Troubleshooting Guide for Pathlight Battery

Ring Pathlights are part of the Smart Lights line of products that strengthens your Ring of Security while illuminating your home and property. Ring Pathlights are motion-sensing smart lights used in multiples to illuminate paths and accent landscape features. Battery-powered for easy no-wiring installation Pathlights also add further motion detection reach.

This article will help you keep your Ring Pathlights working their best.

If you want general information on Ring Smart Lighting, click here.

During Setup my Smart Light was not found by my Ring App. What’s going on?

If a light can’t be found by the Ring App during setup, check the following for potential causes:

Does the light blink twice when the light is powered up? If not, check the following:

• For battery devices, make sure the batteries are inserted correctly (even if you’re sure, it’s a good idea to take them all out and put them back in again - sometimes one can get turned around).
• Also check for old batteries that may have run down or whether you have batteries of different brands installed.
• If you’re unsure if the batteries are fresh, we recommend swapping them all out for new ones to ensure best results.
• For wired devices, check to make sure your circuit breaker isn’t off.

Also, be sure to double check the following:

• Check the QR code being scanned to make sure it matches the one on the device.
• The five-digit pin under the QR should match the code fixed in the battery compartment or on the unit.
• Check the range between your lights and your phone (or tablet). If the Bluetooth signal from the device can’t reach your phone (or tablet). If it’s too far apart, you may have trouble setting up.

Sometimes your phone's Bluetooth cache can cause a "Device not Found" error.

To fix this on iOS, simply reboot your phone. 

For an Android phone, clear your cache by following these instructions: 

• Go to

  Settings.
• Select

  Application Manager
• Display system apps. 
• Select Bluetooth from the list of Applications.
• Select

  Storage.
• Tap

  Clear Cache.
• Go back.
• Restart the phone.

I didn't get a motion alert when my pathlights triggered. What's wrong?

There are several possibilities. Check the following items in order:

• Check the device setting in your Ring App.
• Is the device online?
• Is the device in a Group? Is the Alert option on for that Group?
• Is the device Linked to another? What behavior is it supposed to exhibit?
• Are the motion sensors enabled?
• Check your Bridge.
• Is it online?
• Is it too far from the Pathlight?
• Is it too far from your router?
• Check your batteries.
• Check your wifi.

Click here for more information on your wifi and making sure it's working well with your Ring device.

One or more Pathlights is flashing on and off. What's going on?

There are several possibilities. Check the following items:

• Check your batteries.
• Check the area around the lights. There may be something in the area (like a small animal) that is triggering your lights.
• Check your motion sensitivity controls in the Ring app. You may have them set too high for your layout.

Click here to learn more about motion controls.

• Put each light into its own group. Check the Group with the malfunctioning light in it and see if the problem persists. Another light in the Group may be causing the malfunction.

Click here to learn more about Groups.

A Pathlight is on and isn't responding to App control. What's going on?

There are several possibilities. Check the following items.

• Check your batteries.
• Check your Auto Shut Off control in your device controls in the Ring app. You may have incorrectly set the time on the control.
• Take yourself out of the equation. Leave the area for 10 minutes to give the lights time to reset without you triggering them and then return and check the lights.

A Pathlight will not turn on. What's going on?

There are several possibilities. Check the following items:

• Check your batteries. They may be defective or incorrectly placed.
• Take yourself out of the equation. Leave the area for 10 minutes to give the lights time to reset without you triggering them and then return and check the lights.
• Make sure you're testing the lights in darkness.

A Pathlight is not communicating with other lights. What's going on?

• Make sure your light is properly set up in the Ring App.
• Make sure your lights are properly Grouped together.

Click here to learn more about Groups.

• Check barriers between the lights that may be preventing RF communication. If possible, try moving the lights closer together.

My batteries are dying really quickly. What's going on?

There are a variety of factors that affect battery life including battery brand, light settings, and the weather.

Click here to learn more about battery life and how to extend it.

The motion detection range of my lights seems pretty small. What's going on?

Motion detection range can be adjusted from the Ring App.

There's a burning smell or smoke coming from my pathlights. What's going on?

Turn off your lights immediately. Call Ring Customer Support for assistance.

I didn't get a motion alert when my pathlights triggered. What's wrong?

• Verify bridge is online in the app.
• Is bridge plugged in and powered up?
• Is home wifi active?
• Is the phone or mobile device online?
• Verify that alerts are enabled for the group of lights the light belongs to.
• Are alerts disabled?
• Is there a motion schedule active to pause alerts?
• Are alerts snoozed?

A Pathlight is on and isn't responding to App control. What's going on?

• Are you trying to control the correct light?
• Is that light online?
• Is the brightness turned down?
• Can you move the light closer to the bridge? Does that improve it?
• If you reinstall the batteries, does the light blink twice? If not, batteries might be dead.

A Pathlight will not turn on. What's going on?

• Is it day or night? If it is day, is the light sensor enabled? If so, it will only activate at night. Try disabling the light sensor to see if the light then responds to motion.
• Can you turn it on from the app?
• Is motion enabled? Is the sensitivity selected enough to detect the motion in question?

A Pathlight is not communicating with other lights. What's going on?

• Are the lights in the same group?
• Does the light blink twice if you reinstall the batteries?
• How far apart are the lights?

The motion detection range of my lights seems pretty small. What's going on?

• Is the motion sensor enabled?
• Check the light sensor. Maybe it is too light out to activate the light. Try adjusting the slider.
• Are you looking for a notification? Make sure those are enabled for the group the light is in.

A Pathlight/Steplight is not glowing dusk to dawn. What’s going on?

• Is Dusk to Dawn glow enabled under light settings? Is the light sensor enabled?
• What is the value listed on the slider? Can you move it up so the glow starts earlier in the day? This will take about 30 seconds to take effect.

How do you recover a device?

• Press the reset button. Duration depends on the situation, but seven seconds is a good start.
• Add the device back to Ring app. This will reset settings on the device as well as download any firmware updates.