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How to Reset a Ring Camera or Doorbell

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Short version: try a soft reset (power cycle) before a full factory reset — it fixes most Ring cameras that have frozen or stopped responding without wiping any settings. A factory reset should be the second step, reserved for WiFi network changes, persistent app errors, or preparing to sell the device, because it erases everything and requires setting the camera up again from scratch.

Replacing a camera battery pack
Ring Battery Doorbell (Head-to-Toe View)
Ring
Ring Battery Doorbell (Head-to-Toe View)
$67.99 · Check This Product → on Amazon Price as of Aug 22, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC, updated every 3h · subject to change

The most-reviewed video doorbell in the US market with one of the deepest, highest-rated review bases we track. Its head-to-toe view shows the package on the mat. It runs on a removable rechargeable battery with a straightforward reset button.

Why You Should Get This

If you own this doorbell and need reset guidance, this is the most-documented Ring device.

Benefits

  • Deepest review base of any doorbell on the market.
  • Simple reset button access.
  • No wiring required.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Largest, most trustworthy review base.
  • Extensive community troubleshooting resources.
  • Live view works with no plan.
Cons
  • Recorded clip history needs a Ring subscription.
  • 1080p rather than 2K.
  • Factory reset requires full re-setup.

Features

  • Head-to-toe 1:1 view.
  • Removable battery or hardwiring.
  • Two-way talk.

Read the full review →

Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus
Ring
Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus
$179.99 · Check This Product → on Amazon Price as of Aug 22, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC, updated every 3h · subject to change

The highest-rated Ring device tracked on this site with one of the highest ratings and deepest review bases we track. Motion-activated LED floodlights pair with 1080p color night video on permanent wired power, with its own documented reset button process.

Why You Should Get This

If you own a wired Ring floodlight camera and need reset guidance, this is the most review-validated model.

Resolution1080p HD
Field of view140° horizontal
PowerHardwired, existing outdoor fixture
Night visionColor night vision
AudioTwo-way talk
Siren105dB built-in siren
LightingMotion-activated LED floodlights
Smart homeWorks with Alexa

Benefits

  • Highest-rated Ring device tracked on this site.
  • Never needs a battery recharge.
  • Recessed reset button on the housing.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Massive, consistent review base.
  • Reliable wired connection.
  • Well-documented reset process.
Cons
  • Needs an existing wired fixture or electrician.
  • 1080p rather than 2K/4K.
  • Recorded clip history needs a subscription.

Features

  • Motion-activated LED floodlights.
  • 105dB built-in siren.
  • Two-way talk.
Ring Indoor Cam
Ring
Ring Indoor Cam
$49.99 · Check This Product → on Amazon Price as of Aug 22, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC, updated every 3h · subject to change

The most-reviewed inexpensive indoor camera tracked on this site with one of the deepest, highest-rated review bases in the category. 1080p HD video with two-way talk and a physical privacy cover, with a simple reset process.

Why You Should Get This

If you own this indoor camera and need reset guidance, this is the largest-reviewed indoor Ring device.

Benefits

  • Most-reviewed inexpensive camera in the category.
  • Simple plug-in reset process.
  • Physical privacy cover.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Massive, trustworthy review base.
  • Low price for a first camera.
  • Straightforward setup after reset.
Cons
  • Recorded clip history needs a subscription.
  • 1080p rather than 2K.
  • Indoor use only.

Features

  • 1080p HD, two-way talk.
  • Physical privacy cover.
  • Plug-in power.

Soft Reset a Ring Camera (Try This First)

For battery-powered Ring cameras and doorbells, remove the battery pack for about 30 seconds, then reinsert it. For the wired Ring Floodlight Cam or Spotlight Cam Wired, switch off power at the breaker or junction box for 30 seconds before restoring it. This clears temporary glitches and refreshes the device’s WiFi connection without touching any settings, and it resolves the majority of "camera won’t load" or "doorbell isn’t responding in the app" reports.

Factory Reset a Ring Camera

Locate the small recessed orange reset button — on most battery models it sits on the back near the battery slot; on the video doorbells it’s usually on the side or back plate. Press and hold it for about 15-20 seconds until the light ring flashes and the device restarts. The exact hold time and light behavior vary slightly by model, so if nothing happens after 20 seconds, check the specific device’s page in the Ring app’s help section.

Alternatively, in the Ring app: open Devices, select the camera, go to Device Health or Settings, and choose Remove This Device. This unlinks it from your account cleanly, though it doesn’t wipe locally stored WiFi credentials the way the physical button does — for a full wipe before selling a device, use the physical button method.

A child talking to a doorbell camera

Setting the Camera Back Up

After either type of reset, open the Ring app, tap Set Up a Device, and scan the QR code on the camera or enter its setup code manually. You’ll need to re-enter your WiFi password and rebuild any motion zones or notification settings — none of that carries over. Our how to connect Ring to WiFi guide covers the pairing step if it stalls.

When to Reset vs When Not To

Reset for: a camera that’s completely frozen and unresponsive to a soft reset, a move to a new WiFi network or router, persistent app crashes tied to one device, or preparing to sell or give away the camera. Don’t reset for a camera that’s simply offline right now — see why is my Ring camera offline first, since that’s usually a signal or power issue a reset won’t fix. If your Ring is online but not recording, see Ring camera not recording.

Accessories Worth Having on Hand

#1Ring Chime
Ring Chime

Best for re-pairing an indoor chime after resetting a Ring doorbell.

$34.99 · Check Price Where to buy: Amazon Price as of Aug 22, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC, updated every 3h · subject to change
#2Universal Security Camera Wall Mount Bracket
Universal Security Camera Wall Mount Bracket

Best for remounting a Ring camera after a factory reset.

$28.99 · Check Price Where to buy: Amazon Price as of Aug 22, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC, updated every 3h · subject to change
#3SanDisk 128GB High Endurance microSD Card
SanDisk 128GB High Endurance microSD Card

Best for local backup on Ring devices that support card storage.

$34.99 · Check Price Where to buy: Amazon Price as of Aug 22, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC, updated every 3h · subject to change

If It Still Won’t Reset

If a full factory reset and fresh app setup still doesn’t fix the problem, that points to a hardware fault rather than a settings issue. Ring covers most devices under at least a one-year warranty, and it’s worth contacting their support directly at that point rather than repeatedly resetting. For the wider decision on whether Ring’s ecosystem and subscription are worth it in the first place, see is Ring worth it, or compare it against the field in best Ring cameras.

Straight Answers

Frequently Asked

Where is the reset button on a Ring camera?

On most battery-powered Ring cameras and doorbells, it is a small, recessed orange button on the back or underside of the unit, usually near the battery compartment or mounting bracket — you need a paperclip or the included setup tool to press it. On the wired Ring Floodlight Cam and Spotlight Cam, it is typically behind the faceplate or on the side of the housing. If you cannot find it, the Ring app’s device settings often include a software "remove device" option that is functionally similar and doesn’t require locating the physical button.

Will resetting my Ring camera cancel my subscription?

No. A Ring Protect subscription is tied to your Ring account, not to an individual device, so factory-resetting a camera does not touch your billing. It does remove that camera from your account until you set it up again, and any device-specific settings (motion zones, notification preferences) are lost and need to be reconfigured after re-pairing.

Why does my Ring camera keep asking me to reset it?

A Ring device that repeatedly prompts for a reset almost always has an unstable WiFi connection rather than a hardware fault — check signal strength at the mounting position before resetting again, since a reset does nothing to fix a weak signal and the same prompt will likely return. If resets genuinely resolve the issue temporarily and it recurs within days, that pattern points to the router or its position, not the camera.