How to Reset Your Ring Floodlight Camera
Ring Floodlight Cameras are popular for good reason. They combine bright motion-activated lights with a security camera, two-way audio, and siren, all in one outdoor unit. But like any connected device, they occasionally need a reset. Maybe your camera stopped connecting to Wi-Fi, you switched internet providers, or you are selling your home and need to wipe the device. Whatever the reason, resetting a Ring Floodlight Cam is straightforward once you know where the button is.
Soft Reset vs Factory Reset
There are two types of resets, and they do very different things.
A soft reset (also called a restart) simply reboots the camera without erasing any settings. Your Wi-Fi network, motion zones, notification preferences, and Ring account connection all stay intact. This is the first thing to try when your camera is acting up, such as freezing, not recording motion events, or showing as offline in the Ring app.
A factory reset (also called a hard reset) wipes the camera back to its out-of-box state. All settings are erased, and the camera is removed from your Ring account. You will need to set it up again from scratch through the Ring app, just like when you first installed it. Use a factory reset when you are giving or selling the camera to someone else, when a soft reset did not fix persistent problems, or when Ring support recommends it.
How to Soft Reset (Restart) Your Ring Floodlight Cam
The easiest way to restart your Ring Floodlight Camera is to cycle the power.
Step 1: Go to your circuit breaker panel and flip the breaker that controls the floodlight’s electrical circuit.
Step 2: Wait 30 seconds.
Step 3: Flip the breaker back on.
The camera will take one to two minutes to boot back up. You will see the status light flash, and then the camera should reconnect to your Wi-Fi network automatically. Check the Ring app to confirm it shows as online.
If your Ring Floodlight Cam is the battery-powered Wired or Plus model that plugs into a junction box but also has a battery, you can also remove and reinsert the battery to restart it.
How to Factory Reset Your Ring Floodlight Cam
The factory reset button is located on top of the camera unit, between the two floodlight panels. On some models, you may need to remove a small cover or unscrew a cap to access it.
Step 1: Make sure the camera has power (the breaker should be on).
Step 2: Locate the small orange or black reset button on the top of the camera.
Step 3: Press and hold the reset button for 15 to 20 seconds. You may need a paperclip or a small tool to reach it.
Step 4: Release the button. The front status light will flash for a few minutes as the camera resets.
Step 5: Wait until the light starts spinning or flashing in a pattern, which means the camera is in setup mode and ready to be paired again.
Variations by Model
Ring Floodlight Cam (original and Plus): The reset button is on the top of the camera housing. Press and hold for 15 seconds.
Ring Floodlight Cam Pro: The reset button is also on top, but it may be under a small rubber cover. The process is the same: press and hold for 15 to 20 seconds.
Ring Floodlight Cam Wired: This model connects to your existing junction box wiring and does not have a removable battery. The reset button is in the same location on top. Power must be on during the reset.
Re-Setting Up Your Camera After a Factory Reset
After a factory reset, open the Ring app on your phone and tap Set Up a Device. Select Security Cams, then choose your Floodlight Cam model. The app will walk you through connecting the camera to your Wi-Fi network. Make sure your phone is connected to your 2.4 GHz network during setup, as some Ring cameras do not support 5 GHz Wi-Fi (the Pro model does support dual-band).
When Should You Reset Your Ring Floodlight Cam?
Camera shows offline and won’t reconnect. Start with a soft reset. If it still will not connect, try a factory reset.
You changed your Wi-Fi network or password. A soft reset won’t help here since the camera still has your old network saved. You will need to go into the Ring app, select the device, and update the Wi-Fi settings. If that fails, a factory reset followed by fresh setup is the reliable fix.
You are selling your home or giving the camera away. Always factory reset and remove the device from your Ring account before handing it to someone else. This ensures the new owner can set it up under their own account.
Persistent glitches after software updates. Occasionally a firmware update can cause odd behavior. A factory reset clears everything and lets the camera download fresh firmware during setup.
Troubleshooting Tips
If your camera will not reset, double-check that it has power. A floodlight cam with no electricity cannot be reset. Make sure you are pressing the correct button. There is sometimes a separate button for the setup process that is different from the reset button on older models.
If the camera resets but won’t reconnect to Wi-Fi, move your router closer temporarily or check for signal strength in the Ring app’s Device Health section. Outdoor cameras are often far from the router, and weak signal is the most common cause of connection failures after a reset.
If you have recently changed your Wi-Fi password or switched routers, the camera will not automatically reconnect even after a soft reset. You will need to update the Wi-Fi credentials through the Ring app by going to the device settings and selecting “Change Wi-Fi Network.” If that option does not appear or fails, a factory reset followed by full setup is the most reliable path.
What About Recorded Video?
A factory reset does not delete videos stored in your Ring cloud account. Your recorded clips are tied to your Ring account, not to the camera hardware itself. As long as you have an active Ring Protect subscription, your existing recordings stay accessible in the Ring app even after you reset or remove the camera.
However, if you are giving the camera to someone else, remember that once you remove the device from your account, you will no longer receive motion alerts or live view access for that camera. The new owner will need their own Ring account and may also need their own Ring Protect plan if they want to save recorded clips.
