Ring Doorbells are some of the most popular smart tech out there, but even a simple screw can turn your high-tech doorbell back into a low-tech brick.
You have a lot of options when it comes to fixing a stripped security screw on a Ring Doorbell. Your first fix is going to be to use players to try and get this screw out. After that, you can try innovative fixes such as cutting a notch into the head of the screw and using a flathead screwdriver or placing a rubber band over it to give your Torx screwdriver some more grip.
Let’s get those stripped screws out of your Ring Doorbell so you can get back to enjoying your smart tech.
A Quick Guide to Ring Doorbells
Ring Doorbells are some of the most popular smart home electronics on the market today. They're the product that made Ring a household name around the world and you can find them on doors and porches across the country.
Ring Doorbells add some pretty interesting and smart features to the traditional doorbell. You can all video and audio chat with anybody who steps on your porch.
They also add some important security features. You can now get pictures and video of anybody that walks by the front of your house. This is especially interesting since you can also get moment-to-moment updates when deliveries are dropped off.
Ring has both wired and wireless options for the doorbell. They also have a variety of different packages bold for the type of physical doorbell you can buy as well as the optional add-on services you can get for your Ring Doorbell.
With devices this popular, you're bound to have some tech issues that need troubleshooting. Today we're going to look at one of the most common physical problems that these devices can face: a stuck screw.
The Location of Every Ring Doorbell Screw
People often wonder where the security screws are located on the Ring Doorbell. We're going to cut to the chase and let you know the location on every single model of Ring Doorbell.
This is the screw you need to remove in order to take off the faceplate on your Ring Doorbell. The screw is always located on the bottom of your doorbell:
That’s really it. Ring has stayed extremely consistent with the placement of these screws over the years. They’ve also stuck with using a Torx T6 screw in each model.
What is a Torx T6 Screw?
Let’s give a quick walkthrough for Torx screws before jumping into our fixes for today’s Ring Doorbell issue.
Torx was developed in 1967 and gained popularity in the automotive and electronics industries. It really gained popularity as a security device since Torx screwdrivers weren’t very popular.
They are still used in electronics and for security purposes, but you can pick up a Torx driver set at your local hardware shop. That might not be so good for security, but it is great for fixing a stuck screw in your Ring Doorbell.
How to Remove the Security Screw from Your Ring Doorbell
There's a lot of reasons that this screw can get stuck in your Ring Doorbell: everything from the screw getting stripped to the case warping from getting too hot can stick the screw in place. We're going to walk you through 8 simple solutions for getting the screw unstuck.
1. Follow the Ring Doorbell Manual
Your first step for removing the screw from your Ring Doorbell is going to be to follow the instructions on a manual. You're going to need a Torx T6 screwdriver in order to get this screw removed.
This is always a great place to start. The screw might just be a little stuck. Give it a few turns to see if it comes loose.
If that doesn't work, we can move on to some more interesting fixes.
2. Contact Ring Support
Here’s another place to start. This isn’t an action packed fix, but it does get the job done.
Ring devices come with a warranty. If your Ring Doorbell is still under warranty, or within the return period from the store you bought it from, it’s best to just get a new one.
This way you skip any potential problems that could come with other fixes – like cracking the case or pulling the doorbell off the door frame – and get a new doorbell that’s ready to work right out the box.
It's worth pointing out that Ring also offers replacement screws for their doorbells (for a small charge). You can also find replacement screws, as well as replacement T6 Torx screwdrivers, at local hardware stores as well as online shops.
Alright, bust out your tools because now we get to have some fun!
3. Use Pliers
The head of the screw will often strip when it's partway removed. This means that you'll get it slightly out of the case, but it will be stopped before it gets all the way out.
A quick fix for this is to grab a pair of needle-nose pliers, grip the head of the screw on either side with the players, and slowly start to twist it out.
This fix only works if you can get a good grip on the screw. so, you might need to move on to the fourth fix on our list.
4. Try Using a Rubber Band
Here's an interesting fix that you might not expect unless you've worked construction.
You can stretch a rubber band over the head of the screw, insert the T6 screwdriver, and twist as if the head of the screw wasn't stripped. A stretched rubber band will naturally fill in some of the warped and stripped areas on the head of the screw and get your screwdriver some more grip.
You'd be surprised at how stripped screws can be and still have the rubber band fix still work!
5. Get Ready to Drill
Our next fix is probably one of the most involved on this list, but if we're being honest it's also one of the most fun.
Note: You're going to need to take things slow and steady for this fix. We're using power tools and it's always a good idea to be safe rather than risky.
Your first step is going to be to take the Ring Doorbell off of the wall. It's going to be much easier to work on this if you're working on a workbench or on another stable surface.
Get a drill bit that's rated forward drilling into metal and that is significantly smaller than the width of the screwhead. Drill (at an angle) slightly into the head of the stripped screw and stop. You can then reverse the direction of your drill and there's a good chance that you'll pull the screw right out.
You can also try drilling in a smaller screw into the strip screw and using that as an anchor to grip it with pliers and unscrew it.
6. Try a Different Screwdriver
Let's take a break from some of these more involved fixes and take a look at another that's much easier.
You can always try using a different screwdriver. Sometimes you can actually get results using a larger, or smaller Torx screwdriver. The stripped head of the screw changes in size as well as shape, but you can still get at it with a different screwdriver.
You can also try Phillips, Flathead, or even an allen key to try and get at the screw. This is also a clever trick to combine with the rubber band fix we mentioned above. If the rubber band doesn't work with a Torx screwdriver, it might work with another type of screwdriver.
7. Cut a Notch into the Head of the Screw
Next, we're going to reshape the surface of the head of the screw in order to use a different type of screwdriver on it. This sounds really intense, but trust us when we say that this is a quick and easy fix.
We're starting at the exact same place where we started when we drilled into the screw. You're going to want to take your Ring Doorbell off of the wall and set it down somewhere secure such as clamps to a workbench or tied down to a table. You wanted to be secure so it doesn't accidentally slide away.
After that, you're going to need a tool like a dremel with a cutting attachment. This is going to allow us to put a notch into the head of the screw and effectively transform into a flat head screw rather than the Torx.
Once the notch has been cut into the screw, you can use a flat head screwdriver to unscrew it like a normal screw. It's best to replace the torque screw after this to prevent future problems.
This process is highlighted in the below YouTube video:
8. Why Not Remake the Head of the Screw (Trust Us)
Are last solution is also a little bit out there, but like everything else in this list it's a great work around that can wind up saving your Ring Doorbell.
What you're going to want to do is head to the hardware store and grab a nut that has the same width as the head of the Torx screw. Next, while you're still at the hardware store, pick up some liquid adhesive that is specifically rated for being able to bond metal to metal.
Your goal is to glue the nut to the head of the stripped Torx screw. Once the glue dies, you can use a wrench or pliers to grab hold of the stripped screw and twist it out!
Trust Us! This sounds a suspect approach at first, but since the security screw isn't structural (i.e. it isn't held in place by a massive force), it can be unscrewed with minimal force… once you have a decent head on the screw.
