Ring Camera Infrared Glare at Night

Quick Answer

Infrared glare on Ring cameras at night is caused by the camera's own IR LEDs reflecting off a nearby surface -- a wall, eave, window, or mounting bracket -- and bouncing back into the lens. The camera essentially blinds itself with its own light. The fix usually involves adjusting the camera angle, moving it away from the reflective surface, or adding a small IR-blocking shield. Turning off the built-in IR and using a separate IR floodlight can also solve the problem completely.

Why It Happens

Ring doorbells and cameras use infrared LEDs to illuminate the scene at night. These LEDs emit light at around 850nm -- invisible to the human eye but visible to the camera's sensor. The camera sensor is set to detect this reflected IR light, which is how it produces a black-and-white night vision image.

The problem arises when an IR-reflective surface is too close to the camera. The LEDs fire outward, hit the surface, and bounce straight back into the lens. The sensor sees this reflected light as an overwhelming flood of brightness, which washes out part or all of the image with a white haze, glow, or streak.

Common reflective surfaces that cause this:

The wall the camera is mounted on. If the camera is recessed into a corner or tucked under an eave, the mounting surface itself can catch IR light.
The doorbell mounting plate or wedge. Ring doorbells come with an angled mounting wedge, but if not used (or used incorrectly), the doorbell's IR LEDs can bounce off the door frame or trim.
A window or glass surface within the field of view. Glass is highly reflective to IR. A nearby window, glass storm door, or even a car windshield in the frame can create intense IR hotspots.
Light-colored or glossy surfaces. White trim, glossy paint, polished metal fixtures, and even spider webs directly in front of the lens are all excellent IR reflectors.
Protective covers or skins. Third-party silicone covers or skins that partially overlap the lens or IR LEDs can cause internal reflections.

How to Fix It

Adjust the Camera Angle

The single most effective fix. Even a small change in angle can move the IR reflection out of the lens's field of view. Ring doorbells come with corner and wedge mounts for this reason. If you are not already using the wedge, try it. A 15-degree angle change can make the difference between a washed-out image and a clear one.

For Ring Stick Up Cams and Spotlight Cams, loosen the mounting ball joint and tilt the camera slightly downward or to the side. Check the live view in the Ring app while adjusting.

Move the Camera Away from Walls and Overhangs

If the camera is mounted in a corner where two walls meet, or tight under an eave, the walls or eave soffit are almost certainly reflecting IR back into the lens. Mounting the camera farther out on a bracket or on a flat wall face with no nearby perpendicular surfaces often resolves it.

A simple test: hold a piece of black construction paper or cardboard against the suspected reflective surface and check the camera's night view in the app. If the glare disappears, you have confirmed the source.

Block the Reflection

If you cannot move the camera, you can block the IR from reaching the reflective surface. A small piece of black electrical tape placed strategically on the camera housing to shield the IR LEDs from the nearby wall can work. You are creating a tiny visor that allows the IR to project outward but not to the side where it hits the wall.

Some people 3D print or fabricate small hoods that fit over the camera body to direct the IR straight forward. Ring sells sun shades for some models that serve this dual purpose.

Turn Off Built-In IR and Use a Separate Light

This is the nuclear option, but it works perfectly. In the Ring app, you can disable the camera's built-in infrared LEDs (Settings > Device Settings > Video Settings > Night Vision). Then install a separate infrared floodlight (available for $15 to $30 on Amazon) mounted a few feet away from the camera, aimed at the area you want to monitor.

Because the IR light source is now separated from the camera, there is no reflection path back into the lens. The camera picks up the IR illumination from the separate floodlight and produces a clean, well-lit night image. Many security camera professionals consider this the superior approach for any installation, not just ones with glare issues.

Alternatively, Ring's own Spotlight Cam and Floodlight Cam models can use their visible LED floodlights for night illumination instead of IR, switching the camera to color night vision mode. This eliminates IR glare entirely but also means you have a visible light turning on with motion events, which may not be desirable for all situations.

Clean the Lens and Check for Spider Webs

A dirty lens or a spider web across the lens is a surprisingly common cause of IR glare. Spiders are attracted to Ring cameras because the IR LEDs attract insects (the spider knows this). A web directly in front of the lens is practically invisible in daylight but lights up like a floodlight under IR.

Clean the lens with a soft microfiber cloth. Check for webs regularly, especially in warmer months. Some people apply a thin smear of petroleum jelly around (not on) the lens housing to deter spiders, though this needs reapplication.

Tip

Testing Night Vision in Daylight

You do not have to wait until dark to test your night vision adjustments. In the Ring app, you can force night vision on even during the day (some models support this in the settings). Alternatively, go into a dark room with the camera and check the live view -- or simply cup your hands around the camera to block ambient light. This lets you iterate on positioning and angle changes quickly without waiting for nightfall.

If you are also dealing with your Ring doorbell not reconnecting to Wi-Fi after charging, make sure to address the connectivity issue first -- you need a stable connection to check live view while adjusting the camera angle.