Ring Doorbell Not Ringing Inside the House
By the AI SmartHome Hub Editorial Team · Last updated: August 2026
When a Ring doorbell rings your phone but the indoor chime stays silent, the problem is almost always the wiring to the old chime, the doorbell's 'Chime Kit' setting, or a transformer that can't deliver enough power to both devices at once.
Common Causes
- The Ring's in-app chime settings were changed and the indoor chime was turned off
- The doorbell's Chime Kit was never installed, so the mechanical chime doesn't get triggered
- The old chime was bypassed during installation (common when wiring was tricky)
- The transformer is too weak to power both the doorbell and the chime
- The indoor chime unit itself is old, worn out, or has a broken solenoid
Step-by-Step Fix
- 1
Check the Ring app's chime settings first
Open the Ring app, select your doorbell, go to Device Settings > General Settings > Chime Settings, and confirm 'Indoor Chime' is enabled. Many units get set to phone-only during setup.
- 2
Confirm the Chime Kit is installed
Ring bundles a small Chime Kit (two-wire adapter) that must be wired inside your existing indoor chime for the mechanical bell to sound. If it was left in the box, the chime will never ring — install it per the included diagram.
- 3
Check the transformer power
The doorbell transformer should supply 16-24V AC with at least 16V available at the chime. If your chime buzzes, only half-rings, or rings faintly, the transformer is likely underpowered — upgrading it usually fixes all three symptoms at once.
- 4
Test the chime with its own wires bypassed
To isolate the Ring from the chime, temporarily connect the chime's front wire directly to its transformer wire. If the chime still doesn't ring, the chime unit itself is faulty and should be replaced.
- 5
Replace the chime if nothing else works
Older chimes with worn solenoids can't be revived by any wiring arrangement. A standard replacement doorbell chime (or Ring's own Chime) pairs in minutes and restores both indoor and app alerts.
Still stuck?
If none of these steps fixed it, describe your exact situation to our AI troubleshooting assistant for a more specific answer.
Ask the AI AssistantFrequently Asked Questions
Why does my Ring ring my phone but not the indoor chime?
Either the indoor chime is disabled in the Ring app's chime settings, the included Chime Kit adapter was never installed, or the transformer can't supply enough power for both the doorbell and the chime.
Do I need the Ring Chime Kit for my old doorbell chime?
Yes for most mechanical chimes. The Chime Kit is a small adapter that keeps power flowing through the old chime so it can be triggered by the doorbell. Without it, the physical chime stays silent.
Why does my Ring make the chime buzz instead of ring?
A buzzing or humming chime usually means low voltage from the transformer. Measure the voltage at the chime and upgrade the transformer to 16-24V AC if it reads below 16V under load.