Connect Your Ring Spotlight Cam Wired Camera to Wi-Fi

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Wi-Fi Network: Credentials

In order to connect to a wireless network, you must have the required credentials. These are:

Wireless Network Name (SSID)
Wireless Network Key (Password)

Finding Network Credentials

Most wireless routers/gateways have a label with the default credentials. If the credentials aren't there, look in the devices documentation.

Default Wi-Fi credentials highlighted on router/gateway sticker.

If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) installed the wireless router or gateway, they might have left you a setup sheet which may have the credentials.

2. Ring Camera: Connect to Wi-Fi

Open the Ring app on your mobile device.

person holding phone with Ring app icon highlighted on phone

Then tap on Set Up Device.

person holding phone with setup up device highlighted

Select the camera type you are setting up.

person holding phone with list of ring products displayed

And pick a name for it.

Then wait for the app to detect your location or enter it manually.

person holding phone with screen of a map

The app will show you where to find the setup button. Press and release it once you located it.

person holding phone with screen of picture holding a camera

You will be shown some instructions on how to connect the mobile device to the cameras Wi-Fi network.

person hold phone with screen showing wi-fi setup

Go into your mobile devices Wi-Fi settings, look for a network name that contains Ring- then tap on it to connect.

person holding a phone that shows screen of available wi-fi networks

After that, return to the Ring app and you will be asked to pick the Wi-Fi network you wish to connect the camera to. Tap on your preferred Wi-Fi networks name.

person holding a phone with screen showing wifi setup with a list of available networks

Then type in the Wi-Fi password if required and tap on Continue.

person holding a phone with wi-fi setup page and picture of password box

At this point the camera should be set up and connected to Wi-Fi.

person holding phone with screen showing setup successful and green check mark

3. Check Other Devices

To help troubleshoot the problem we should check if other devices can connect to the wireless network.

4. Check Environment

If other wireless devices are connected to the network and functioning properly, chances are the router is OK. It's possible there is an environmental issue. Do you have a portable wireless device (Smart Phone, Tablet, Laptop, etc.) that you can put in the same area to test and see if that device's wireless connection still functions as intended in that location?

5. Power cycle

If you haven't already, please try power cycling the device you're working with. To do so, simply turn it off, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on again.

6. Ring Camera: Router Compatibility

Although your Ring camera is compatible with most networking equipment, some network devices are incompatible. Usually when networking hardware does not work with your Ring camera, itâ€™s because it lacks support for the network protocols that the Ring camera uses to operate.

Your Ring Camera is compatible with 802.11 b/g/n WiFi networks operating on 2.4 gHz frequencies. Ring recommends WPA2 Wi-Fi security.

7. What's next?

8. Networking: Range Check

The device needs to be within a reasonable range of the router in order to connect and have the best connection speeds.

In general, in most homes, you can be up to 30 feet from your router for a decent connection.
From 30' to 50' away, the speeds will be slower, and may drop occasionally, but it should be usable.
Greater than 50' away, and the signal will most likely be too weak to overcome interference. The speeds will be slow, and the connection may be sporadic.

The above numbers are approximates only. Optimal range may vary based on router make and model.

9. What's next?

10. Networking: Relocate Router Check

Your router may need to be relocated to a more centralized location in order to provide better coverage for all your devices.

Good Placement

A house, separated into rooms detailing how placing Wi-Fi in the center of a house will provide better coverage to reach all devices. Diagram.

Bad Placement

A house, separated into rooms detailing how placing Wi-Fi in the corner of the house can cause some devices to not have a Wi-Fi signal. Diagram.

11. Router Relocation

Since this appears to be a range issue that can be resolved by putting the router in closer proximity to the device's intended use area, we recommend moving the router to a more centralized location.

12. Range Extender

If wireless signal is not reaching your device, and relocating your router or the device itself to be in closer proximity is not possible or doesn't resolve the issue, a great way to boost wireless signal without replacing existing equipment is to acquire and install a range extender. Range extenders work with your existing wireless router as a type of wireless repeater used to expand the reach of wireless signal in your home.