Have you ever rushed to the door after hearing the familiar ding-dong of your doorbell, only to find no one there? So annoying! Even worse is when you don’t hear any ring at all and miss out on an important delivery or visitor. Well, if you’ve installed a Ring smart doorbell, a no-ring situation could mean it’s not working properly.
I know how frustrating this can be from personal experience. At my last place, I mounted a nice new Ring doorbell only to realize it wasn’t making any sound inside my apartment when someone pressed the button outside. What gives? Aren’t these things supposed to help you, you know, hear when someone’s at the door?
After doing some digging, I learned that Ring doorbells aren’t as straightforward as traditional wired models. The way they provide an indoor ring/chime depends on whether they’re hardwired or battery-powered. And even wired models still need WiFi and app connectivity to fully work right. So there are a few pieces that have to come together properly to hear Ring notifications inside.
In this article, I’ll walk through the common reasons a Ring doorbell won’t sound like an indoor ring or chime when your outdoor button is pushed.
I’ve distilled all the troubleshooting fixes I picked up from installing balky Rings in various homes. There are a few easy things you can try yourself before ripping out wires or paying for expensive repairs!
Why is My Ring Doorbell Not Ringing Inside?
Why Your Ring Doorbell Isn’t Ringing Inside, and How to Fix It?
A Ring doorbell is a convenient way to see who is at your door without having to go over and check whenever someone presses the button outside.
However, one of the most common complaints is that the Ring doorbell does not produce an audible ring or chime inside the home when the button is pressed.
This can understandably lead to frustration if you miss out on visitors, deliveries, or anyone trying to notify you that they are at the door.
In this comprehensive guide, we will outline all the possible reasons why your Ring doorbell is not ringing inside your house, along with simple potential fixes to get it chiming inside again.
About Ring Video Doorbells
Before delving into why your Ring doorbell may not be ringing, let’s understand a bit more about how Ring doorbells work.
- Battery or hardwired power – Ring Doorbells can either be fully battery powered or hardwired to an existing doorbell system’s transformer and internal wiring.
- Connect via WiFi to work – Even if a Ring doorbell is hardwired, it still relies on a WiFi connection to communicate with your smartphone and allow features like motion detection, notifications, and live view.
- Not built to chime inside – Crucially, battery-powered Ring models cannot chime or ring an internal doorbell by default. Only certain hardwired models can be connected to an existing wired mechanical or digital door chime.
So if you have a battery-powered Ring, the lack of internal ringing is normal. But if you have a wired model, a failure to ring inside may indicate an underlying issue.
Reasons Why Your Ring Doorbell Isn’t Ringing Inside?
There are a wide variety of reasons why a Ring doorbell won’t ring inside your home, stemming from incorrect initial setup and configurations to developing hardware and connectivity issues.
Let’s explore the main reasons in detail:
No Chime Kit Installed
For battery-powered Ring doorbells, an optional plug-in digital chime box known as a “Ring Chime Kit” must be purchased and configured separately to hear an audible indoor ring or chime.
Without this chime kit, battery-powered models cannot ring inside at all. Only certain wired Ring models can tap into an existing mechanical doorbell setup to ring internally.
Incorrect or Faulty Wiring
If you have a wired Ring doorbell model that connects to your existing indoor doorbell wiring, any kind of incorrect, loose, or faulty wiring can prevent the audible indoor ring or chime from sounding when the button is pressed outside.
Common wiring issues include:
- Disconnected wires – Wires connecting the Ring to the indoor doorbell have come loose or disconnected entirely.
- Incorrect wiring method – The wiring fails to follow the exact wiring schematic for your particular Ring model.
- Damaged wiring – Rodents, moisture, or general wear and tear over time may have damaged the wires.
- Underpowered transformer – The transformer that powers your existing wired doorbell system may be old, worn out, or unable to provide consistent power to newer Ring devices.
WiFi Connection Problems
As outlined earlier, even hardwired Ring doorbells rely on a stable WiFi connection to communicate with your smartphone.
So if your unit disconnects from the WiFi network for any reason, it essentially becomes non-functional – unable to ring the doorbell either outside or inside your house.
Common WiFi-related triggers include:
- Outdated router firmware
- Congested wireless channels from too many devices
- Out of range placement
- Internet or power outages
Incompatible or Faulty Chime Kit
For battery-powered Rings paired with a plug-in Ring Chime Kit accessory, an incompatible or faulty Chime Kit can also stop your doorbell from ringing indoors.
Issues to look out for include:
- Chime model not compatible – Your Chime Kit model doesn’t support ringing for your particular Ring doorbell variant.
- Loose plugin – The Chime Kit has come unplugged or needs to be reset.
- Hardware failure – The physical chime box hardware itself is defective and failing to operate normally.
Extreme Weather Conditions
In some cases, extremely cold weather can potentially interfere with or disrupt normal functioning for either wired or battery-powered Ring doorbells – including failure to ring outside or inside.
Unfortunately, there is not much you can do here except bring the unit indoors to warm up if possible, or simply wait out the extreme weather event.
