How to connect Ring to Alexa
Ring doorbells connect to Alexa through the Ring app on your phone, not through Alexa itself. Open the Ring app, go to Menu > Devices, select your doorbell, tap Device Settings, then Account, then Amazon Alexa. Toggle the switch to on. Your Ring doorbell will now appear in the Alexa app under Devices, and you can ask Alexa to show you the live feed on any Echo Show or Fire tablet in your home.
The connection works because Ring is owned by Amazon — the same company that makes Alexa. Once linked, Alexa can display your doorbell camera on screen, play the doorbell sound through your Echo speakers, and let you talk back to visitors through Alexa devices. You do not need to buy anything extra or set up a separate account. If you already have both a Ring doorbell and an Alexa device, the connection takes about two minutes.
The connection requires that your Ring doorbell is already set up and working in the Ring app, and that your Alexa device is on the same Wi-Fi network. If either device is offline or on a different network, the connection will not work.
Key Takeaways
- Ring and Alexa connect through the Ring app, not the Alexa app — toggle the Amazon Alexa switch in Ring Device Settings to on.
- Once connected, you can ask Alexa to show your doorbell feed on any Echo Show or Fire tablet, and Alexa will play doorbell sounds through your Echo speakers.
- Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network and already set up before you can connect them.
- The connection is free and does not require a Ring subscription, though a subscription adds features like video recording and person detection.
What you need before you start
You need a Ring doorbell that is already installed and working. Ring makes several models — Ring Video Doorbell, Ring Video Doorbell Pro, Ring Video Doorbell Wired, and others. All of them connect to Alexa the same way. If your Ring doorbell is not yet set up, finish that first in the Ring app before you try to connect to Alexa.
You also need an Alexa device — an Echo speaker, Echo Show, Fire tablet, or Echo Dot. The device does not have to be a screen; you can connect to a regular Echo speaker and ask it to show the feed on a different Echo Show in another room. Both your Ring doorbell and your Alexa device must be on the same home Wi-Fi network.
You will need the same Amazon account on both the Ring app and the Alexa app. If you use different Amazon accounts for Ring and Alexa, the connection will not work. Check which account you are signed into before you start.
The exact steps to connect
Open the Ring app on your phone. Tap the three horizontal lines (Menu) in the bottom right corner. Tap Devices. Select the Ring doorbell you want to connect. Tap Device Settings, then Account. Look for the toggle that says "Amazon Alexa" and turn it on. The app will show a confirmation message.
That is all you need to do in the Ring app. Now open the Alexa app. Go to Devices in the bottom right, then select All Devices. Your Ring doorbell should appear in the list. If it does not show up right away, wait 30 seconds and refresh the page by pulling down from the top of the screen.
Once your Ring doorbell appears in Alexa, you can ask Alexa to show the doorbell feed on any Echo Show or Fire tablet by saying "Alexa, show me the front door" or "Alexa, show me the Ring doorbell." You can also ask Alexa to talk to visitors: "Alexa, talk to the front door."
What happens when someone rings the doorbell
When a visitor presses your Ring doorbell, two things happen at once. First, your Ring app sends you a notification on your phone, just like it always does. Second, if you have Alexa devices in your home, they will play a chime sound — the same sound your Ring doorbell is set to play. You can change this sound in the Ring app under Device Settings > Audio.
If you have an Echo Show or Fire tablet, you can set it to automatically show the doorbell feed when someone rings. Go to the Alexa app, tap Devices, select your Echo Show, tap Display, then turn on "Show doorbell video on drop-in." Now when someone rings, the screen will light up and show the live feed without you having to ask.
You can talk back to the visitor through any Alexa device. Say "Alexa, talk to the front door" and your voice will come through the Ring doorbell's speaker. The visitor will hear you and can respond. This works even if you are away from home, as long as your Ring doorbell has internet.
Troubleshooting when the connection does not work
If your Ring doorbell does not appear in the Alexa app after you turn on the Amazon Alexa toggle, first check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings and confirm that your Ring doorbell and your Alexa device are both connected to the same network name. If one is on a guest network or a different band (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz), they will not connect.
If both devices are on the same network, sign out of the Alexa app completely and sign back in with the same Amazon account you use for Ring. Go to Alexa app Settings > Account > Sign Out. Then sign back in. Wait 30 seconds and go back to Devices to see if your Ring doorbell appears.
If the doorbell still does not show up, restart both devices. Unplug your Ring doorbell for 10 seconds and plug it back in. Unplug your Alexa device for 10 seconds and plug it back in. Wait two minutes for both to reconnect to Wi-Fi, then check the Alexa app again. If you still have trouble, turn off the Amazon Alexa toggle in the Ring app, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.
Ring subscriptions and what they add
You do not need a Ring subscription to connect your doorbell to Alexa or to see the live feed. The free connection lets you view the camera in real time and talk to visitors through any Alexa device. However, Ring offers two paid plans — Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus — that add video recording, person detection, and other features.
Ring Protect Basic costs a monthly fee and records all doorbell video to the cloud. Without it, you can only see live video when someone is actively ringing or when you open the Ring app. Ring Protect Plus adds video recording to all Ring devices in your home and includes professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems if you have one. Neither subscription is required to use Alexa.
If you decide to get a subscription later, the Alexa connection stays the same. You do not have to reconnect anything.
Controlling other Ring devices through Alexa
If you have other Ring products — Ring cameras, Ring lights, or Ring alarm sensors — you can control some of them through Alexa as well. Ring Stick Up cameras and Ring Floodlight cameras connect to Alexa the same way as the doorbell: toggle the Amazon Alexa switch in Device Settings. Ring lights can be turned on and off through Alexa voice commands. Ring alarm sensors do not have Alexa control.
Once all your Ring devices are connected to Alexa, you can ask Alexa to show you any camera, turn lights on or off, or arm and disarm your alarm through the Alexa app or by voice. You can also create routines in Alexa that trigger Ring actions — for example, "when I say good night, turn off the Ring lights and arm the alarm."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Ring subscription to use Alexa?
No. You can connect your Ring doorbell to Alexa and view the live feed for free. A subscription adds cloud recording and person detection, but those are not required to see the camera or talk to visitors through Alexa.
Can I control my Ring doorbell from the Alexa app instead of the Ring app?
You can view the doorbell and talk to visitors through Alexa, but you cannot change doorbell settings through the Alexa app. All settings — like chime sound, motion zones, and video quality — are controlled through the Ring app. The Alexa connection is one-way: Ring sends information to Alexa, but Alexa cannot change Ring settings.
What if I have multiple Ring doorbells?
Each Ring doorbell connects to Alexa separately. Turn on the Amazon Alexa toggle for each doorbell in the Ring app, and each one will appear in your Alexa device list. You can ask Alexa to show a specific doorbell by name — "Alexa, show me the front door" or "Alexa, show me the back door."
Can I view my Ring doorbell on an Echo Show when I am away from home?
Yes, as long as your Ring doorbell has internet. The live feed works over your home Wi-Fi and the internet, so you can ask any Alexa device to show the feed from anywhere. The video quality may be lower on slower connections.
Will Alexa record my Ring doorbell video?
No. Alexa can display the live feed and talk to visitors, but it does not record video. Video recording is a Ring feature controlled through the Ring app and requires a Ring Protect subscription. Alexa just shows what the Ring doorbell is seeing in real time.