If you have the Ring Alarm system, you probably have a few door sensors that came with it. These sensors let you know when a door or window has been opened, which can trigger the alarm when armed. However, if they’re not working or connecting to your alarm system, you may want to reset them to ensure they work again.  

Below, we’ll cover exactly how to reset different generations of Ring door sensors, as well as when you should reset and what the reset does.

How to Factory Reset First-Generation Ring Door Sensor

Follow these steps to reset a first-generation Ring contact sensor:

  • Remove the cover from the device.Remove the battery from the device.Press and hold the tamper button that’s found near the antenna.While holding the tamper button, insert the battery.Hold the LED button until the LED light stops flashing. You might see a solid light or no light.Put the cover back on the device.

How to Factory Reset Second-Generation Ring Door Sensor

If you own the second-generation Ring sensor, you will need to follow these steps:

  • Remove the cover from the device.Press and hold the reset button. You will need a paperclip or the pinhole tool that came with the sensor if you still have it.Wait until the LED light flashes green.Continue holding down the reset button until the LED light turns red.Put the cover back on the device.

How Do I Know Which Generation of Sensors I Own?

The easiest way to know which generation of sensors you own is by looking at their visual appearance. Both are white and have a magnet and a sensor end.

However, in comparison to the first generation, the second generation:

  • Is more square in shapeIs much thinnerHas the Ring logo on the bottom left corner of the sensor sideHas a small circle on the top left side of the sensor side

If you have the first generation, your sensor will look:

  • Much thickerLong and rectangularHas the Ring logo in the middle of the sensor side

If you aren’t sure which sensor you own, you can check out the troubleshooting guides for the first generation and second generation to see photos.

You can also refer to your user manual if you still have it, as it will tell you which one you have. Keep in mind that sensors can pair with base stations and Ring devices that are in different generations than them. So, always check the generation of the sensor itself and don’t go by the other devices you own.

What Will Resetting a Ring Door Sensor Do?

The reset button on a Ring sensor will restore all the settings to their original out-of-the-box settings; this means you will need to reconnect them to your Ring app and Alarm.

Basically, it will be like you just bought a new sensor and are setting it up for the first time. Since setting up sensors in the app and the house can take some time, it’s important that you don’t reset the device unless you have to.

When is a Reset Necessary for Ring Door Sensors?

If you are having trouble getting the sensor to connect, you can try simply removing the battery and inserting it before resetting. Battery removal will only restart the device and keep your settings.

However, sometimes a factory reset is necessary, such as in these cases:

  • You have already tried restarting the sensor, and it didn’t help the problem.You already disconnected it and reconnected it and are still experiencing issues.You have called Ring Support, and they recommend you do a factory reset.You are experiencing ongoing connectivity issues.You are selling or giving away the sensor to a new user.

If a factory reset does not fix the issue you’re having, you might need to contact Ring support again.

Conclusion

Resetting your Ring door sensor is a great way to fix connectivity issues and other problems. While the first- and second-generation reset processes are slightly different, both involve holding the reset button until you see the LED light change or stop flashing. Remember to always hold the button until you see the change in light and place the cover back on when you’re done.