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How to View and Live Stream Ring Doorbell Camera Video Feed on a Computer

Having a Ring video doorbell provides great security and convenience by allowing you to see and speak to visitors at your door from anywhere. While the Ring mobile app makes it easy to access your doorbell camera feed on a smartphone or tablet, you may also want to view and stream video on a laptop or desktop computer.

Viewing Live Video Feed on a Computer

To view live video from your Ring doorbell camera on a computer, follow these steps:

  1. Open a web browser on your computer and go to ring.com. Click “Log In” in the top right corner.
  2. Log into your Ring account using your email address and password.
  3. Once logged in, you will see tiles showing your connected Ring devices. Click on your doorbell tile to open the live video feed.
  4. You can now view a live HD video stream from your Ring doorbell camera right in your web browser. Enable two-way talk by clicking the microphone icon if you want to speak through the doorbell.

The live video stream will disconnect after a few minutes. To reconnect, just click on your doorbell tile again to restart the live feed.

Streaming Continuous Video

While the Ring website only supports live video in short intervals, there are a couple of options to stream a continuous feed from your Ring doorbell to a computer:

  • Use the Ring web dashboard – Go to account.ring.com and login. Click on your doorbell in the devices list to open a persistent live stream that will not disconnect automatically.
  • Add a Ring PWA – Follow these steps to add Ring as a Progressive Web App in your Windows 10 or 11 computer’s start menu. This will let you launch a continuous Ring live stream that runs like a desktop application.
  • Use third-party software – There are programs like Bluestacks that will let you install and run the Android Ring mobile app on a Windows PC or Mac. This provides access to all Ring app features including continuous live video streaming.

Enabling Notifications and Alerts

To get notified when there is activity at your door while viewing video on a desktop computer:

  • Keep the browser tab open – Leave the Ring website or Dashboard open in an active browser tab to receive instant alerts. A doorbell or motion notification will flash orange in your browser.
  • Enable browser notifications – Allow ring.com to send notifications from your browser’s settings. You can then receive alerts even if Ring is not actively open.
  • Use a smart display – Get a Google Nest Hub or Amazon Echo Show and link it to your Ring account. It will display live video automatically whenever the doorbell button is pressed or motion is detected.

Best Practices

Here are some tips for the best experience when accessing your smart doorbell camera on a computer:

  • For privacy, log out of Ring when you are done viewing. This prevents others from accessing the video feed.
  • Position your home router close to the Ring doorbell installation location to ensure a strong Wi-Fi signal.
  • Use Ethernet backhaul if possible by connecting your Wi-Fi router and Ring Chime Pro or Ring Alarm Pro base station via Ethernet cables. This provides the fastest and most reliable connectivity.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your Ring account for enhanced security.
  • Set up shared users if you want to allow friends or family to also view the Ring camera feed. This lets you control exactly who has access.

Troubleshooting Problems

If you are having issues viewing or streaming video from your Ring doorbell camera on a computer, here are some things to try:

  • Check internet connectivity – Make sure your computer and Ring doorbell are both connected to the internet and Wi-Fi is working properly.
  • Allow camera access in your browser settings when prompted. Browsers like Chrome sometimes block camera streams.
  • Whitelist ring.com in any security software, ad blockers or popup blockers you have installed that could be preventing access.
  • Restart your router and Ring device – Toggle the power off and back on to reboot your networking equipment and Ring doorbell.
  • Move your Ring device closer to the Wi-Fi router temporarily to test if poor signal strength is the issue.
  • Contact Ring support via live chat or by submitting a ticket if you are still unable to view live video on your computer after trying these steps.

Final Thoughts

Accessing and streaming video from your Ring doorbell camera on a desktop or laptop provides versatility and convenience. Whether you just want to quickly check who is at the door or continuously monitor activity on a second screen, Ring makes it easy to leverage computers for enhanced visibility and connectivity. Follow these tips to troubleshoot any viewing issues. With multiple ways to enable both live and recorded video on PCs and Macs, you can feel confident keeping an eye on your home from anywhere.

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