Fool-Proof Guide: How To Disable Ring Motion Sensor – 7 Steps

Have you ever need to know how to disable Ring motion sensor? Yes, as homeowner there are some ways to disable Ring motion sensor by yourself at home.

As a busy mom of three rambunctious kids, I’ve been in this scenario many times.

Between sports practices, sleepovers, and our renovation projects, there were plenty of instances when I wanted to turn off the constant motion alerts from my Ring.

But how do you easily disable the motion detection on a Ring sensor when needed? In this post, I’ll share the exact steps I take to effortlessly turn off motion sensing for short periods of time.

You’ll learn how to disable your sensor via the Ring app or website so you can take back control when things get hectic.

I’ll explain what happens when motion detection is off and when to turn it back on.

Let’s dive in.

Ring motion sensors are a key component of any smart home security system. They use passive infrared technology to detect movement and notify you of any activity.

Having motion sensors positioned around your home provides an extra layer of security and awareness.

While motion sensors are incredibly useful, there are times when you may want to temporarily disable the motion detection.

For instance, if you’re doing major renovations or having construction work done, the constant motion alerts could become annoying.

Pet sitters may also want to disable motion sensors to avoid being inundated with notifications while caring for your pets.

When You Should Consider Disabling the Motion Sensor

Below are some common scenarios when it can be handy to disable your Ring motion sensors temporarily:

• Renovations or construction – As mentioned above, if you have workers coming in and out all day, disabling the motion can prevent excessive alerts. Just be sure to re-enable when work is complete.
• House guests – If you have visitors staying over, you likely don’t want to be alerted every time they get up for a midnight snack. Disabling the sensors can let guests roam freely without triggering notifications.
• Pet sitting – Pet sitters will need free access to feed, play with, and care for your animals. Getting motion alerts whenever they walk by would be disruptive.
• Parties or gatherings – When hosting parties or large gatherings it’s a good idea to disable motion sensors. This prevents your phone from being bombarded with alerts as guests mingle.
• Troubleshooting issues – If you think your motion sensor is malfunctioning or experiencing connectivity problems, disabling it can help isolate the issue.
• False alarms – Sometimes sensors pick up phantom motion like fans, sunlight changes or small pets. If you’re getting false alarms, temporarily disabling the sensor may help.

Step-by-Step Guide on How To Disable Ring Motion Sensor

The process of disabling a Ring motion sensor is quick and straightforward. You have two options:

Using the Ring Mobile App

1. Open the Ring app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Tap on the three lines menu icon in the upper left corner.
3. Select Devices from the menu. This will display a list of all your installed Ring devices.
4. Tap on your motion sensor from the devices list.
5. Next tap on Motion Settings.
6. Tap the toggle switch next to Motion Detection to turn it off. The switch background will turn grey when disabled.
7. Motion detection is now disabled for this sensor. The LED ring on the actual sensor will also turn solid red to indicate detection is off.

Via the Ring Website

1. Log into your Ring account on ring.com or using the Ring web app.
2. Click on your location in the upper right corner.
3. Select Alarm Components from the sidebar.
4. Find your motion sensor in the list and click the settings icon.
5. Toggle the Motion Detection switch off to disable motion detection.
6. Click Save Changes. The motion sensor is now disabled.

With just a few quick taps in the app or on the web, you can easily disable any Ring motion sensor. Just remember to turn it back on when you want to resume motion detection.

Now let’s go over what happens when you disable motion on your Ring sensor.

What Occurs When Motion Detection is Disabled

Temporarily turning off motion detection prevents your sensor from sending notifications when movement is detected in its range. However, other functions remain active:

• The sensor will still communicate with the base station. It hasn’t been fully disabled.
• The LED ring will glow solid red as a status indicator that motion is off.
• Tamper detection remains active. You’ll still be notified if someone tries to remove the sensor.
• The sensor continues to monitor its own battery level and will send alerts if the battery is low.
• If you have any devices like lights or cameras paired to the sensor, they will still function as normal. The sensor will operate other automations, just without motion notifications.

So in summary, disabling motion detection simply prevents alerts triggered by movement. But the sensor itself stays active on your network.

