Ring Doorbell on TV

Smart homes are becoming a common thing among people. They make the most common tasks more comfortable, but they also help provide an extra layer of security to the home’s infrastructure. Most homeowners want to set up a smart home because they can protect their home from many risk factors, such as watching who’s ringing the doorbell, make sure the lights are off when the family is not there, etc.

One of the most popular smart home items is the Ring Doorbell. In essence, the Ring Doorbell can help you know who is at your door without needing to be in your home. Simply going to your phone app or TV is enough to check Ring Doorbell’s camera feed. While the most common choice for users is to watch the feed on their Ring app, some other users would want to check the camera’s feed on different devices, such as their Smart TV.

To view Ring Camera on TV, you only need to follow some simple steps. However, the steps may be slightly different from device to device. In this article, we’re providing a step-by-step guide on how to set up your Ring alarm camera on TV so that you can have easier access to the camera’s feed of your front door if you want to.

Looking for a smart doorbell? Check out our review of the best smart doorbells that work with Apple HomeKit

How Do You Get the Ring Doorbell On TV?

To make it clear: Yes, you can watch your Ring Doorbell on TV. Keep in mind that this feature may not be available to every TV model out there, so you have to check if you have one of the compatible devices. If you do have a compatible device, keep reading!

First, keep in mind that there are several Ring Video Doorbell models on the market; while each one does essentially the same task, there are some minor differences that you have to keep in mind. Here is an overview of the compatible Ring Video Doorbell devices.

Ring Video Doorbell (Second and Third Gen)

This is the standard version of the Ring Video Doorbell. It features 1080p video, a 160-degree field of view, up to 30 feet of night vision, two speakers, an internal chime, and a microphone. The Ring Video Doorbell 2-3 is battery-powered, but the battery is relatively easy to change, so you’re not going to have any issues battery-wise.

The main difference between the Ring Video Doorbell 2-3 and the original Ring Video Doorbell is that the original one features a 720p video feed, as opposed to the Ring 2-3’s 1080p. On the other hand, the original Ring Video Doorbell provides a higher vision field than the second-generation one. However, most users don’t mind the downgrade since the Full HD resolution makes up for it.

The Ring Video Doorbell 2-3 is only compatible with the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. It doesn’t support native compatibility with Samsung Smart TV’s.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro gives a slight boost to the Ring Doorbell 2’s features. While it offers the same 1080p video feed, motion alerts, and microphone, the main difference comes into its power source. The Ring Doorbell Pro allows you to connect it to an existing doorbell chime circuit since it doesn’t have a battery, which saves you the hassle of having to charge the battery every once in a while.

The Ring Doorbell Pro is compatible with the Amazon Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick, but it also offers native compatibility with Samsung Smart TV’s through their “SmartThings” app. Overall, both Ring devices use the same features, with the difference that the Ring Doorbell Pro can be directly connected to the chime box of your doorbell.

Ring Video Doorbell Elite

Last but not least, the Ring Doorbell Elite is the most “premium” device of the list. The main difference between this model and the previous ones is that the “Elite” version connects through Ethernet, which is considered a safer method of connection.

How Can You Tell Which Ring Doorbell You Have?

Since the Ring Doorbell devices are relatively new technology, some users may have difficulty telling each model apart since they are very similar. Thankfully, it’s easy to tell which Ring Doorbell device you own. When you buy your Ring Doorbell device, you can look at its back. The original Ring Doorbell has a slightly different sensor placement on the back than the second and third-gen.

Telling the difference between the more expensive models is easier since neither the Ring Doorbell Pro and the Ring Doorbell Elite use a removable battery to work. The “Pro” model connects directly to your home’s chime box, whereas the “Elite” model connects through Ethernet.

Device Compatibility

Now that we know how the devices work, it’s time we take a more in-depth look at device compatibility. If you have a Smart TV, you’re already halfway through the installation of your Ring device; if you don’t have a Smart TV or a Fire TV Stick, you are not going to be able to connect to your Ring Doorbell device since you need to be connected to the internet for it to work.

Samsung Smart TVs

Most Samsung Smart TV’s are compatible with Ring Doorbell through their “SmartThings” app. If you have this type of Smart TV, you can easily connect your device and watch your front door’s live feed in a few seconds. Keep in mind that Samsung Smart TV’s are only compatible with the Ring Doorbell Pro; the original Ring Doorbell from the first to the third-gen are not compatible.

Amazon Fire TV

There are some Smart TV’s that come with the Amazon Fire TV Stick built in their system, which means that you don’t have to get a separate Fire TV Stick for your Ring Doorbell app to work. Amazon Fire TV’s come with Alexa pre-installed, so setting up the Ring app is relatively easy if you use this kind of TV.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

If you don’t have either of the options above, you can still use an Amazon Fire TV Stick with your compatible TV to access the Ring app through Alexa. The setup process takes a few minutes, and it’s reasonably easy to do by anyone.

How To Connect Ring Doorbell to Your TV

Now that you know everything about the Ring Doorbell, it’s time that you know how to set it up on each compatible device! Make sure that you follow each step carefully so that you avoid any possible mistakes.

Connecting With a Samsung Smart TV

Connecting to the Ring app with a Samsung Smart TV takes a few extra steps since it’s not pre-built with Alexa, which is the primary way to access your front door’s video feed.

Step One – Set Up the Ring App

1. The first and most important step is to download and launch the Ring app on your compatible smartphone. This app is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones. To look up this app, you can go into either device’s app store, and search for “Ring.”
2. After you downloaded the app and opened it, you are going to be prompted to either create an account or log in if you already have one. If you don’t have an account, the app provides a user-friendly interface where you can input all your data.
3. When you’ve finished the setup process, go into the “Doorbells” section of the app to add your device (If you already installed it in your home).

