Thousands of Ring doorbell users across the UK have been left frustrated after a major system failure affected the app, website and camera access, sparking concerns about home security reliability.
Reports like this have been flooding social media as users of the popular smart home security brand wake up to find their Ring systems unresponsive.
Is Ring Down? Here’s What We Know
According to outage-tracking platform DownDetector, over 4,000 complaints were logged from users struggling to access their Ring services. Here’s how the issues break down:
- 51% reported server connection problems
- 38% faced trouble with the mobile app
- 11% couldn’t log in at all
The bulk of the outage seems to have occurred overnight, catching users off guard during a time when many rely on their Ring devices for overnight surveillance and security.
That’s just one of the many posts shared on X (formerly Twitter), where users are voicing frustration and confusion. Another user posted: “Ring doorbell/cameras not working for 13hrs, I can’t view history on the app & can’t sign in on the website.”
A third added: “Seems to be an issue with Ring being down as several people are reporting the same issue. Hope they fix or provide an update soon.”
The Culprit? Amazon Web Services
Ring, when contacted for comment, pointed the finger at a broader issue plaguing Amazon Web Services (AWS) the massive cloud infrastructure that supports millions of apps and websites worldwide.
In an update, AWS confirmed it is experiencing “significant error rates for requests” in its US-EAST-1 region, affecting services like Ring that rely on its servers.
Other Major Platforms Also Affected
Ring isn’t the only casualty of the AWS disruption. Other major apps and services impacted this morning include:
- Snapchat
- Roblox
- Banking apps like Halifax and Lloyds
This wide-reaching cloud outage highlights just how dependent modern tech is on AWS infrastructure.
Many tech platforms today run entirely on cloud-based systems like AWS. When that goes down, everything else feels the ripple effect from your doorbell to your bank app. We have listed the full list of apps affected by AWS outage in a separate article.
What is Downdetector and How Does It Work?
If you’re wondering how people track outages like this, it’s likely via Downdetector — a platform that monitors online service disruptions in real-time.
It compiles data from:
- User-submitted issue reports
- Social media signals
- Web activity patterns
An incident is flagged only when the volume of reports surpasses the normal level expected for that time of day. Once validated, the information is presented live on the Downdetector site, often with an interactive outage map and list of the most common problems.
Some of the key services monitored include:
| Platform | Issues Tracked By Downdetector |
|---|---|
| Login, feed, messages | |
| Virgin Media | Broadband, TV, phone |
| App crashes, connection issues | |
| X (formerly Twitter) | Tweet loading, login failures |
Downdetector describes itself as the place “where people go when services don’t work.” And today, it’s been flooded with activity from Ring users all hoping for a fix, or at the very least, an explanation.
What Should Ring Users Do Now?
While there’s no quick fix users can apply on their end, here are a few steps to stay updated:
- Monitor AWS and Ring service status pages
- Use Downdetector to track outages in real-time
- Enable notifications on Ring’s official X (Twitter) account for updates
At the time of writing, there’s no confirmed ETA on when the issue will be resolved, but based on previous AWS disruptions, it could range from a few hours to an entire day.
Do you use Ring or other smart home devices? Have you noticed outages recently? Let us know your experience in the comments section below. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