Other Potential Causes
- Dead battery
- Defective button
- Faulty speaker/sound module
Now that you understand all the reasons why a Ring may fail to ring or chime inside your home, let’s explore the step-by-step troubleshooting and solutions for both battery and wired models….
4 Fixes for Battery-Powered Ring Not Ringing Inside
Here are 4 potential fixes to explore when your battery-powered Ring does not ring inside your home:
1. Install a Compatible Ring Chime Kit
The simplest fix is to purchase and install a compatible Ring Chime Kit – this accessory is required for any pure battery-powered Ring to play a chime or ring tone indoors whenever the doorbell is pressed outside.
- Popular easy-to-install Chime Kit options include:
- Ring Chime
- Ring Chime Pro
- Ring Chime (2nd gen)
- Be sure to verify compatibility with your exact Ring doorbell model before purchasing a Chime Kit. *Carefully follow the Chime Kit installation and pairing instructions. Locate it centrally in your home so the chime can be heard whenever the outdoor doorbell button is pressed by visitors.
2. Recharge or Replace Ring Batteries
For battery-powered Ring units, simply having low battery power can prevent the doorbell from functioning normally – including failure to ring or chime both outside and inside.
- Fully recharge Ring batteries using official Ring charging accessories.
- If batteries no longer hold sufficient charge even when fully topped up, they may need complete replacement.
- Use only official Ring batteries to avoid any safety risks or damage.
3. Check WiFi Connection
Even though battery-powered Rings don’t require wiring, they still must maintain a stable WiFi connection to work for features like app notifications, live views, motion alerts, and chiming.
If your WiFi goes down for any reason, your Ring essentially loses full functionality until connectivity is restored.
- Open the Ring app and check that your doorbell shows a healthy WiFi connection status indicated by solid blue bars.
- If you see a weak or no WiFi signal, try resetting your modem/router and reconfiguring the Ring WiFi connection from scratch.
- Also minimize wireless interference by not mounting near other electronics, microwave ovens, etc.
4. Get a Compatible Chime Kit
In rare cases, an incompatible or faulty Chime Kit can still cause issues with Ring battery models ringing inside.
- Double-check that your Chime Kit model is explicitly confirmed to work with your particular Ring doorbell variant.
- Inspect the Chime Kit hardware for any physical damage, loose power connections, or plugin issues that could prevent normal operation.
- As a last resort, replacing the Chime Kit with an equivalent known working model can help isolate whether hardware failure is causing problems.
By exploring each of these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to get a battery-powered Ring working smoothly, ringing and chiming both outside and inside your house when visitors press the button.
Now let’s explore solutions tailored towards wired Ring models…
6 Fixes for Wired Ring Not Ringing Inside
If you have a hardwired Ring model that fails to ring an audible indoor chime when visitors press the outdoor button, there are 6 key troubleshooting areas to investigate:
1. Complete In-App Setup
All Rings – including hardwired models – need to be fully set up via the official Ring app before core functionality like indoor ringing will work correctly.
- Download the Ring app for iOS or Android
- Create a Ring account
- Select the option to set up a new device, and choose your specific Ring model
- Scan the QR code or barcode located on your doorbell to pair it to your account
- Follow the in-app prompts to connect and configure WiFi, notification settings, etc
Lack of proper app setup is a common reason for initial issues with Ring functionality – including no indoor ringing.
2. Inspect Wiring For Faults
Since hardwired Ring models integrate directly with your existing indoor and outdoor doorbell wiring, faulty wiring is the most common reason a wired Ring fails to ring inside your home.
- Carefully inspect the entire span of wiring that connects your Ring to the indoor mechanical or digital chime unit.
- Search for any loose, disconnected, corroded, or visibly damaged wires.
- Verify wires are connected to the correct input/output terminals specified in the Ring wiring diagram for your particular model.
- Consult an electrician if required to isolate and repair wiring faults preventing normal Ring operation and indoor doorbell ringing.
3. Install New Transformer
A common cause of wiring-related Ring issues is an old, defective, or underpowered doorbell transformer. This small device converts your 120-240V AC power to a safer ~16V DC output for running wired chimes.
- Test your existing transformer output voltage using a multimeter – it should provide consistent 16-24V.
- If voltage measures lower or fluctuates, replace the transformer completely with a compatible new 16V-24V model. This often resolves wiring-related no ring issues.
4. Reset WiFi/Reconfigure Settings
Like battery models, hardwired Rings also rely on WiFi connectivity and proper app settings for core functionality.
Issues like random disconnections, congestion from too many smart home devices, and outages can all prevent wired units from ringing.
- In the Ring app, select your doorbell > Device Health > Check WiFi signal.
- If WiFi bars show weak/no signal, power cycle your router and reconfigure the Ring WiFi connection from scratch.
- While in Device Health, also double check all notification settings, volume levels, and other parameters impacting ringing functionality.
5. Get Compatible Digital Chime
Some wired Ring models support wiring into existing mechanical chimes/internal doorbells, while others must be paired with separate compatible digital chime accessories to hear indoor ringing.
