A question people often ask in the forums is “can Alexa change Ring camera modes?”
The answer is yes, but you will need to create a four-digit passcode. This is a security measure that stops someone outside your house from changing your Ring modes.
In this article I’ll be showing you step-by-step how to set up the Ring app and the Alexa app so that Alexa can change your Ring modes.
But first of all, what are Ring camera modes and how do they work?
What Are Ring Camera Modes?
Ring produces a range of smart security devices, including video doorbells, security cameras and alarms. These devices are very affordably-priced and allow you to create a ‘ring’ of security around your house.
But when you leave home you need to arm these devices and when you return home you need to disarm them. If you have multiple ring devices, that quickly becomes a major chore every time you leave the house or come home.
With every new Ring device you add to your home, the routine for arming them and disarming them becomes more and more unmanageable.
And that’s why Ring added ‘Modes’ to the Ring App. With a single tap of a button in the Ring app, you can arm or disarm all your Ring devices at once.
How Do Ring Camera Modes Work?
In the Ring app there are three ‘Ring Modes’: Disarmed, Home, and Away. Each comes with default settings but you can customize these settings to suit your own needs.
- Disarmed Mode: all your Ring devices are temporarily disabled
- Home Mode: prevents inside cameras from recording, detecting motion, or showing Live View (for reasons of privacy)
- Away Mode: all external devices are armed including your Ring Video Doorbell.
Image credit: Ring
To turn on Ring Modes:
- Open the Ring app and go to Settings > Modes
- Scroll down and tap ‘Enable Mode Settings for Cameras’
- Tap ‘Default Mode Settings’ or if you want to to change the default settings, tap ‘Customize Mode Settings’
How To Use Alexa To Change Ring Camera Modes
You can use Alexa to change your Ring Modes but you will have to create a passcode that you include in your voice command. This is to prevent the possibility of someone outside your house telling Alexa to change the Ring Mode.
Here are instructions on how to get Alexa to change your Ring Camera modes:
- Open the Alexa app and enable ‘Ring Skill’ and link your Ring and Alexa accounts:
- Tap Skills & Games on the main menu
- In the search box, search for Ring
- When you have found Ring, tap ‘Enable’
- Alexa will now ask you to sign into your Ring account (this will link your Ring account to your Alexa account)
- Once you have signed into your Ring account, tap on the ‘Discover Devices’ button.
- Your Ring devices should now appear and be connected to Alexa automatically.
- If you don’t want Alexa to integrate with a particular Ring device, simply tap the ‘Forget’ button next the device
You now need to set up a passcode in the Alexa app that allows Alexa to change your Ring Modes:
- In the Alexa app, tap ‘Devices’ then ‘All Devices’
- Select the devices that you want to arm and disarm using your voice
- Toggle “Disarm by Voice” to the On position
- You will be asked to enter a 4-digit passcode
You can now arm and disarm all your Ring devices with a simple voice command. To change the mode for your Ring doorbell and Ring cameras, simply say “Alexa, arm Ring” or “Alexa, disarm Ring”. However, when using the disarm command you will have to say the four-digit code you entered in Step 4 above.
And that’s it – that’s how to use Alexa to change your Ring camera modes.
Conclusion
If you were wondering can Alexa change Ring camera modes, the answer is yes.
Ring modes are a convenient way to arm and disarm all your Ring devices with a single command.
This article has shown you how to set up the Alexa app and the Ring app so that Alexa can change your Ring camera modes with a voice command.
If you would like to learn more about Alexa, see my article: ‘7 Best Smart Doorbells That Work With Alexa’.