Integrating your Ring doorbell with Amazon Alexa opens up a world of convenient home security features. One of the most useful functionalities is using your Alexa devices as a chime for your Ring doorbell. This means you can get instant alerts throughout your home whenever someone rings your doorbell, ensuring you never miss a visitor, no matter where you are. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to set up Alexa as your Ring doorbell chime and explore the various ways you can customize this feature to enhance your home security system.
Setting Up Alexa as a Ring Doorbell Chime: A Step-by-Step Guide
Turning your Alexa devices into chimes for your Ring doorbell is a straightforward process that involves linking your accounts and enabling the necessary skills. Here’s how to get started:
1. Download and Install the Alexa App
First, ensure you have the Alexa app installed on your smartphone or tablet. This app is your central hub for managing Alexa devices and settings. You can download it from the Apple App Store for iOS devices or the Google Play Store for Android devices. Make sure your mobile device’s operating system is up to date for optimal compatibility, and it’s also recommended to ensure you have the latest version of the Ring app installed as well.
2. Enable the Ring Skill in the Alexa App
To connect Ring to Alexa, you need to enable the Ring Skill within the Alexa app. Follow these steps:
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Open the Alexa app and tap More located at the bottom of the screen.
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Select Skills & Games from the menu.
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In the Search Alexa Skills bar, type Ring and search.
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Tap on the Ring skill logo.
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Select Enable to Use.
Alt text: Enabling the Ring Skill in the Alexa app is shown with a step-by-step screenshot, highlighting the “Enable to Use” button.
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You’ll be prompted to sign in with your Ring account credentials. This step links your Ring account to your Amazon account. Tap Enable Skill and Link Accounts. If your accounts are already linked, you might just see Enable Skill.
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Tap Authorize after logging into your Ring account to grant Alexa permissions to access your Ring devices.
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Tap Close at the bottom of the confirmation page.
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Finally, tap Discover Devices. Alexa will now search for and recognize your Ring devices.
Alt text: Discovering Ring devices in the Alexa app is displayed with a screenshot showing the “Discover Devices” button.
If your Ring devices don’t appear immediately, you can say, “Alexa, discover my devices,” or manually tap the Devices icon in the Alexa app to initiate device discovery.
Activating Ring Doorbell Chime Notifications on Alexa
With the accounts linked and devices discovered, you can now set up announcements to receive chime notifications on your Alexa devices when someone presses your Ring doorbell or when motion is detected by your Ring camera.
Here’s how to activate these announcements:
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Open the Alexa app and tap the Devices icon at the bottom of the screen.
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Locate and tap on the name of your Ring doorbell or camera from the device list.
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Tap the gear icon (⚙️) in the top right corner to access settings.
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Toggle on Doorbell Press Notifications to get alerted when someone rings your doorbell.
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You can also toggle on Motion Announcements if you want Alexa to announce when motion is detected by your Ring device.
Alt text: Enabling Doorbell Press Notifications is shown in the Alexa app settings for a Ring device, highlighting the toggle switch.
Important Note: For each Alexa device you want to function as a chime, ensure that Communications and Announcements are enabled and the Do Not Disturb feature is turned off within the Alexa app settings for that specific device. This ensures that notifications are not blocked.
Customizing Your Alexa Ring Doorbell Chime Experience
Beyond just receiving chime notifications, integrating Alexa with your Ring doorbell allows for a range of interactive features:
Answer Your Door with Alexa
You can use voice commands to answer your Ring doorbell through your Echo or Fire TV devices. When you receive a chime notification, simply say:
- “Alexa, answer [Ring Doorbell Name].”
- “Alexa, talk to [Ring Doorbell Name].”
This lets you speak to visitors at your door, no matter where you are in your home, adding an extra layer of security and convenience.
Live View on Alexa Devices with Screens
If you have Alexa devices with screens, such as Echo Show, Fire TV, or Fire Tablets, you can view a live video feed from your Ring doorbell or security camera. To see the live view, use commands like:
- “Alexa, show [Ring Doorbell Name].”
- “Alexa, show my [Front Door].” (using your device’s location label)
To stop the live feed, you can say:
- “Alexa, hide [Ring Doorbell Name].”
- “Alexa, stop.”
This visual confirmation adds another dimension to your home security, allowing you to see who is at your door before you even answer.
Arm and Disarm Ring Modes with Alexa
For users with Ring Alarm, Alexa integration extends to arming and disarming your Ring security modes. You can control your Ring modes using voice commands, such as:
- “Alexa, arm Ring.”
- “Alexa, disarm Ring.”
This feature provides hands-free control over your entire Ring security system, making it easier to manage your home’s security status.
Troubleshooting Alexa Ring Chime Issues
While the setup is generally smooth, you might encounter a few issues. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:
- Device Discovery Issues: If Alexa doesn’t discover your Ring devices, try saying, “Alexa, discover my devices” again. Ensure both your Ring and Alexa devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and that your Ring and Amazon accounts are linked to the same email address.
- Delayed Notifications: If your Ring doorbell’s battery is low, it may take a little longer for Alexa to respond and chime. Keep your Ring doorbell charged for optimal performance.
- Alexa Not Chiming: Double-check that you have enabled Doorbell Press Notifications and Motion Announcements in the Alexa app for your Ring device. Also, verify that “Communications and Announcements” are enabled and “Do Not Disturb” is off on your Alexa device.
Conclusion
Using Alexa as a chime for your Ring doorbell is a powerful way to enhance your home’s smart security. It provides convenient notifications, hands-free communication with visitors, and seamless integration with other smart home features. By following these simple steps, you can easily set up Alexa as your Ring doorbell chime and enjoy a more connected and secure home. Start integrating your devices today and experience the enhanced convenience and security that Ring and Alexa bring together.
