If your Ring Wired Doorbell (2nd Gen) is showing this problem, working through the checks below in order will resolve it in the large majority of cases. Each step is safe to carry out yourself and is verified against Ring’s official support guidance.
What This Problem Means
Ring devices use passive infrared (PIR) sensors and, on some models, advanced motion detection to identify people, vehicles and other movement. When motion is not detected, it is almost always a settings, zone or sensitivity issue rather than a sensor fault.
Common Symptoms
- No motion alerts received despite people approaching
- Motion events not being recorded
- Motion Detected shown in event history at unexpected times but not when expected
- Snapshot images not updating
- Motion zones appear correctly set but alerts are still missed
Safe Checks You Can Try
1. Check motion settings in the Ring app
Open the Ring app, tap your device and go to Motion Settings. Confirm Motion Detection is toggled on. Check motion zones cover the correct area and sensitivity is appropriate.
2. Check Smart Alerts settings
If Smart Alerts is enabled, the device filters motion by category. Disable Smart Alerts or broaden detection categories if alerts are being missed.
3. Check Motion Frequency setting
Ensure Motion Frequency is not set to Periodically or Rarely, as this will cause the device to skip some motion events.
4. Check device placement and angle
Ring PIR sensors work best when movement crosses the field of view. Adjust the angle or use a wedge/corner kit if needed.
5. Check power supply
Open Device Health and confirm Power Source shows as Good. Insufficient power can reduce motion detection performance.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
When To Contact Support
If the issue persists after working through all the checks above, contact Ring support for further help. Your device may be eligible for a replacement if it is within its one-year warranty.