How to fix Ring package detection

⚡ Fast fix

• Check Package Alerts—Make sure the feature is available and turned on for the doorbell.
• Redraw the zone—Cover the spot where drivers actually leave boxes.
• Raise sensitivity carefully—More detection can also mean more alerts.
• Still missing deliveries?
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A package can be sitting right under a Ring™ doorbell while the app acts like nothing happened. That’s especially frustrating when regular motion alerts are working just fine.

Asurion Experts help people set up and fine-tune smart home cameras every day. Package detection has a few settings of its own, and getting those lined up with the way deliveries actually happen at the house can make a big difference.

Make sure Package Alerts are available and turned on

Package Alerts require a compatible Ring doorbell and subscription. If Package appears under Motion Settings > Smart Alerts, make sure notifications are enabled there before changing the camera angle or Wi-Fi.

If the option isn’t available for the device or account, there isn’t a hidden sensitivity setting elsewhere in the app that will switch it on.

Set up the Package Zone

For first-time setup:

1. Open the Ring app and select the doorbell.
2. Go to Motion Settings > Smart Alerts.
3. Find Package and turn the feature on.
4. Continue to Package Zone.
5. Draw the zone around the area where deliveries are normally left.
6. Save the changes and test it with a delivery-sized box.

The zone matters because Ring isn’t trying to recognize every box anywhere in the camera’s view. It needs a clear delivery area to watch.

Draw the zone where packages actually land

Stand outside and look at the porch from the delivery driver’s point of view. If packages usually end up beside a planter, off to the side of the door, or at the bottom of a step, make sure that spot is inside the Package Zone.

Avoid making the zone huge just to be safe. A tighter zone around the real drop-off area gives Ring a more useful target.

Turn sensitivity up carefully

Under Smart Alerts > Package > Customize, review Package Sensitivity. Increasing it can help with missed packages, and Ring also recommends higher overall Motion Sensitivity when package accuracy needs improvement.

There’s a trade-off: more sensitivity can mean more motion notifications and, on battery-powered devices, more battery use. Increase it gradually instead of jumping straight from one extreme to the other.

Small deliveries are harder to identify

Package detection works best with recognizable shipping boxes. Envelopes, tubes, small parcels, grocery bags, and food deliveries can be easier for the camera to miss even when they land inside the right zone.

If Ring reliably catches medium or large boxes but occasionally misses a padded envelope, the feature may be working normally rather than failing completely.

If Ring is missing people too, look beyond package settings

Package detection depends on the camera seeing useful motion in the first place. If the doorbell is also missing visitors or ordinary motion events, check the main Motion Zone, sensitivity, camera angle, Wi-Fi, and power.

Our guide to adjusting Ring motion detection range can help if the delivery area is outside the useful detection zone. If the whole doorbell is acting unreliable, our article on fixing a Ring doorbell that isn’t working is a better place to widen the troubleshooting.

FAQ

Why isn’t Ring detecting my packages?

Check that Package Alerts are enabled, the Package Zone covers the delivery spot, and sensitivity is high enough for the way packages arrive at the door.

Does Ring package detection require a subscription?

Yes. Package Alerts are part of Smart Alerts and require a compatible Ring subscription.

Why does Ring detect people but not packages?

The Package Zone or Package Sensitivity may need adjustment, or the delivery may be too small or oddly shaped for reliable package recognition.

Does Ring detect envelopes and food deliveries?

Not as reliably as medium-to-large shipping boxes. Smaller or less box-like deliveries can be missed.

Will increasing Ring motion sensitivity help package detection?

It can. Ring recommends higher Motion Sensitivity for better package accuracy, but it may also increase notifications and battery use.