on your setup. (The provided mounting plate can be used for wood or vinyl if you prefer.)
• Insert the fully-charged battery into the bottom of the doorbell. The LED light should start spinning blue.
• Remove the level and reattach the faceplate.
• Use the provided security screw to secure the faceplate to the video doorbell with the star-shaped end of the screwdriver.

If you want to use features such as motion detection and alert, you need to connect the doorbell to your wi-fi network.

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How to install a Ring Video Doorbell 2020

• Charge the doorbell using the included USB charging cable by plugging it into the port at the back of the doorbell. Once the blue LED is fully lit, it is charged.
• Remove the mounting bracket from the back of the doorbell and hold it up against the wall where you plan to mount it.

• Insert the mini level to make sure the bracket is straight, and use the bracket as a template to mark where you need to put the screws
• If you are placing your doorbell on stucco, brick, or concrete you will need to use the one-fourth-inch masonry drill bit that Ring supplies in the box to drill the holes for the provided anchors. If you are installing on wood or siding, you can skip this.
• Secure the mounting bracket with the included screws, and remove the mini level.

• Optional: if you have existing doorbell wires, you should attach them to the back of the doorbell at this point, having turned off the power at the breaker before beginning installation.
• Attach the doorbell to the mounting bracket by putting the top on first.
• Use the star-shaped screwdriver to secure the doorbell with the included security screws.

To complete the setup, open the Ring app on your phone and connect the doorbell to your wi-fi network.

Image: Ring

How to install the Ring Chime with your Ring video doorbell

Ring sells Ring Chime and Ring Chime Pro. The Chime allows you to hear the Ring doorbell chime the same way a traditional doorbell box does. A Chime Pro can be useful if your Ring Doorbell doesn't have a good connection to the internet. A Ring doorbell can be used with a Chime.

• Plug the Chime into an electrical outlet between your Wi-Fi router and your Ring doorbell.
• Open the Ring app on your smartphone.
• Tap Set up device.
• Choose Chime or Chime Pro depending on which device you have.
• Follow the steps in the app.
• Once complete, connect your doorbell to your Chime by opening the app and tapping Chime Pro.
• Tap Linked Devices.
• Find your doorbell in the list and tap Connect to Chime Pro.
• Follow the steps to complete the connection.