Can you install ring without a doorbell

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The Ring Doorbell is one of the most popular smart home devices on the market.

The intelligent doorbells combine a motion sensor, camera, two-way microphone, and recording capabilities to provide considerable security benefits for your home, as well as unparalleled levels of convenience that wouldn’t be possible with a conventional doorbell.

A common question people often have, though, is whether or not you can install a Ring Doorbell without drilling, and that’s what we’ll be answering in this article.

You can install a Ring Doorbell without drilling. Standard options include using Ring’s No-Drill mount, which uses adhesive strips to stick the doorbell to smooth, clean surfaces, or a third-party No-Theft mount for a more secure fitment. Ring’s Peephole cam will also work for doors with a peephole.

Read on to find out various methods for installing your Ring Doorbell without drilling or screwing, including those that we’d recommend and the ones that you’re better off avoiding.

We’ll also answer a few common installation questions, including whether or not you can attach a video doorbell to materials like uPVC or brick.

Can You Mount a Ring Doorbell Without Screws?

One of the (many) great things about Ring Doorbells is that they don’t need to be wired into the existing electrics like regular doorbells because they can run off the power from their batteries.

The benefit?

You don’t need to drill any unsightly holes for cables if you choose to use one of Ring’s doorbells, for example, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 shown below, in its wireless configuration (i.e. where you opt to use battery power instead of hardwiring it or using a plug-in adaptor).

©adrianhancu/123RF.COM

It’s worth noting that you don’t necessarily need to drill any holes in the wall or doorframe when mounting your Ring Doorbell, either.

So, if you’re renting a property and don’t want to upset your landlord, or you’re living in an apartment building with a particularly restrictive leasehold that prevents you from tampering with the walls, you’re in luck.

As you’ll see below, there are several ways you can mount a Ring Doorbell without screws, including some (unfortunately) common methods that we don’t recommend and two of our preferred options.

How Do You Mount a Ring Doorbell Without Screws?

If the thought of using screws to fix your new Ring Doorbell to your door, frame or wall is making you nervous, fear not because there are alternative options.

Whether you’re thinking about using adhesive strips, glue, tape, a mounting plate or Ring’s handy Peephole Cam, we’ve summarised the pros and cons of the different methods below.

Can You Hang a Ring Doorbell With Command Strips?

Command Strips are one of the go-to solutions for hanging pictures around the house, but can they also be used to mount a Ring Doorbell?

Though it may seem like a quick and easy solution that bypasses the need for any drilling or screwing into walls and doors, we wouldn’t recommend it.

Using Command Strips may be convenient, but it’s likely one of the least secure ways to install your $200+ Ring Doorbell.

Please don’t make a would-be thief’s life any easier by letting them yank your device from the wall without the need for any tools. Unfortunately, regardless of how many Command Strips you use, a thief will have your doorbell ripped off in seconds.

Probably best to save the Command Strips for mounting those family photos instead, eh?

Verdict – Not Recommended.

Can You Use Double-Sided Tape to Hang a Ring Doorbell?

As with using Command Strips, we wouldn’t recommend installing your Ring Doorbell using double-sided tape.

Again, it might seem like a viable solution that bypasses the need for any drilling (and in theory, it is), but you’re making it much too easy for an opportunistic thief to pull it off the wall in seconds.

It’s worth remembering that the less effort you put into mounting your Ring Doorbell in the first place, then the less effort it will likely take to steal it.

Verdict – Not Recommended.

Using Ring’s No-Drill Mount

Another method of securing a Ring Doorbell without drilling any holes is using Ring’s No-Drill mount.

Unfortunately, like the previous two methods, this specially designed fixing bracket relies explicitly on an adhesive for mounting.

It is available via the following link:

As with using Command Strips or double-sided tape, our main concern with this method is the potential ease of pulling it off wherever you’ve stuck it, despite the generally positive reviews the bracket has received.

Thankfully, there’s no way to tell that your Ring Doorbell hasn’t been screwed on when using the mounting bracket, which should stop it from looking like an easy target for any would-be thief.

The No-Drill mount will be most effective on smooth surfaces, for example, wood. You might find it challenging to get the double-sided tape to adhere securely to rough surfaces such as brick, rough render or shingles.

If you’re looking for a strong, durable, and weather-proof option that won’t leave a trace behind when you want to remove it, and you’re willing to accept that it won’t be as secure as screwing your Ring Doorbell in place, the No-Drill mount could be a good option.

Using an Anti-Theft Video Doorbell Mount

If you’re looking for a more secure fitment for your Ring Doorbell than you’d get using adhesive strips, then a no-theft mount could be a good option.

The mount pictured below features a sturdy plastic cover to protect your video doorbell and a stainless steel mount held in place by an adjustable hand screw. The hand screw is only accessible from the inside of the door to provide a more secure fitment.

