Ring notifications delayed? How to get them back in sync

⚡ Fast fix

• Compare the timing. Check when the event happened in the Ring app versus when the notification reached your phone to narrow down where the delay starts.
• Start with Wi-Fi. A weak connection is one of the most common reasons Ring notifications arrive late.
• Don't forget your phone. Battery Saver, Do Not Disturb, or disabled notifications can all slow or block alerts.
• Still playing notification hide-and-seek?
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When a Ring™ notification arrives long after the motion or doorbell event, it takes away one of the biggest reasons for having a smart security camera in the first place.

Asurion Experts help troubleshoot Ring devices every day, and we've found that timing tells an important story. By comparing when the event happened with when your phone received the alert, you can usually pinpoint where the delay begins.

Why are Ring notifications delayed?

Ring notifications may arrive late when:

• The Ring device has a weak Wi-Fi connection.
• The phone has poor cellular or Wi-Fi service.
• Motion detection starts later than expected.
• Ring notifications are restricted on the phone.
• Battery-saving settings limit the Ring app in the background.
• Smart Alerts need extra time to analyze an event.
• The Ring app or phone software needs an update.
• The device is repeatedly going offline and reconnecting.

A delay can also happen when several events occur quickly. The device and app need time to detect, process, upload, and send each alert.

Check when the Ring event was recorded

Open Event History in the Ring app and compare the event timestamp with the time the notification appeared.

• If the event was recorded on time but the alert appeared later, focus on the phone and app settings.
• If the recording itself started late, focus on motion zones, sensitivity, placement, Wi-Fi, and the Ring device.
• If no event appears at all, our article on fixing a Ring camera that isn’t detecting motion is the better place to start.

Make sure Ring and Motion Alerts are turned on

The device can record events even when phone alerts are disabled.

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Tap the menu.
3. Tap Devices.
4. Choose the Ring device.
5. Turn on Ring Alerts.
6. Turn on Motion Alerts.
7. Test the doorbell or walk through the motion zone.

Keep in mind: each shared user controls notifications on their own phone. Turning alerts on for the owner does not automatically change another person’s settings.

Check notification permissions on the phone

The phone must allow the Ring app to send notifications.

On an iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Tap Ring.
4. Turn on Allow Notifications.
5. Enable the alert types and sounds you want.

On Android:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Choose Ring.
4. Tap Notifications.
5. Allow the notification categories you want.

Also check Focus, Do Not Disturb, notification summaries, and any mode that silences or schedules alerts. A notification waiting patiently in a summary is still late when someone is standing at the door.

Let the Ring app run in the background

Power-saving settings can restrict background activity and delay alerts until the phone wakes or the app opens.

• On an iPhone, make sure Background App Refresh is enabled for Ring.
• On Android, check the Ring app’s battery settings and allow background use. Menu names vary by manufacturer, but look for options such as Unrestricted, Allow background activity, or Not optimized.

Avoid force-closing the Ring app after every use. The app does not need to stay open on-screen, but repeatedly shutting it down can interfere with timely alerts on some phones.

Check the Ring device’s Wi-Fi connection

The Ring device needs to upload the event before the phone can receive a useful notification.

1. Open the Ring app.
2. Tap Devices.
3. Choose the camera or doorbell.
4. Tap Device Health.
5. Review its online status and network signal.

If the signal is weak, try moving your router or mesh point closer to the camera, reducing walls or metal objects between them, and restarting your modem and router. Then reconnect the Ring device to Wi-Fi. If the connection is still unreliable, adding a compatible mesh point or Wi-Fi extender may help.

Our guide to fixing a Ring doorbell that keeps going offline can help if delayed alerts come with repeated disconnects. If the device cannot connect at all, try our article on fixing a Ring doorbell that won’t connect to Wi-Fi.

Review motion zones and sensitivity

A notification may seem delayed when the camera does not detect the visitor until they are already close to the door. Open Motion Settings and check:

• Motion zones.
• Motion sensitivity.
• Smart Alerts.
• Motion frequency on battery-powered models.
• Camera angle and mounting height.

Make sure the active zone covers the full approach to the door—not just the doormat. Our guide to adjusting Ring motion detection range walks through setting zones that catch useful movement without flagging every passing car.

Update and restart everything

Update the Ring app through the phone’s app store, then install any available phone software updates.

Restart:

1. The phone.
2. The modem and router.
3. The Ring device through Device Health, if Reboot This Device is available.

Allow several minutes for the Ring device to reconnect before testing.

Test notifications on another phone

Sign in on another compatible phone or ask a shared user to test the same event.

• If alerts arrive promptly on one phone but not the other, the problem is likely the delayed phone’s permissions, connection, or power settings.
• If both phones receive the alert late, focus on the Ring device, motion detection, and home Wi-Fi.

FAQ

Why am I getting Ring notifications late?

The delay may come from weak Wi-Fi, phone notification restrictions, battery-saving settings, or motion detection starting too late. Compare the Event History timestamp with the alert time first.

How do I make Ring notifications faster?

Improve the Ring device’s Wi-Fi signal, allow background activity on the phone, turn off notification delays such as scheduled summaries, and adjust motion zones.

Can Do Not Disturb delay Ring alerts?

Yes. Focus and Do Not Disturb settings can silence or postpone notifications unless Ring is allowed as an exception.

Why does one phone get Ring alerts before another?

Each phone has its own notification, battery, and connection settings. The slower phone is usually where the delay is happening.

Do Smart Alerts take longer?

They can add a brief processing step while Ring classifies motion. If speed matters more than filtering, review the Smart Alert settings for that device.