Why Your Ring Doorbell Keeps Going Offline — and the Simple Fix Most Homeowners Miss
If your Ring doorbell seems to go offline for no reason randomly, you’re not alone. This issue drives many smart home users (and even IT professionals like me) absolutely crazy. One week it’s working perfectly — the next week it decides to take a nap right when someone’s at your front door.
As it turns out, this common problem isn’t about Wi-Fi at all. It’s about power.
💡 The Hidden Culprit: A Weak Doorbell Transformer
Most people assume their Ring doorbell connects and disconnects because of bad internet. But in many cases, the real issue is that your doorbell transformer isn’t providing enough power.
Here’s how you can check:
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Open your Ring app on your phone.
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Tap your doorbell device.
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Go to Device Health.
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Look for the Voltage reading.
If your output level is 3 volts or worse, that means your Ring is power-starved. For stable operation, you want it closer to 1 (the lower the number, the stronger the output).
⚙️ How to Fix It
If your transformer is weak, you’ll need to upgrade it.
Older homes — especially those built more than five years ago — often come with smaller transformers that can’t supply the steady current a modern Ring doorbell needs. Newer homes typically have beefier transformers that keep the Ring happy and online 24/7.
You’ll usually find your transformer high up on a wall or inside a utility closet. It can take some hunting, but once you locate it, replacing it with a higher-rated transformer (16-24V, 30VA) should solve the problem for good.
After upgrading, you’ll notice:
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Faster response times when someone rings.
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Fewer random “offline” alerts.
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A more reliable live view feed.
🛠️ When to Call a Pro
If you’re not comfortable working with electrical wiring, this is a quick job for a local tech. Our team at ADS Consulting Group helps Los Angeles homeowners and small businesses troubleshoot smart devices like Ring, Nest, and Arlo systems all the time.
We can safely upgrade your transformer, optimize your Wi-Fi network, and make sure all your connected devices stay online — reliably.
📍 Local Insight: Why This Happens in L.A.
Many homes in the Los Angeles area still have original wiring from decades ago. Between older doorbell circuits, variable voltage, and our dry, power-fluctuating summers, Ring devices here tend to struggle more than in newer markets.
If your Ring doorbell keeps going offline, chances are you’re dealing with one of those older transformer setups.
✅ Final Tip
So before you spend hours rebooting your Ring or resetting your Wi-Fi, check your doorbell transformer first.
A small power upgrade could save you a ton of frustration — and keep your smart home running the way it should.