Even the smartest home devices aren’t infallible, and you may spend some time scratching your head over a failed connection to your Wi-Fi, especially when it comes to your Ring Base Station that came with your Ring Alarm system. One of the most common ways to get your connection up and running again is resetting your Base Station’s Wi-Fi.

If you’re having trouble getting the Ring Base Station to connect with your Wi-Fi, we’ve put together a list of four troubleshooting items for you to try to get your Ring system connected, including how to reset your Ring Base Station and its Wi-Fi connection.

Reset the Router and the Ring Base Station

You will need to reset both the Ring Base Station and the router. Always shut down the router first and reboot the router before the Base Station.

  • Unplug the router and also remove the cable connection.Reset the Ring Base Station. To reset a Ring Base Station, insert a pin into the tiny hole on the back and hold it in for a minimum of ten seconds. You’ll know that the reset is complete when the LED (on the front of the device) turns red.Once the Base Station is reset, unplug it. Make sure it is not connected to the router via ethernet cable.After five minutes, reconnect the cable to the back of the router and plug it back in.Wait for the router to boot up with all of the LED indicators in green.Power up the Ring Base Station.Attempt to reconnect the Base Station and router with the Ring app.

Like rebooting a smartphone, resetting a Ring Base Station and the router will solve 90% of connection problems. It helps by reducing the “cache” or “short-term memory” of the router. Also, a rebooted router will choose the best channel for reduced traffic flow.

Address Wi-Fi Interference and Distance

When initially setting up the Ring Base Station, distance and potential interference are two of your primary considerations. You can set the Base Station up to 30’ from the router; however, you’ll want to make sure it has a strong connection with your Wi-Fi network.

The more layers of material the Wi-Fi signal has to pass through, the weaker the signal. If you’re still having trouble, try connecting and setting up the Base Station directly to your router with an ethernet cable.

All of the Ring Alarm System Kits come with a Ring Range Extender for an additional 250’ of coverage, so connecting the Base Station to the router with an ethernet cable shouldn’t pose any problems with range.

An ethernet-connected Base Station also gives you the most stable, reliable connection with the internet that you can get.

Check Your Bluetooth Settings

Bluetooth access is required for your smartphone to communicate with the Ring Base Station during setup. Often, it’s not the Wi-Fi that’s the problem; it’s the Bluetooth.

  • On the back of the Ring Base Station, there is a button labeled “pairing.” Make sure that you press this button when you’re getting ready to pair the Base Station with your phone.Make sure that your smartphone’s Bluetooth is enabled and active.When you start the installation process, don’t take long breaks or move too far away from the Base Station as it may interrupt the Bluetooth connection or pairing process.

Once you’re done setting the Base Station up, you won’t need to pair the device to your phone again or maintain any kind of Bluetooth connection in the future.

Change Your Bandwidth

The Ring Base Station only connects at the 2.4GHz range, so it won’t connect if your router is set to automatic or 5.0GHz.

The best way to determine your bandwidth and switch it is by visiting your Wi-Fi network online. The address and password should be located at the bottom or back of your router. Once you’ve accessed your router settings, you can set different passwords for each bandwidth, turn one frequency off, or turn off the “automatic” feature.

Now, when your Ring Base Station searches for Wi-Fi networks, both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz should pop up, each with their password. Make sure to connect to the 2.4GHz bandwidth.

Final Thoughts

Most Wi-Fi connection issues are solved by troubleshooting these methods, especially a standard reset on both devices.

In the worst-case scenario—or if you discover that your equipment is faulty—you’ll have to contact Ring Customer Service to check your warranty coverage and get assistance. Hopefully, such a scenario would be a rare occurrence, and the troubleshooting steps above will get your Ring Base Station connected so you can start enjoying the peace of mind that comes with a solid security setup.