Troubleshooting tampered Ring Alarm sensors

What to know

Ring Alarm sensors have a built-in tamper switch that triggers a Tampered status in the Ring app when the sensor's cover, mount, or housing is opened, shifted, or not fully closed. Reseating the sensor cover and confirming a secure fit resolves most tamper notifications within a few minutes. 

Sensors covered in this article 

• Contact Sensor (1st Gen and 2nd Gen) 
• Contact Sensor (3rd Gen) 
• Outdoor Contact Sensor (1st Gen) 
• Outdoor Contact Sensor (2nd Gen) 
• Panic Button
• Smart Button

How to disarm your Ring Alarm before troubleshooting 

Disarm your Ring Alarm system before working on any tampered sensor. This prevents the alarm from triggering while you reseat the cover. To disarm your Ring Alarm system in the Ring app: 

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard. 
2. Tap the

   Alarm

   tile under

   Devices

   . 
3. Tap

   Disarm

   . The system status changes to

   Disarmed

   . 

How to reseat your sensor cover 

A tamper notification usually means the sensor cover has shifted slightly or the device is not seated flush against its mount. Select your sensor below and follow the steps to confirm a secure fit. 

Contact Sensor (1st Gen, 2nd Gen) and Outdoor Contact Sensor (1st Gen) 

Applies to: Contact Sensor (1st Gen), Contact Sensor (2nd Gen), Outdoor Contact Sensor (1st Gen) 

If your sensor shows as tampered, the cover has likely shifted from its mounting bracket. For the Outdoor Contact Sensor (1st Gen), also check that the device has not shifted or fallen from your outdoor gate, fence, or shed due to weather. 

1. Slide the sensor off its mounting bracket. 
2. Check the battery status in the Ring app. Replace the batteries if they are low. 
3. Remove the batteries, wait a few seconds, then reinsert them. Match the polarities (+ and −) to the markings inside the battery compartment. 
4. Slide the cover back onto the mounting bracket until you hear it snap into place. 
5. Confirm the magnet is properly positioned. 

• Contact Sensor (1st Gen): The magnet must be no more than 1/2 inch from the sensor. 
• Contact Sensor (2nd Gen) and Outdoor Contact Sensor (1st Gen): The magnet must be no more than 1 inch from the sensor. 

Important: The process of removing coin cell batteries might differ depending on the type of Contact Sensor (2nd Gen) you have. You might need a small tool, such as a screwdriver, to remove the batteries from their casing. 

Contact Sensor (1st Gen) only

If the sensor is still showing as tampered after reseating, remove the cover or front plate and press and hold the tamper button for five seconds. 

Contact Sensor (3rd Gen) 

Applies to: Contact Sensor (3rd Gen) If your Contact Sensor (3rd Gen) shows as tampered, the battery cover or screw is likely not fully secured. 

1. Check the battery status in the Ring app. Replace the battery if it is low. 
2. Remove the battery, wait a few seconds, then reinsert it with the correct polarity. 
3. Slide the battery cover fully into place. You should feel it snap when it locks in. 
4. Tighten the screw on the battery cover securely using a small Phillips-head screwdriver. 
5. Confirm the magnet is properly positioned, no more than 1 inch from the sensor. 

Tip: If the battery cover does not snap cleanly, loosen the screw slightly, reseat the cover, and then retighten. 

Outdoor Contact Sensor (2nd Gen) 

Applies to: Outdoor Contact Sensor (2nd Gen) 

If your Outdoor Contact Sensor (2nd Gen) shows as tampered, the battery cover or wall mount fit is likely not fully secured. 

1. Check the battery status in the Ring app. Replace the battery if it is low. 
2. Close the battery cover on the bottom of the device. Press firmly until you hear both snaps lock into place. 
3. Align the device with its wall mount so the sensor sits flush against the mount. 
4. Tighten the screw on the side of the device until the sensor is held securely against the mount. 
5. Run a finger along the top and bottom edges of the device. You should feel a smooth, continuous seam with no gap. If you can feel a gap, the tamper switch is not fully engaged. 

