How do I allow Ring to access my microphone?

Ring is a home security company that offers various devices like video doorbells, security cameras, alarms and more. These devices have built-in cameras and microphones to enable two-way communication and live viewing through the Ring app. While the camera allows you to see visitors at your door or any activity detected, the microphone lets you speak with visitors or listen for sounds using your mobile device. Ring devices need permission to access your phone or tablet’s microphone so that you can utilize the microphone functionality.

Understanding Microphone Access

Ring cameras and doorbells utilize the device microphone to enable several key features that rely on audio input and output. [https://www.kentfaith.com/blog/article_how-to-use-microphone-on-ring-camera_13367] By default, Ring requires access to the microphone on your iOS or Android device to function properly.

Some of the main Ring features that need microphone access include:

Two-way communication – Talk to visitors at your door through the Ring app.
Notifications with audio – Hear alerts and motion events through your device.
Live view with audio – Listen and speak during live view sessions.

Answering phone calls – Answer calls made to a Ring Chime or Doorbell Pro.

Allowing microphone access enables these audio features while maintaining security. Ring states microphone access requires user permission for privacy. [https://ring.com/support/articles/1xwxr/Features-and-Functions-of-the-Ring-App] All audio communication occurs directly through the encrypted Ring app for protection.

Enabling Microphone Access

To enable microphone access for your Ring device in the Ring app, follow these steps:

On iOS:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Privacy, then tap Microphone.

Find Ring in the list of apps and ensure the toggle next to it is enabled (green).
Open the Ring app and you will be prompted to allow microphone access.
Tap “OK” or “Allow” when prompted.

On Android:

Open the Settings app on your Android device.
Tap Apps or Application Manager.

Select the Ring app.
Ensure that microphone access is enabled.
Open the Ring app and you will be prompted to allow microphone access.

Enabling microphone access in your device settings and the Ring app will allow your Ring devices to capture audio when motion is detected. You’ll be able to listen and speak through the Ring app.

If you are still not getting audio after following these steps, check the microphone settings within the Ring app for your specific device. You may need to adjust the microphone sensitivity or ensure it is switched on.

Allowing Prompts on iOS

To allow the Ring app access to your iPhone’s microphone, you need to enable microphone access prompts in your iOS settings. Here are the steps:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap on “Privacy”.

Select “Microphone”.
Make sure the toggle next to “Ring” is turned on to allow access.
Alternatively, you can toggle “Allow Apps to Request Access” to on. This will make sure iOS prompts you to allow microphone access when the Ring app needs it.

Once you’ve enabled access prompts in Settings, the next time you open the Ring app it will ask if you want to allow microphone access. Tap “OK” or “Allow” to let the Ring app use your microphone.

If you denied access previously, you can grant it by going to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and toggling on access for Ring.

Allowing Prompts on Android

On Android devices, you need to allow the Ring app to access your microphone when prompted. The first time you open the Ring app after installing it, you’ll get a popup asking for permission to record audio. Tap “Allow” to grant the Ring app access to your microphone.

If you accidentally denied the initial prompt, you can enable it in your Android settings:

Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone
Find the Ring app and toggle the switch to the “Allowed” position

This will allow the Ring app to prompt you for microphone access when needed for features like two-way talk. Make sure to tap “Allow” when prompted. You can also check for microphone access prompts in the Ring app by going to Device Settings > Microphone.

According to community forums, granting microphone permissions in Android settings is crucial for the Ring app microphone to function properly.

Checking Microphone Settings

To confirm that microphone access is enabled for the Ring app, go to your device’s Settings app and select Privacy & Security. From there, choose Microphone and verify that the toggle next to Ring is green (enabled).

If the microphone access for Ring is disabled, you’ll simply need to tap on Ring and toggle the switch on to allow access. This grants permission for the Ring app to utilize your device’s microphone.

If you are still experiencing microphone issues after enabling access, there are some troubleshooting tips to try:

Force close and relaunch the Ring app

Reboot your mobile device
Check the microphone permissions again to confirm access is still enabled
Make sure the microphone volume on your device is turned up

You can also try adjusting the microphone sensitivity in the Ring app settings. Increased sensitivity may help pick up audio better.

If the microphone is still not working properly for the Ring app after trying these troubleshooting steps, you may need to reach out to Ring customer support for additional help.

Adjusting Sensitivity

The microphone sensitivity on Ring devices can be customized as needed to reduce background noise or ensure voices are picked up clearly. According to Ring’s community forums, microphone sensitivity is adjusted in the Device Settings section for each device.

For Ring Doorbells, go to the device profile > General Settings > Doorbell Ring Volume to tweak the microphone level. Lowering the volume reduces sensitivity while increasing it allows softer voices to be detected. Testing different settings is recommended to find the right balance for your environment.

While an exact decibel control is not available, the volume slider provides relative adjustment. Users on Reddit have requested more granular options but this slider allows high-level tuning. Position the doorbell in an optimal location first, then fine tune with volume adjustments as needed.

Disabling Microphone Access

If you want to disable microphone access on your Ring device for privacy reasons, there are a few straightforward steps you can take.

First, open the Ring app and select your Ring device from the list. Tap on the settings icon in the top right corner. Next, go to “Privacy Settings” and toggle the “Audio Streaming and Recording” setting to off. This will disable microphone access and prevent audio recording (Ring Support).

Alternatively, you can open the Ring app, tap the menu icon, select “Devices”, choose your specific device, go to “Device Settings”, tap “Privacy Settings”, and toggle “Audio Streaming and Recording” off (Ring Help Center). This will also fully disable microphone access.

With microphone access disabled, your Ring device will no longer record audio or respond to voice commands. This gives you enhanced privacy and control over audio features.

Microphone Usage FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about microphone use with Ring devices:

Why does Ring need microphone access?

Ring devices like video doorbells and security cameras use the microphone for two-way talk features. This allows you to speak with visitors or intruders through the Ring app (source). Enabling microphone access is required for two-way audio communication.

Is the microphone always recording?

No, Ring devices only record audio when actively viewing a live stream or using two-way talk in the Ring app. At other times, the microphone remains off (source).

How can I adjust the microphone sensitivity?

You can adjust microphone sensitivity in the Audio Settings section of the Ring app. Increase sensitivity to pick up fainter noises or decrease it if the microphone is too noisy (source).

Why am I hearing an echo during two-way talk?

If you hear an echo on your end while using two-way talk, try reducing the Ring device’s speaker volume, muting it, or positioning further away to prevent feedback (source).

Conclusion

Microphone access is essential for Ring devices in order to enable two-way talking, Live View, and various smart alerts. By allowing the Ring app to access your device’s microphone through the system prompts, you ensure full functionality of your Ring devices.

In summary, enabling microphone access in iOS is done through the Settings app while in Android it is handled through the Ring app itself. You can adjust microphone sensitivity as needed in the app, and also disable access if you want to limit Ring’s functionality. Just be aware this will turn off talking and broadcasting through your Ring devices.

Some final tips: check your microphone settings periodically to make sure access is still allowed, especially after major iOS/Android updates which can sometimes reset permissions. Try adjusting sensitivity if you are having issues hearing or being heard through the Ring app. And contact Ring customer support if you need help getting microphone access properly enabled.