Do you wonder does Ring doorbell record inside house? We’ll help you.
If you want to keep an eye on your kids and pets or are worried about intruders or hackers accessing your footage, let’s find out if there’s any truth to this.
The answer to if your Ring doorbell records inside is yes, but not very well. They are designed mostly for outdoor use, but their camera is fixed and doesn’t zoom in or pan to see what’s inside.
There’s more you need to know, so let’s discuss!
Does Ring Doorbell Record Inside House – What You Need to Know
We know that Ring doorbells are outdoor cameras and are usually installed on your door to monitor what’s in front of your house.
However, if you install it in a way where the camera points inside your home, it will still work.
There are several reasons why you might think of using the Ring doorbell as an indoor camera:
Warning: Using your Ring doorbell as an indoor camera does come with its own set of drawbacks and risks, which we’ll discuss more below.
Ring Doorbell Features: An Overview
A Ring doorbell is a popular choice for your home’s security. Let’s take a look at some of the features that make it a reliable option for most users:
- HD video quality with a wide-angle lens
- Two-way audio with noise cancellation
- Live view and video recording
- Customizable motion zones and sensitivity
- Smart alerts for people and packages
- Integration with Alexa and other smart home devices
- Battery-powered or hardwired options
Note: Getting a subscription plan with your Ring doorbell also gives you access to additional features like Siren and Emergency Response.
Exterior vs Interior Recording
Now that we have a better idea of the capabilities of your Ring doorbell let’s compare how it works when installed outdoors versus inside your house.
When it’s outside your front door, it acts as a security camera that monitors activities around your home’s entrance. However, when you put it inside, it acts like a surveillance camera that records the activity that it will be able to pick up.
Differences Between the Two
As you can see, there’s a significant difference between how your Ring doorbell acts when you install it outdoors compared to indoors.
Some of these differences go into some gray areas, which can get you in trouble.
- The purpose of your Ring doorbell changes when you install it inside your home.
- The visibility is affected if you put your doorbell indoors.
- If you put your doorbell inside, you need explicit consent, as everyone will be recorded.
- The legality is questionable if you put it inside, as it’s outside the scope of the device.
Disadvantages of Using Ring Doorbell for Indoor Use
There are also a lot of disadvantages when you utilize your Ring doorbell as an indoor camera. Apart from the disadvantages, there are also risks involved that you will want to avoid.
Here are some of the drawbacks of installing your doorbell inside your home:
- Battery life is a lot shorter as it will record more events
- Video quality is not that good, especially if you put it in a dark area of your house
- You’re going to need more storage space with more recordings inside
- There’s also privacy concerns with hackers able to break into your network
Privacy Concerns with Indoor Recording
One of the biggest concerns with using your Ring doorbell as an indoor camera is privacy.
If you use it inside your house, there’s a good possibility that it will infringe on your privacy and others living and visiting you as they will be recorded.
Motion Detection and Privacy Settings
One of the features that make Ring Doorbells an excellent security device is its motion detection capabilities.
If you put your Ring doorbell inside your home, motion detection poses a few challenges and risks for your privacy.
- False alarms from lots of unnecessary movement in your home.
- Missed events caused by obstructions or distortions in your camera view.
Tip: If you want to install your doorbell indoors, you’re going to need to tweak your motion zones, sensitivity settings, and placement to prevent these from happening.
Does Ring Doorbell Record Conversations
A feature that makes Ring Doorbells an excellent security device is its audio recording feature.
It does help you communicate with those ringing your door, but it does pose a privacy concern.
One of the questions often asked is does Ring doorbell record audio inside house? Yes, they are highly capable of recording audio, including conversations. Their built-in microphones pick up audio from up to 25 feet.
Now, you’ll be able to disable audio recording in the app, here’s how you do it:
- Open the Ring app on your device.
- Tap on the three-line menu icon.
- Select Devices.
- Choose the Ring doorbell you installed inside your home.
- Tap on Device Settings.
- Go to Privacy Settings.
- Toggle the Audio Streaming and Recording switch Off.
Note: Even if they’re placed outside, they are still capable of picking up audio from inside in the event that they are activated to record.
Ring’s Indoor Camera Alternatives
Ring doorbells are intended for outdoor use. Now that we have established that, let’s look at some of the alternatives to use if you want an indoor camera.
Using a dedicated indoor camera mitigates the drawbacks and risks as to when you repurpose one of your video doorbells.
Here are some of the indoor alternatives to use from Ring:
- Ring Indoor Cam
- Ring Stick Up Cam
- Ring Spotlight Cam
Note: These cameras should give you the indoor coverage you need without the privacy concerns of using the doorbell.
Why You Need to Use Appropriate Cameras
As we have established earlier, using your Ring doorbell is not the best option for your home security and surveillance. The risks are not worth it, so we recommend that you use a dedicated indoor camera for that purpose.
Using the doorbell improperly also violates the privacy and rights of others who live or visit your house.
Therefore, using more appropriate cameras is the best thing you can do and avoid complications:
- Indoor cameras come with a privacy shutter to block the lens when you’re not using it
- Indoor cameras have two-factor authentication making it more difficult for hackers
- Ring cameras come with end-to-end encryption for your video footage
- Indoor cameras have zoned motion detection to avoid unnecessary recording
- Avoid recording unwanted audio and conversations inside your house
Tips for Protecting Your Privacy
While using the right type of camera for indoor use will help you protect your privacy and security, there are some tips that you need to be aware of.
You’re going to need to follow these tips so you don’t compromise your home’s privacy.
Here are some of the important tips you need to follow when using a Ring camera inside your house:
- Choose a secure password for your Ring account.
- Enable two-factor authentication.
- Update your devices regularly to fix any bugs or vulnerabilities.
- Use a strong encryption method for your WiFi network
- Review your video settings and adjust them.
- Use privacy zones to block out areas in your video feed.
- Always use the mute button or privacy shutter to turn off your camera
- Delete videos you don’t want to keep in your cloud storage
Note: We highly recommend that you opt out of any data sharing or partnership programs to secure your video clips.
If you have concerns regarding your Ring doorbell recording inside your home, contact Ring Support, so they’ll be able to help you mitigate it by changing your settings.
Conclusion
So, does the Ring doorbell record inside the house? They are capable of recording inside your house if you set them up that way. However, they’re not the best option as you’re going to be dealing with potential legal and ethical issues.
For more in-depth discussions regarding your Ring devices, visit our blog!
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Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.