The anti-theft, zero-drilling mount is available via the following link:

As with the other options on this list, the no-theft mount requires no drilling and is very quick and straightforward to install.

It is compatible with various Ring Doorbell models and will fit doors between 0.78″ and 2.36″ in thickness.

The mount itself and the fixing plate are reasonably unobtrusive. However, you will need to check the clearance between the door and the frame once the mount is fitted to ensure the door will close without obstruction.

Using Ring’s Peephole Cam

Most apartment buildings prevent you from tampering with external walls or doors, and this can make it particularly difficult when it comes to installing a video doorbell.

Thankfully, all is not lost.

One option is Ring’s Peephole Cam (or ‘Door View Cam’ as it’s sometimes referred to), a product first released in 2019 to serve the needs of apartment renters and anyone with a door with a built-in peephole.

The Peephole Cam is available via the following link:

Ring’s Peephole Cam not only offers a drill-free solution that needs zero hard-wiring, but in contrast to the first three options, we’d argue that it also provides a much more secure method of mounting that you can’t easily rip off.

You see, the Peephole Cam inserts through the door from the outside, with a tightening nut added on the inside of the door to keep it securely in place.

The camera offers crisp 1080p HD resolution, motion detection, Alexa support, a microphone, speaker and night vision.

Like the regular Ring Doorbell, the Peephole Cam will notify you via the app when there is someone at your door, allowing you to communicate with them from wherever you are in the world.

It even has an impact sensor that will also alert you when someone knocks on the door rather than rings the doorbell, which is a convenient feature.

Common Ring Doorbell Installation Questions

From whether or not you can install a Ring doorbell on a uPVC door to the various ways to attach it to brick, check out these common Ring Doorbell installation questions:

Can You Put a Ring Doorbell on a uPVC Door?

It is possible to install a Ring Doorbell on a uPVC door or a uPVC doorframe as shown below.

One viable option is using Ring’s No-Drill mount as covered above, as the adhesive on the mount will easily stick to the smooth surface of the uPVC provided it has been sufficiently cleaned beforehand.

©brandonkleinvideo/123RF.COM

Another option is to use the Ring Peephole Cam covered above, provided your uPVC door has a built-in peephole.

The most secure method, however, will be to install it using self-tapping screws.

It’s worth drilling some small pilot holes first to ensure you aren’t screwing directly into the metal part of the door frame, following which you should be able to successfully fix the doorbell to the uPVC frame using self-tapping screws.

The typical Ring Doorbell kit comes with a handful of T6 screws, as shown below, which unfortunately won’t be too helpful if you’re drilling into a uPVC doorframe, so you’ll have to purchase the self-tapping screws separately.

©adrianhancu/123RF.COM

Wedges and corner mounts can also be purchased separately, both of which could come in handy if the uPVC frame is an awkward shape and not the desired flat surface or if you wish to change the orientation of where the doorbell’s camera is focusing.

Can You Attach a Ring Doorbell to Brick?

Yes, you can attach a Ring Doorbell to a brick wall.

It’s important to note that adhesive strips or Ring’s No-Drill mount will not be suitable in this case, as these require a smooth surface for better adhesion.

Alternatively, you could try a grab adhesive to stick your video doorbell to a brick surface, although it’s important to make sure it won’t damage the doorbell itself or cause any issues to the brick’s face.

Again, however, the most secure method will be to screw it directly onto the wall.

Most Ring Doorbell’s come with a mounting kit that features plastic anchor bolts that you’ll need for fixing the device to the wall, although these can also be purchased relatively cheaply separately.

In Summary

It is possible to install a Ring Doorbell without drilling.

If you’re going to go down the self-adhesive route, we’d recommend bypassing Command Strips or generic double-sided tape in favor of Ring’s No-Drill mount.

Why? Not because it’s any more secure, unfortunately, because, in reality, it isn’t.

The main reason is that if your video doorbell does get stolen, we’d argue that Ring is less likely to dispute it under their free replacement service if your doorbell was using a Ring-branded mounting bracket in the first place.

Something to bear in mind with this approach, however, is that the mount will only work on smooth surfaces like uPVC, and Ring doesn’t advise using it on glass.

If you’re looking for a more secure installation option that still requires zero drilling, using a no-theft mount could be a better option.

Something that’s arguably even more secure would be using Ring’s Peephole Cam, although this will only work on doors with an existing peephole.

Again, as with using an adhesive, there is no drilling involved should you opt to go with a Ring Peephole Cam. You simply need to fix the device through the peephole and tighten a nut on the inside of the door to keep it securely mounted.

Finally, if you plan to install your Ring Doorbell on a brick wall, aside from using a grab adhesive, one of the only viable solutions is to screw it directly to the wall, as a standard adhesive strip will not work.

How do you install a Ring without an existing doorbell?

Does Ring doorbell require wiring?