Why Is Ring Doorbell Black And White - A Comprehensive & Detailed Guide

Why Does Your Ring Camera Show Black and White Video?

If you’ve noticed that your Ring camera is displaying video in black and white instead of color, don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand why and how to fix it.

Reason 1: Night Vision Mode During the Day

One common reason your Ring camera might be showing black and white video is because it’s stuck in night vision mode, even during the daytime. Night vision mode uses infrared light to capture images in the dark, and this can affect the camera’s ability to display color.

How to Check for Night Vision Mode:

Look for a little red dot on your camera. If you see it, that means the night vision feature is turned on. Normally, the camera uses infrared technology to switch between night vision and regular mode.

What Can Trigger Night Vision Mode During the Day:

Sometimes, if there’s too much shade or darkness near your Ring camera, it can trick the sensors into activating night vision mode even in daylight.

How to Get Your Ring Camera Back to Color Mode

If your Ring camera is showing black and white video and you’re wondering how to fix it, we’ve got some easy steps for you to follow. Let’s go through them one by one:

Step 1: Restart Your Ring Camera

Before making any changes to your Ring doorbell settings, try restarting it. This simple step can often bring your camera back to its normal color mode. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove the doorbell from the wall and look for the orange button on the back.
Press and hold the orange button for about 20 seconds.
Keep an eye on the front side of the doorbell for a flashing light, which means it’s rebooting.
Wait for about five minutes to let the reset process finish. Make sure your Ring camera is unplugged before restarting it.

Step 2: Adjust the Infrared Settings

If restarting doesn’t work, you can tweak the infrared settings using the Ring app on your mobile phone. Here’s how:

Open your Ring app and tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
Find the device settings and click the gear icon.
Look for the night vision option in the video settings tab.
If it’s set to ‘Normal,’ change it to ‘Auto.’

In addition to adjusting the settings, check around your camera for areas with too much shade. Shade can make your Ring camera think it’s nighttime and switch to night vision mode.

Step 3: Change the Camera Location

Sometimes, having too much shade around your Ring camera can trigger night vision mode during the day. To fix this, try moving your camera to a spot with more light. While doing this, keep an eye on your mobile app’s live view to see if the issue goes away.

If moving the camera stops it from going into night vision mode, it means the previous location had too little light. Luckily, reinstalling your Ring doorbell is a straightforward process and only takes a few minutes.

Step 4: Contact Ring Technical Support

If none of the above steps work and your camera is still stuck in black and white mode, don’t worry. You can reach out to Ring’s technical support for help. They have the expertise to assist you in fixing the issue.

The Ring technical support team will guide you through various troubleshooting measures to identify the problem. Whether it’s related to video or infrared settings, they can help you get to the bottom of the issue with your spotlight cam.

In most cases, Ring’s technical support can resolve the problem and get your device working properly again. If they can’t, they typically offer a free replacement. Ring products usually come with a one-year warranty that covers unexpected technical problems with your security cameras.

Conclusion

When your Ring doorbell or spotlight cam is stuck in black and white mode, there are several ways to fix it. You can adjust the settings in the Ring app, change the camera’s location for better lighting, or seek assistance from technical support. Don’t worry; this issue is common, and there are solutions to get your Ring camera back to displaying color video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Ring Doorbell black and white?

The Ring Doorbell may display footage in black and white due to low lighting conditions. This is a common feature of many security cameras to enhance image clarity in low light situations.

Can I change the black and white footage to color on my Ring Doorbell?

Unfortunately, you cannot change the black and white footage to color on the Ring Doorbell. The device is specifically designed to switch to black and white mode in low light conditions to ensure better visibility and image quality.

Is there any way to improve the quality of black and white footage on my Ring Doorbell?

Yes, there are a few steps you can take to enhance the quality of black and white footage on your Ring Doorbell. Ensure that the camera lens is clean, adjust the positioning of the doorbell to maximize lighting, and make sure the Wi-Fi signal is strong for better video transmission.

Does the black and white mode affect the performance of night vision on the Ring Doorbell?

No, the black and white mode does not impact the performance of night vision on the Ring Doorbell. In fact, it improves night vision capabilities by capturing more details in low light conditions compared to color footage.

Can I still see visitors clearly in black and white mode on the Ring Doorbell?

Yes, despite recording in black and white, the Ring Doorbell provides clear visibility of visitors in most lighting conditions. The grayscale footage maintains enough clarity to identify individuals and capture important details.

Is there an option to switch off the black and white mode on the Ring Doorbell?

No, there is no option to switch off the black and white mode on the Ring Doorbell as it is an essential feature for optimal video quality in low light environments. The camera automatically adjusts to black and white mode when necessary.