When to Re-enable Motion Detection

Obviously you don’t want to leave your Ring motion sensors disabled permanently. Here are some instances when you’ll want to turn motion detection back on:

• When construction, renovations or repairs are complete.
• After house guests have departed.
• When pet sitter no longer needs access to the home.
• Finished troubleshooting sensor issues.
• No longer experiencing false alarms.
• Ready to have your full home security system active once again.

Basically, re-enable motion detection on your Ring sensors as soon as the temporary disable reason no longer applies. Don’t forget, motion sensors provide significant protection by notifying you of activity.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Disable Ring Motion Sensor

Many homeowners have questions when it comes to temporarily disabling their Ring motion sensors. Below I’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions to help you fully understand this process.

Does Disabling the Motion Sensor Turn It Completely Off?

No, disabling motion detection does not fully power down the sensor. The sensor itself remains active and connected to your Ring network.

The LED ring will actually glow solid red when motion sensing is turned off as a visual indicator.

Tamper detection also remains on, so you’ll still get notified if someone tries to remove the sensor. Only the motion detection feature is temporarily disabled.

Can I Disable Individual Sensors?

Fortunately, yes – you can disable motion detection for individual sensors in your home.

For example, if you only want to turn off the sensor near your front door but leave the others on, that’s easy to do through the Ring app.

You simply select the specific sensor you want to disable. No need to disable all sensors at once.

Will My Sensor Still Work With Other Devices When Motion is Off?

Absolutely. Disabling the motion detection does not impact any other devices or automations connected to your Ring sensor.

For instance, if you have a motion sensor paired to smart lights, it will continue turning the lights on/off based on activity even with motion alerts disabled.

The sensor still facilitates linked actions and triggers.

Do I Need to Take Any Precautions With Pets?

One thing to keep in mind is small pets may be able to trigger the motion sensor even when humans are away.

So if you’re pet sitting, be aware disabling motion may still result in some alerts. You can position the sensor above most pets’ height, face it towards areas unreachable by animals, or simply be prepared for some continued notifications.

How Long Does It Take to Disable a Sensor?

The process of toggling motion detection on or off only takes seconds! Using the mobile app or web interface, you can disable a sensor almost instantly with just two clicks. It’s a very quick and simple process requiring minimal time investment.

Will I Get Notified When Motion is Reactivated?

Unfortunately the Ring app does not send a notification when motion detection is turned back on.

You’ll need to remember to return to the sensor settings and enable motion alerts when desired.

Double check by triggering the sensor – you should receive motion notifications again once it’s re-enabled.

Is There a Way to Set a Timer to Automatically Re-enable?

Ring doesn’t currently have an option to schedule motion detection to automatically turn on after a set period of time.

The only way is to manually re-enable it yourself later. You can use your calendar or set a reminder on your phone for when you want to turn motion sensing back on.

But the sensors don’t support self-activating after a timer countdown.

What’s the Maximum Time I Should Keep Motion Detection Off?

Ideally you should only disable motion detection temporarily for short time periods when needed.

Leaving your security sensors with motion disabled for days or weeks at a time is not recommended.

The longer motion is off, the more vulnerable your home is to intrusions going undetected. Re-enable as soon as possible after the temporary necessity is over.

Will Disabling Motion Affect My Ring Subscription?

Disabling motion sensors does not impact your Ring Protect subscription or status. All other aspects of your Ring service remain unchanged.

Motion detection is controlled independently of your account subscription, so turning it off will not alter your plan or billing in any way.

You’ll still have access to snapshot history and other features.

What If I Forget to Re-enable Motion Detection?

If you accidentally leave your Ring motion sensors with motion detection disabled, you may miss out on important alerts.

To avoid serious security consequences, make sure to re-enable motion sensing as soon as the temporary necessity expires.

Set calendar reminders if needed. Also consider only disabling motion for set periods of time instead of open-ended.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned and being able to easily disable Ring motion sensors provides flexibility and convenience in certain situations.

Whether you’re accommodating guests, dealing with renovations or troubleshooting technical issues, temporarily turning off motion detection can be useful.

Just follow the simple steps above to disable sensors via the Ring app or website. And remember to re-enable protection when appropriate.

Motion sensors are an integral part of your smart home security ecosystem.