Does Ring Work with Alexa?

Ring video doorbells are some of the best on the market and if you have other Amazon-owned devices such as an Echo smart speaker/display or a Fire TV device, it unlocks even more features.

By connecting your Ring doorbell to Alexa, you can use Echo devices as a doorbell chime and speak to the visitors at your door. If you have an Echo Show, you can view the doorbell live stream on your device or watch the most recently recorded footage.

In the rest of this guide, I’ll list all of the things you can and can’t do with Ring using Alexa and how to set it up.

Everything You Can and Can’t Do with Ring and Alexa

So, does Ring work with Alexa? Well, yes, in fact, the integration between Ring and Alexa is one of the most comprehensive of all smart doorbells making them the ideal Alexa add-on, however, there are still a couple of things it can’t do.

Here is a rundown of all the things it can and can’t do.

Things you CAN do with Ring and Alexa:

  • Doorbell chime on Echo devices

When you connect Ring and Alexa, you can use any Echo device as a doorbell chime. This includes smart speakers (such as the Echo dot) or smart displays (such as Echo Show).

Within the Alexa app, there are lots of customisation options so you can choose exactly which devices to use as a chime.

There are lots of chimes to choose from with your choice of traditional chimes, seasonal chimes, and more.

  • Two-way communication through Echo devices

When your Echo device lets you know that someone is at the door, you can use your Echo device to speak with whoever is at the door.

This works through any Echo device including speakers and smart displays.

You don’t need to wait for the bell to be rung, simply say ‘Alexa, talk to [doorbell name]’ to start talking.

  • Ask Alexa for a live stream on Echo Show or Fire device

Using your voice, you can ask to check in on the live stream of your video doorbell.

The footage can be shown on an Echo Show or Fire TV device.

  • Ask Alexa to show the latest recording on Echo Show

One Alexa feature that puts Ring well ahead of its competitors is the ability to watch the latest piece of footage captured by the doorbell using just your voice.

If you have an Echo Show or Fire TV device, you can ask to watch the latest recording and subsequently use your voice to skip forward or rewind the footage.

Note that this feature requires a Ring Protect Plan, although a Ring doorbell is pretty useless without a subscription anyway.

  • Automatic live stream to Echo Show or Fire device when the doorbell rings

As well as asking for your Ring doorbell footage to automatically pop up on your Echo Show or Fire TV device when someone presses the doorbell.

  • Have Alexa greet your visitors *Ring Doorbell Pro only*

A newly rolled out feature called Alexa Greetings allows you to use Alexa for greeting guests. She can ask who is at the door, find out extra information for you and even check if a parcel requires a signature.

This is a brand-new feature that’s now rolling out to Ring doorbells, it does require a Ring Protect subscription.

Things you CAN’T do with Ring and Alexa:

  • Turn motion alerts and ring alerts on/off with Alexa

There doesn’t appear to be the ability to turn motion alerts or ring alerts on or off using Alexa at the moment. If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, you’ll have to use the app to do this.

  • Check the battery status of the doorbell with Alexa

At the time of writing, you still can’t check the battery health of your Ring doorbell using Alexa.

This feature currently works for some Ring motion sensors and contact sensors that use standard batteries, however, it’s not yet available for the doorbell which has a rechargeable battery. 

Which Ring Doorbells Work with Alexa?

The Alexa integrations work the same for all Ring video doorbells, no matter what the specs or features. However, some do require a Ring Protect Plan.

Here is a list of the Ring devices that are compatible with Alexa:

  • Ring Doorbell 2
  • Ring Doorbell 3
  • Ring Wired Doorbell (coming soon)
  • Ring Doorbell 3 Plus
  • Ring Doorbell Pro
  • Ring Elite Doorbell
  • Ring Door View

How to Connect Ring to Alexa?

Connecting Ring to Alexa is simple via the Alexa app. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

  1. First, you’ll need to ensure you have the doorbell already set up in the Ring app
  2. Now, open Alexa app and go to the ‘Devices’ tab
  3. Select the ‘+’ icon and choose ‘Add Device’
  4. Search for ‘Ring Camera’
  5. You’ll be asked to enable the Ring skill for Alexa, select ‘Enable to Use’
  6. You’ll now be directed to link your Amazon and Ring accounts
  7. After this, you’ll return to the Alexa app where you’ll see a discovering devices screen. This could take up to 45 seconds while Alexa adds your Ring devices.
  8. Now, you’ll find your doorbell under the devices tab where you can adjust the settings of each.

Alexa Commands for Ring

Here are the main Alexa commands for your Ring doorbell:

  • “Alexa, talk to [doorbell name]”
  • “Alexa, show [doorbell name].” (using Echo Show)
  • “Alexa, show [doorbell name] on [Fire TV device name].”
  • “Alexa, show the last activity from [doorbell name].” (requires Ring Protect Plan)
  • “Alexa, fast-forward/rewind” (whilst viewing last activity)

Best Video Doorbells for Alexa

The Ring Doorbell 3 Plus is my top recommended doorbell that’s compatible with Alexa.

It has crisp 1080p footage and a wide * viewing angle. It can be hardwired or use battery power.

With the Rapid Ring app, you can receive almost instantaneous notifications when someone is at your door, compared to other brands which can take up to 10 seconds or more.

The Ring 3 Plus sits just above the Ring 3, the extra functionality is mainly pre-roll footage which gives you 4 seconds in the lead up to any motion detection.

However, keep in mind that there is an ongoing monthly fee required for cloud storage to access the full suite of features.

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