9 easy fixes for when your video doorbell goes offline

You may be wondering, "Why is my Arlo, Google Nest, or Ring doorbell offline?" Any video doorbell is subject to issues like this. Sure, this dreaded alert is annoying, but the bigger concern is that your home isn’t being securely monitored when this happens. Considering video doorbells are one of top devices designed to keep your house safe, this could leave you and your family vulnerable to porch pirates or intruders.

But what is the cause of this offline situation? That’s the million-dollar question, and your quest for answers could lead you down any number of time-consuming rabbit holes. Instead, try these nine troubleshooting hacks that should have your video doorbell back online and in “protection mode” quickly.

1. Is your Wi-Fi working?

Start here, as this may be your easiest fix. To test your home Wi-Fi, use a free browser, like Speedtest, to test your connection and examine your internet speed.

Be sure to disconnect any VPNs first and verify that you’re using Wi-Fi rather than cellular data. It’s also never a bad idea to reset your Wi-Fi router just to give it a fresh start. Simply unplug it, wait 30 seconds and plug it back in.

2. Have you changed your Wi-Fi password?

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but if you’ve changed your Wi-Fi password recently, then you need to update your app with the new password so that it connects with your device again.

Haven’t changed it? Make sure other members of your family (like your clever kids!) haven’t either.

3. Do you need a Wi-Fi extender?

Another potential Wi-Fi-related issue could be your signal strength, so double-check to ensure you have enough bandwidth coming into your house. Use the same speed test listed above to check your speed and ping in several different rooms (including near your doorbell) to determine if the speed slows down the further you move away from the router. If so, you will either need to move your router to a more central location or invest in a Wi-Fi extender, like the TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Extender.

TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Extender

Boost your Wi-Fi coverage by up to 1200 square feet and connect up to 20 devices at a time.

$35 at Amazon

4. Is your battery low?

If you have a battery-powered smart doorbell, like the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus or the Wyze Wireless Video Doorbell, you may be asking yourself, "Why is my Wyze or Ring doorbell offline?" Check to see if the battery has been drained and needs to be recharged or replaced. Fluctuations in weather can adversely affect your battery life (most especially when temperatures dip below freezing), so it’s possible it just needs a fresh charge if the seasons have recently changed.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: $180 at Amazon

Wyze Wireless Video Doorbell: $100 at Amazon

5. Is the power source OK?

For video doorbells that are plugged into a power source, like the Ring Video Doorbell Wired or Nest Video Doorbell Wired, make sure that the power is switched on at the breaker. If there’s no power to part of your house or your entire house, then either the circuit breaker tripped or you’re experiencing a power outage and there’s nothing wrong with the rest of your setup.

Google Nest Doorbell: $180 at Amazon

Ring Video Doorbell Wired: $65 at Amazon

6. Are any wires loose?

Is your Google Nest, Blink, or Ring doorbell offline? Check to see if a wire has come loose, which could certainly cause your video doorbell to go offline. Wires are finicky creatures and don’t always like to stay exactly where you originally placed them. You may need a screwdriver to tighten the wires back into place.

Though most doorbell wires are low voltage, it’s best to flip the breaker and shut off the power before you handle wires.

Klein Tools 32500 11-in-1 Screwdriver

Multi-bit screwdriver with eight interchangeable tips.

$25 at Amazon

7. How’s your voltage?

Voltage issues aren’t a common problem with smart doorbells, but they can occur, leaving yours without sufficient power. Your doorbell will state which voltage is required, so be sure yours meets those specifications.

For instance, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro requires a doorbell transformer rated at 16-24 VAC 50/60HZ, 10-40VA max while the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 requires a doorbell transformer rated at 16-24 VAC 50/60HZ, 30-40VA max.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2: $250 at Amazon

Ring Video Doorbell Pro: $170 at Amazon

8. Is your video doorbell overdue for a software update?

Your video doorbell requires regular firmware updates, which the manufacturer releases when they add features, improve current ones, or troubleshoot problems. See if there’s an update available in the app that could help improve the functionality of your device.

9. Still stumped? Call customer support

There’s one final step if all else has failed: Contact the customer support department of your device’s manufacturer. They will probably ask if you’ve completed all of the aforementioned steps and may even ask you to perform a few of them again.

From there, they should be able to resolve your lingering connectivity issue or explain what further steps need to be taken to get back—and stay—online.