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You install a Ring doorbell camera hoping for clear and colorful footage – night vision is also possible for those cameras possessing the necessary infrared technology. Still, there are times when you might notice that your video has changed to black and white, which could hinder the quality of your footage.
Commonly, this happens if the camera settings are stuck on night mode or if there is an error with the infrared light sensors. Luckily, these and many other issues are easily fixed as long as you know what you’re doing. Read on to find out how to bring the color back to your Ring doorbell.
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Why Is My Ring Doorbell Producing Black And White Footage?
If you have a Ring doorbell, there may be times when you realize that your video footage has lost its color and is streaming in black and white.
The most common cause is that your doorbell’s night vision mode is active during the day; you can easily detect if this is the case by looking for a small red dot on the camera, signifying that night vision is in use.
Usually, your Ring doorbell will use its infrared technology to activate and deactivate this function, but if there is a glitch, you might need to do it manually. You’ll often notice this problem if your doorbell is in a particularly shady area. In this case, infrared technology could mistake the shade for darkness and activate its nighttime settings.
6 Fixes For A Ring Doorbell Displaying In Black and White
Having a doorbell that’s stuck in black-and-white mode can be highly frustrating for owners. Fortunately, you can apply several simple fixes to rectify the issue.
1. Restart the Camera
Before delving into the settings or making any changes to the system setup, it’s a good idea to reboot the system and see if that fixes the issue. Carrying out a restart will restore the base settings for your camera and – hopefully – solve your problem.
To restart a Ring camera, complete the following steps:
- Start by unplugging the system from its power source.
- Detach the doorbell from the wall.
- Turn it around and look for an orange button on the back of the device.
- Press and hold this button for about 20 seconds.
- Keep your eye on the front of the device and wait for a flashing signal to indicate that your device is rebooting.
- Leave the device for five minutes, allowing sufficient time to complete its reset process.
2. Check Your Infrared Settings
When a system reset fails to solve the issue, checking the infrared settings is the next best step to engage. Most people who experience color issues with their Ring doorbell credit the problem to the infrared settings.
Luckily, it’s easy to adjust the infrared settings using the Ring app on your phone. Just follow these steps:
- Locate the Ring app and open it.
- Click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner.
- Click the gear icon under device settings.
- Locate “video settings” and look under it for the night vision option
- If your night vision option is set to “normal,” change it to “auto.”
Sometimes this simple adjustment can rectify the issue, but other times you may also need to consider the position of your doorbell.
For example, if there is too much shade in your chosen location, it will likely trick your camera into thinking it’s nighttime even when it’s not. This can cause your device to switch to night mode regardless of your video settings.
Check the camera’s location for excessive shade, low ceilings, or too much vegetation – if you think one of these factors could be an issue, try relocating your camera to a more open location with plenty of natural light.
3. Update Your Software
Similarly to a number of other tech companies, Ring regularly offers software upgrades via the Ring app along with firmware updates for the doorbell itself. Still, if you fail to run the updates on your devices, it could lead to glitches in the functionality of your doorbell.
To get the most from your mobile app, follow Ring’s best practice suggestions, including:
- Ensure that your device is compatible
- Keep your app up-to-date
- Keep your operating system up-to-date
4. Update Your Ring App
The majority of apps alert you when updates are available for you to run and install manually. Alternatively, you can edit the default update behavior of your device to manage automatic app updates autonomously.
Instructions for managing app updates on an Android device.
Instructions for managing app updates on an Apple device.
5. Update Firmware For Your Ring Device
When you initially set up a Ring device, the product will automatically apply the firmware updates available at the time. Afterward, these devices tend to run their firmware updates during off-peak hours.
Still, checking that your firmware is up-to-date now and again is a great way to keep your system running optimally. Here’s how to do it:
- Locate and open the Ring app on your external device.
- Tap the three lines in the top left corner of the app and click on your Ring device.
- Click Device Health and search for firmware.
- Your firmware should say “up-to-date.”
- If there is a number, the firmware needs updating.
If firmware updates are required, your device should complete this process at its next available time. If you want to force an update, you can always restart your device to see if it triggers the update when it reloads.
6. Contact Tech Support
If you’ve exhausted all the fixes and your camera is still stuck in black and white, you can contact Ring’s technical support for more help. They have expert knowledge of their products and can talk you through various troubleshooting methods.
In the majority of cases, tech support will be able to fix your issue via a short conversation, but if your device is faulty, they typically offer a free replacement. Remember, Ring products have a 12-month limited warranty to cover unexpected technical issues.
Should A Ring Doorbell Display Color In Night-Vision Mode?
Firstly, not every Ring doorbell comes with night-vision functionality; currently, the models that possess this capability are the Video Doorbell Elite, Video Doorbell Pro, Video Doorbell 2 Wired, and Spotlight Cam Wired. Their imaging comes from ambient lighting, which can help add depth to the image.
Your doorbell maintains decent coverage during nighttime hours and can see up to 30 ft from its set position.
Why Is My Ring Camera Video Completely Black?
A blacked-out picture is a different issue to your camera streaming in black and white footage. While the latter is often caused by the camera’s system settings, a completely black picture suggests a connection problem.
If this occurs, check your WiFi signal, restart the device, and check for hardware issues. If you are unable to fix the problem yourself, contact the technical support team for further assistance.
Final Thoughts
One of the most common technical issues with the Ring doorbell is that the camera displays in black and white. But don’t worry; a quick change to night vision settings or a device restart will likely rectify your issue.
Still, there are occasions where you might need to delve a little deeper into figuring out why your camera is displaying black and white; do you have it in the right location? Does it require a software update? If you cannot pinpoint the cause, call the tech support team for further guidance.
