Plug in the battery pack to charge it outside the doorbell

Your Ring Doorbell battery charges separately from the doorbell itself. You remove the battery pack from inside the doorbell, plug it into a USB charger, and let it sit for five to ten hours until the light on the pack turns green. The battery pack is a small rectangular block about the size of a deck of cards — you'll find it tucked inside the doorbell housing once you open the faceplate.

You do not charge the doorbell while it's mounted on your door. The battery comes out, charges at a table or desk indoors, and goes back in when it's full. This is the standard method Ring designed for their battery-powered doorbells, and it's the only way to charge them unless you have a wired setup.

Most people charge the battery using any standard USB-A to micro-USB cable and a phone charger or computer port. The cable plugs into the bottom of the battery pack. If you don't have a micro-USB cable at home, they cost a few dollars at any electronics store or online retailer.

Key Takeaways

  • Remove the battery pack from inside your Ring Doorbell by opening the faceplate and sliding it out — you do not charge it while mounted on the door.
  • Plug the battery pack into any standard USB charger using a micro-USB cable, and wait five to ten hours until the indicator light turns green.
  • A fully charged battery typically lasts three to six months depending on how often your doorbell records video and how many motion events occur.
  • If your doorbell drains faster than expected, check your motion sensitivity settings and reduce them to extend battery life between charges.

How to remove the battery pack from your doorbell

Open the faceplate of your Ring Doorbell by gently pulling the bottom edge toward you. The faceplate is the front cover that faces your porch — it should pop off with light pressure. Once it's open, you'll see the battery pack sitting inside the housing. It's a rectangular block with a USB port on the bottom.

Slide the battery pack straight out toward you. There's no latch or clip holding it in place — it simply slides out of its slot. Set the faceplate aside somewhere safe so you don't lose it while the battery is charging. The doorbell will not work without the faceplate in place, so keep track of it.

Charging the battery pack step by step

Step 1: Locate a micro-USB cable. This is the small flat connector, not the larger USB-C. If you don't have one, check old phone chargers or tablet chargers — most older devices used micro-USB.

Step 2: Plug the micro-USB end into the port on the bottom of the battery pack. The port is small and rectangular, and the cable only fits one direction.

Step 3: Plug the other end of the cable into a USB power adapter (a phone charger) or directly into a computer USB port. Either works fine.

Step 4: Leave the battery charging for five to ten hours. A light on the battery pack will turn on while it's charging — usually red or orange. When the light turns green, the battery is full.

Step 5: Unplug the cable and slide the battery back into your doorbell. Push it straight in until it clicks or seats fully. Then snap the faceplate back on.

How long a full charge lasts

A fully charged battery typically lasts three to six months before you need to charge it again. The exact time depends on two main factors: how many times your doorbell records video, and how many motion events trigger recording each day.

If your doorbell is on a busy street or porch where people walk by constantly, the battery drains faster because it's recording more often. If it's on a quiet side door, the battery lasts longer. Similarly, if you have motion sensitivity turned up high, the doorbell records more clips and uses more power.

You can extend battery life by lowering your motion sensitivity in the Ring app. Open the app, go to your doorbell settings, find the motion detection section, and reduce the sensitivity level. This means fewer false alerts from passing cars or shadows, and your battery lasts longer between charges.

Signs your battery needs charging soon

The Ring app will send you a notification when the battery drops below 20 percent. This is your signal to charge it within the next few days. You don't have to wait for the notification — you can check the battery level anytime by opening the Ring app, tapping your doorbell, and looking at the battery percentage displayed on the main screen.

If your doorbell stops recording video or stops responding to motion, the battery is likely dead. Remove it and charge it fully. A dead battery doesn't mean the doorbell is broken — it just needs power.

What to do if your battery drains too fast

If your battery is dying in less than a month, something is using more power than normal. The most common cause is motion sensitivity set too high. Every time the doorbell detects motion — a car passing, a shadow moving, wind blowing a branch — it records a clip and uses battery power. Lower your motion sensitivity in the Ring app to reduce false recordings.

Another cause is frequent live view. If you're checking your doorbell camera multiple times a day by opening the app and watching the live feed, that uses significant battery power. Reduce how often you check live view, and your battery will last longer.

Cold weather also drains batteries faster. If you live somewhere with freezing temperatures, expect the battery to last shorter between charges. This is normal and not a sign of a problem — lithium batteries simply perform differently in cold.

Wired doorbell charging is different

If you have a wired Ring Doorbell (one that's hardwired to your home's existing doorbell wiring), you don't remove and charge a battery pack. Instead, the doorbell draws power directly from your home's electrical system through the wires behind your door frame. Wired doorbells never need charging because they're always plugged in.

If you're not sure whether your doorbell is wired or battery-powered, check whether wires are connected to the back of the unit. If yes, it's wired and doesn't need charging. If no wires are present, it's battery-powered and uses the removable pack described in this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I charge the battery while it's still in the doorbell?

No. Ring doorbells are designed so you must remove the battery pack to charge it. The doorbell housing doesn't have a charging port — only the battery pack does. Removing it takes about 30 seconds and is the only way to charge it.

What type of charger do I need?

Any standard USB phone charger works. You need a micro-USB cable (the small flat connector used on older phones and tablets) plugged into a USB power adapter. If you have an old phone charger in a drawer, it almost certainly has the right cable. Computer USB ports also work if you don't have a wall adapter.

How do I know when the battery is fully charged?

The indicator light on the battery pack turns green when it's fully charged. While charging, the light is usually red or orange. Once it turns green, the battery is ready to go back in your doorbell. This typically takes five to ten hours from completely dead.

Is it bad to leave the battery charging overnight?

No. Once the battery reaches full charge and the light turns green, it stops charging. Leaving it plugged in after that won't damage the battery or the charger. Many people charge their Ring batteries overnight for convenience.

What happens if I don't charge my battery for months?

If a battery sits uncharged for a very long time, it may lose its ability to hold a charge. Lithium batteries degrade when they're completely empty for extended periods. If you're not using your Ring Doorbell for several months, charge the battery fully before storing it, then charge it again every few months to keep it healthy.