Fixing Unexpected Battery Drain in Video Doorbell or Security Cameras

Troubleshoot an unexpected low battery in your Ring device.

Batteries in Ring devices are designed to last for months between charges, but there are factors that could be causing unexpected battery drain.

Things to check

Local weather

At temperatures below 40°F, lithium polymer batteries are less effective at holding a charge. When the temperature drops below 40°F, it may be necessary to charge your Ring product more often. 

Battery performance will return to normal once the weather warms up and remains above freezing.

Get more information on battery life in cold weather.

Lots of activity

If your device is capturing an excessive number of events per day, you will likely need to recharge your battery sooner. Using Live View often can also drain your battery faster.

To prevent excessive activity notifications, adjust your Motion Settings to a lower sensitivity, disable certain zones, change Motion Frequency to Regularly or Periodically, or adjust the direction of your Ring device so it doesn't detect as much motion.

Poor wifi connection

If your Ring Video Doorbell or Security Camera battery is draining too fast, a poor wifi connection may be the cause. A poor connection can cause your doorbell or camera to frequently disconnect and reconnect to your wifi network, which wastes energy and contributes to battery drainage.

If your wifi signal is weak or obstructed, symptoms may include:

• Devices disconnecting from wifi and having trouble reconnecting.
• Reduced or distorted audio or video quality.
• Delayed notifications.
• Missing Motion Events.
• Trouble connecting to Live View.

Things to try

Fixing unexpected battery drain

You can check the device's Power Settings in your Ring app to see if any optional features, such as Snapshot Capture or Advanced Motion Detection, may be draining your battery.

To access Power Settings, open the Ring app:

1. Tap the menu (☰) in the top left corner.
2. Tap Devices.
3. Tap the individual device (doorbell or security camera) you want to check.
4. Tap the Power Settings tile.
   • You can check your Battery Status: Battery Level percentage and Feature Power Usage.
     • Tap the small arrow to the right of the feature name.   
     • To navigate back to the main screen, tap back (<) on the top left.
     • You can check Snapshot Capture, Advanced Motion Detection, or Video Recording Length.

You can also check your Motion Settings in the Ring app to make sure the settings aren't causing battery drain due to frequent activation. 

1. Tap the menu (☰) in the top left corner.
2. Tap Devices.
3. Select the doorbell or security camera you want to check.
4. Tap Motion Settings.
5. Tap the Wand icon on the top right.
6. Choose an option. 

Fixing wifi connectivity issues

If neither of the previous options improve your device's battery life, you may have wifi connectivity issues.

To improve connectivity:

Reboot your router
Turn off your router by unplugging it, then wait 30 seconds. Plug the router back in and wait between 30 seconds to one minute for it to boot up. Your Ring device should automatically reconnect to your wifi network.

Remove physical barriers between your router and your Ring device
Certain building materials and other household items can reduce the range of wifi, distort the signal, or block it entirely. These materials include heavy duty walls, concrete, brick, metal, stucco, couches, fish tanks, bookcases, large mirrors, sliding glass doors, TVs, game consoles, baby monitors, or smart appliances.

Position your router away from obstructions to get the strongest and most direct signal from your wifi to your Ring device. Routers that are placed behind furniture or in closets and cabinets will likely see a reduced signal. The best solution is to move your router away from obstructions if your device is constantly disconnecting from wifi. 

Move router from behind couch	Move router out of closet

Move your router and Ring device closer together
If possible, try moving your router or Ring device closer to each other. Sometimes a few feet is all it takes to improve your connection. You can also try raising the router a few feet off the ground or moving it to an open area. If you have a security camera that can be moved, such as a Ring Stick Up Cam, you could move the camera closer to the router.

Replace your router
If your router is 4 years or older, consider replacing it. It may be the cause of slow or inconsistent performance.

You can check your wifi signal strength in the Ring app.

If you’ve tried all these options and you're still having problems, you can try changing your wifi router channel.

Hardwire your Ring device

Another option to avoid battery issues is to connect your Ring Video Doorbell to a low voltage transformer or internal doorbell chime. This will reduce the need to charge your battery in most Ring devices.

Learn about hardwiring your Ring Video Doorbell.

Add a Solar Panel

You can also purchase a Solar Panel for your Ring device if it's placed outside. With enough sun exposure, this can reduce the need to charge your battery in most Ring devices.