Step Two – Set Up the SmartThings App

To check the video feed of your front door with the Ring Doorbell app, you need to set up Samsung’s SmartThings app.

1. To start, go into your smartphone again and look for the “SmartThings” app. If you have a Samsung smartphone, it’s likely that you already have it installed. If you don’t have a Samsung smartphone, you can go into your App Store to download the app.
2. After downloading the app, you’re going to be prompted to add your Samsung account (If you have a Samsung Smart TV, you probably already have one).
3. When you’ve logged in, go into the “Devices” tab of the app. Click on “Add Device” and then on “Add Device Manually.” Choose the “Doorbells” tab and then go into “Ring.”
4. After clicking on the “Ring” button, you’re going to be prompted to input your Ring account information.

Step Three – Enabling Ring Doorbell

For the app to start working, you need to enable “Motion Detection” and “Doorbell Activation” on both apps.

1. Ring App: Go into the app, and click the “Doorbell” tab. After that, enable “Motion Alerts” and “Ring Alerts.”
2. SmartThings App: Go into the app, and click the “Settings” tab. Then, you can enable the “Ring” and “Motion” sliders.

After you’re done, a notification is going to hit your TV whenever there are motion events by your front door, or if someone presses the Ring Doorbell device.

Connecting With an Amazon Fire TV

Any Smart TV with a pre-built Fire TV Stick uses Alexa to work, so the setup process is fairly faster than with a Samsung Smart TV. All you have to do to get started is to enable the Ring Skill on the Alexa app.

Step One – Set Up the Alexa App

1. Download the Alexa app on your smartphone. After you have Alexa set up on your mobile device, go into the “Skills & Games” tab.
2. Go into the search tab and look for “Ring Skill.” When you find the Ring Skill, click on the big “Enable to Use” button.
3. Authorize Alexa to link to your Ring Doorbell device by clicking on the “Authorize” button.

Step Two – Set Up Your Amazon Fire TV

1. While on the Alexa app, click on “Discover Devices.” Your Amazon Fire TV should appear on the list. Click on it, and you’re done.

Step Three – Setting Up Voice Commands

The best thing about the Amazon Fire TV is that you can use voice commands to show you the feed of your front door automatically. Here’s how you do it:

1. Go into your Fire TV, and ask Alexa to show you the video feed. You can do this by saying “Alexa, show me the front door,” “Alexa, show me the backyard,” or simply “Alexa, show me (Your Ring Doorbell device’s name)

Connecting to Another Smart TV with an Amazon Fire TV Stick

The process to connect your Smart TV to your Ring Doorbell through an Amazon Fire TV Stick is the same as with a Smart TV with pre-built Fire TV. Here’s a quick rundown on how to do it.

1. Download, install, and set up your Alexa platform.
2. Search for the Ring Skill on the Alexa platform.
3. Authorize Alexa to link to your Ring device.
4. Log into your Amazon Fire TV account from your Smart TV.
5. Use Alexa to prompt your Smart TV to show you the feed of your front door through voice commands.

Connecting to Other Amazon Devices

If you own any Amazon devices aside from a Fire TV, you can connect to your Ring Doorbell too! For example, if you own an Amazon Echo Dot or Echo Show (you can even get the Echo Show bundled with the Ring Doorbell), you can issue Alexa to show you the live feed of your Ring Doorbell. You can also communicate with the person in your front door by using the device’s built-in microphone.

Can You View Ring Doorbell at Any Time?

Yes! Regardless if you have a Samsung Smart TV or an Amazon Fire TV, you can view your Ring Doorbell video feed at any time. If you have a Samsung Smart TV, every time someone presses the Ring Doorbell or if the device detects movement, you’re going to get a notification on your TV.

On the other hand, if you own an Amazon Fire TV, you can just ask Alexa to show you the feed of your Ring Doorbell device.

Common Issues

Smart TV or Fire TV Doesn’t Show the Video Feed of the Doorbell

If you can’t view the feed of your doorbell, there are some things that you can try. First, make sure that all your devices are connected to the same network.

If you own a Samsung TV, try to reboot the device and the wireless network to check if you can view the doorbell feed again. On the other hand, if you have a Fire TV, and Alexa doesn’t show anything, go into Settings – My Fire TV – Device, and check for a system update.

Alexa Doesn’t Understand My Voice Command

This is also a common problem; if Alexa doesn’t let you view your doorbell feed on your TV, try speaking slowly and more clearly. Alexa sometimes has issues understanding voice commands, which may be why it’s not showing your doorbell feed on your TV.

On the other hand, make sure that when you issue a voice command to Alexa, say the right name for your device. For example: If your Ring Doorbell is named “Front door,” and you only say “Door/doorbell,” Alexa may not understand your command and not show you the doorbell feed on your TV.

My Ring Doorbell’s Feed Has a Poor Connection

This usually happens if your TV or Ring Doorbell is too far away from your wireless router. If your devices are more than 30 feet away from each other, consider moving them closer together.

If you still can’t view the doorbell’s feed on your TV, consider resetting your router. In the last instance, contact the Samsung, Amazon, or Ring support team to check if the issue is coming from the Ring Doorbell device, the Samsung TV, or the Amazon Fire TV.

Conclusion

Ring Doorbell is a fantastic way to keep track of your home and add an extra layer of protection to it. If you own a compatible Smart TV or an Amazon Fire TV Stick, the chances are that you can link your Ring Doorbell device without any issues.

However, keep in mind that this kind of technology is still relatively new, so make sure that you get a Ring device that is compatible with your current TV. If you don’t do this, you may experience some connection issues, or your device may not work at all.