If your Ring Alarm system won't arm, shows sensors as offline, or the base station isn't responding, this guide will help you troubleshoot and fix the most common issues.
Base Station Shows Offline or Red Light
The Ring Alarm Base Station is the central hub that connects all your sensors. If it's showing offline in the app or has a red light:
- Check that the base station is plugged in and the power adapter is securely connected
- Verify your internet connection is working - try connecting another device to the same network
- If using ethernet, ensure the cable is firmly connected to both the base station and router
- Power cycle the base station by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in
- Wait 5-10 minutes for the base station to fully reconnect after power cycling
Contact Sensors Showing Offline or Open When Closed
Contact sensors on doors and windows can show incorrect status or go offline:
- Check the battery level in the Ring app - replace batteries if below 20%
- Ensure the sensor and magnet are aligned properly and within 1 inch of each other
- Remove and re-add the sensor if it persistently shows incorrect status
- Check for metal door frames or thick doors that may interfere with the signal
- Move the base station closer to problem sensors if they're at the edge of range
Motion Detectors Not Detecting Movement
If motion detectors aren't triggering when they should:
- Verify the motion detector is enabled in your Ring app settings
- Check that motion sensitivity is set appropriately (not too low)
- Ensure the sensor isn't pointing at heat sources like vents or sunny windows
- Mount the sensor 7 feet high and angled slightly downward for best coverage
- Replace batteries if the sensor shows low battery warning
System Won't Arm - Entry Delay Issues
If the system refuses to arm or gives constant entry delay warnings:
- Check that all sensors show as closed/secure in the app before arming
- Look for any sensors showing "Tampered" status and reseat them
- Verify your entry/exit delay settings are configured correctly
- Temporarily bypass problem sensors to arm the system while troubleshooting
- Remove and re-pair any sensor that consistently prevents arming
Keypad Not Responding or Beeping
Ring Alarm Keypad issues are usually easy to fix:
- Check the keypad battery level and replace if needed
- Power cycle the keypad by removing batteries for 30 seconds
- Re-pair the keypad with your base station if it's unresponsive
- Ensure you're entering the correct PIN code
- Update the Ring app and check for any firmware updates
Professional Monitoring Not Working
If you have Ring Protect Plus but monitoring doesn't seem active:
- Verify your subscription is active in Account Settings
- Check that your monitoring address is correct in the app
- Ensure cellular backup is enabled if you have connectivity issues
- Test the system using the built-in test mode in the Ring app
- Contact Ring support if monitoring fails to respond during a test
Factory Reset and Reconfiguration
As a last resort, you can factory reset the base station:
- Press and hold the reset button on the back of the base station for 10 seconds
- Wait for the front light to flash, indicating reset is complete
- Set up the base station again through the Ring app
- Re-add all sensors one by one
- Reconfigure your modes, entry delays, and notification settings