If your wired Ring fails to ring indoors, it may be incorrectly configured – or incompatible altogether – with your existing indoor sound setup.
- Browse digital chime accessories like the Ring Chime Pro, wired Chime model, etc.
- Verify compatibility and purchase a supported chime model for your particular Ring variant.
- Disconnect wiring from any existing mechanical chime, and connect wires according to digital chime wiring directions instead.
6. Test In Warm Area
While very rare, extreme cold weather conditions can potentially interfere with normal operation for any Ring doorbell model – including sporadic failure to ring or chime.
If issues persist across the wired troubleshooting tips above, and you notice the problem occurring mainly during extreme cold snaps:
- As a test, bring the Ring unit indoors and connect the wiring to digital chime in a warm room.
- Check if rings are indoors properly in warm ambient temperatures.
- If so, the outdoor cold conditions may be a transient factor, so continue testing when the weather improves.
By methodically trying each solution above that applies to your particular wired Ring setup, you can usually resolve instances of Ring doorbells failing to ring or chime as expected when the outdoor button is pressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to 10 of the most common questions surrounding issues with Ring doorbells not ringing inside your house:
- FAQ1: Why does my Ring doorbell not ring inside the house?
For battery models, a Ring Chime accessory must be purchased to hear indoor rings without an existing wired chime/doorbell setup. Check wireless settings if the battery is ruled out. For wired models, issues with wiring connections or voltage are most likely – inspect wires and transformer.
- FAQ2: Why won’t my Ring video doorbell ring my internal doorbell?
Hardwired Rings are designed to activate existing mechanical or digital internal chimes. Faulty wiring connections, insufficient transformer voltage, or outdated mechanical chime hardware can all prevent wired Rings from ringing properly inside.
- FAQ3: Why is my Ring 2 doorbell not ringing inside?
The Ring 2 relies on wiring to existing indoor mechanical chimes to hear rings inside. Faulty wiring and outdated transformers are common. Inspect connections, replace the 16V-24V transformer, or add a plug-in digital Ring Chime if issues persist across troubleshooting.
- FAQ4: Why does my Ring doorbell keep ringing inside?
For wired Rings with mechanical chimes, vibrations from slamming doors or worn striker parts can activate the solenoid and cause occasional false rings. Adjust the striking position, replace the solenoid plunger, or upgrade the mechanical chime to prevent false rings.
- FAQ5: Why does my Ring doorbell randomly ring?
Sporadic unexplained rings typically occur from false motion or mechanical chime activation as covered above. Alternatively, a defective button sticking inward can cause occasional phantom rings. Try cleaning the button assembly with an electrical contact cleaner to resolve sticky mechanical issues.
- FAQ6: How can I get my battery-powered Ring to ring inside?
Battery Rings cannot interface with indoor wired chimes or ring mechanically inside your home without an additional accessory. Install a plug-in Ring Chime, Chime Pro, or Chime (2nd gen) digital model based on the steps outlined earlier.
- FAQ7: Why did my Ring doorbell stop ringing inside?
Assuming an indoor Ring Chime accessory is installed, then failed batteries, WiFi dropout, extreme cold, or faulty Chime hardware itself could cause existing internal rings/chimes to suddenly cease. Methodically troubleshoot each factor as covered in battery-powered Ring troubleshooting tips.
- FAQ8: Why does my Ring doorbell keep disconnecting from the chime?
Intermittent connectivity loss between Ring and add-on Ring Chime accessories is often caused by placement being near the limit of wireless range. Relocate the Chime closer to the doorbell, or install a Ring Chime Pro which also repeats the WiFi signal for stronger connectivity.
- FAQ9: How can I make my wired Ring doorbell louder?
If an existing wired digital or mechanical doorbell chime triggered by your Ring isn’t sufficiently loud, you can add a plug-in Ring Chime accessory to amplify the volume. Alternatively, adjust the chime location for better sound projection or install new higher output modern chime hardware.
- FAQ10: How can I stop my wired Ring doorbell from shocking me?
Tingling sensations when touching your wired Ring button or casing happen when the Doorbell wiring lacks a proper safety ground. Consult an electrician to thoroughly inspect the wiring for faults and correctly ground the system to prevent shocking hazards.
Also Check: Why Does My Ooze Pen Keep Blinking Green
Conclusion
Hearing a proper audible ring or chime from your Ring Video Doorbell whenever someone presses the outdoor button is a core functionality families rely on daily.
Hopefully, this guide has given you comprehensive troubleshooting advice to resolve any issues with battery or wired Ring models failing to ring inside as expected – whether due to missing accessories, WiFi problems, extreme weather, or wiring woes.
Be sure to methodically work through each solution outlined above for your particular Ring setup. Reach out to Ring customer support if issues persist.
By taking advantage of the latest Ring innovations while also diligently maintaining the underlying connectivity, power, and integration hardware, you can enjoy many years of reliable service from this versatile smart home monitoring system – never missing a visitor or delivery again!