Tip: If you notice a gap between the sensor and the wall mount after tightening the screw, loosen the screw slightly, press the device flush against the mount, and then retighten. 

Panic Button, and Smart Button 

Applies to: Panic Button and Smart Button 

These two devices use the same twist-lock cover mechanism. If any of them shows as tampered, the twist-lock cover is likely not fully seated. 

1. Check the battery status in the Ring app. Replace the battery if it is low. 
2. Look at the bottom of the device. You will see a tick mark on the device and a lock icon on the base. 
3. Align the tick mark with the lock icon. 
4. Twist the cover clockwise using only your fingers until you hear a click. No tools are needed. This confirms the cover is fully closed and locked. 
5. Confirm the tick mark is aligned to the lock icon. If it is not aligned, or you did not feel the click, continue twisting gently clockwise until the cover seats completely. 

How to verify the tamper has cleared 

After reseating your sensor, it might take a few minutes for the sensor to reconnect with the Base Station. 

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard. 
2. Tap the

   Alarm

   tile under

   Devices

   . 
3. Tap

   Connected Devices

   . 
4. Select the sensor you reseated. 
5. Confirm that the

   Tampered

   indicator is no longer showing. 
6. Confirm that the device shows as online. 

If the tamper indicator has not cleared after five minutes, proceed to the additional troubleshooting steps below. 

Additional troubleshooting if reseating did not clear the tamper 

If reseating the cover did not resolve the tamper notification, try retrying the connection, removing and reinstalling the sensor, or reconfiguring the device. Before performing these steps, confirm the device is properly positioned, your Ring Alarm system is disarmed, batteries are installed correctly, and the cover is securely in place. 

How to retry the connection 

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard. 
2. Tap the

   Alarm

   tile under

   Devices

   . 
3. Tap

   Connected Devices

   . 
4. Select the tampered sensor. 
5. Tap

   Device Settings

   . 
6. Tap

   Advanced Options

   . 
7. Tap

   Retry Connection

   and follow the directions on screen. 

Check the sensor in the app to confirm the tamper indicator has cleared. 

How to remove and reinstall the sensor 

To remove the sensor: 

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard. 
2. Tap the

   Alarm

   tile under

   Devices

   . 
3. Tap

   Connected Devices

   . 
4. Select the tampered sensor. 
5. Tap

   Device Settings

   . 
6. Tap

   Remove

   at the bottom of the screen. 
7. Tap

   Remove

   again to confirm. 

If your sensor has a pinhole reset button, use a paperclip to quickly press and release it. To reinstall the sensor: 

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard. 
2. Tap

   Set Up a Device

   at the bottom of the screen. 
3. Follow the prompts to add your sensor. 
4. Confirm that the sensor is no longer showing as tampered. 

How to reconfigure the sensor 

1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard. 
2. Tap the

   Alarm

   tile under

   Devices

   . 
3. Tap

   Connected Devices

   . 
4. Select the sensor you want to reconfigure. 
5. Tap

   Device Settings

   . 
6. Tap

   Advanced Options

   . 
7. Tap

   Reconfigure Device

   and follow the instructions on screen. 

Confirm that the sensor is no longer showing as tampered. 

Frequently asked questions 

Why does my Ring Alarm sensor keep showing as tampered after I reseat the cover? 

If a sensor repeatedly shows as tampered after reseating, the mounting bracket or wall mount might be loose, causing the sensor to shift over time. Tighten the bracket screws and confirm the sensor sits flush against the mount with no movement. 

Can a low battery cause a tamper notification on a Ring Alarm sensor? 

A low battery does not directly trigger a tamper notification, but it can cause communication issues that delay tamper status updates. Replace the battery before troubleshooting to rule out power-related issues. 

What is the difference between a tamper alert and an offline notification? 

A tamper alert means the sensor's physical tamper switch detected that the cover, mount, or housing was opened or shifted. An offline notification means the sensor lost communication with the Base Station, which is a separate issue unrelated to the tamper switch.