So your Ring Doorbell Pro has a cracked button? This might just seem like an aesthetic problem, but that crack is only going to get bigger and it will eventually let water into your Ring Doorbell which spells disaster. The good news is that this is actually fairly easy to fix.
The Ring Doorbell Pro has a bad reputation when it comes to the doorbell button cracking. As far as we can tell, this is a manufacturing defect caused by the weak plastic material of the button not standing up to regular wear and tear. This can be easily fixed by getting a replacement through your warranty or through a DIY fix.
Let’s figure out why that doorbell button keeps cracking and do what we can to get it fixed.
Why Does the Ring Doorbell Pro Button Crack?
The good news is also the bad news when it comes to the ‘why' for the Ring Doorbell Pro button cracking.
Based on our research, it looks like the Ring Doorbell Pro has a button that is made out of a weaker plastic material than other models of smart doorbell. This material just can't stand up to the regular wear and tear the doorbell goes through. A doorbell should be able to stand up to repeated presses, but this doorbell button is just not made of the right stuff.
This means that there's really nothing we can do to prolong the life of the button itself. It's not if the doorbell is going to crack, but when. It just depends on how much use your doorbell button gets and how vigorously it's being pressed by your guests.
You could try going easy on your doorbell, but that's probably more hassle than it's worth. Especially when replacing the doorbell button is this easy..
Do Other Ring Doorbells Crack Like the Pro?
If you've got any other model of Ring Doorbell, you're in luck. The other doorbells made by Ring have better buttons that stand up to use, and even abuse, better than the Ring Doorbell Pro. This all just comes down to the type of plastic that Ring and Amazon have chosen for their new doorbells.
Stick with other models of Ring doorbells if you want to avoid this problem altogether.
What About Smart Doorbells from Other Brands?
It looks like other smart doorbells took the hint and made their products out of stronger plastics. Through our searching, we couldn't find other examples of this type of doorbell button cracking happening for other brands. It really does seem like Ring dropped the ball when it comes to their choice of materials for this particular component on this doorbell.
Will My Ring Warranty Cover Cracked Doorbell Buttons?
Here's the best news when it comes to a cracked Ring Doorbell Pro. Your Ring warranty does cover this damage. If your doorbell button cracks, all you need to do is get in touch with Ring and they'll send you a replacement.
Of course, at first Ring initially didn't automatically cover this type of damage – they sometimes tried claiming it was just standard “wear and tear”, which wasn't covered. However, once it became apparent that this was a fault with their product, Ring became much more reliable when it came to warranty claims for a cracked button.
However, the problem might just keep happening if you get the same material in the replacement button. You might need to turn to a DIY solution if you’re out of warranty or you want a more long-lasting fix.
How to DIY Replace Your Ring Doorbell Pro Button
Now we're back in the warm embrace of DIY. This is where smart technology started and it's where you can find the best fixes for the toughest problems. A cracked Ring Doorbell button is no exception.
One of the biggest advantages of taking the DIY approaches you get to replace the button with a custom option. If you ever thought your Ring doorbell would look great with a transparent red button or even a blue button to match the rest of the device, now's your chance to make the upgrade.
You can find replacement buttons on online markets like Etsy and eBay – some costing less than $20. There are even files online that you can use to 3D print your own. Once you’ve got your replacement button in hand, it's just a few easy steps to replace your broken button.
One last thing before we get started. Making these kinds of modifications or changes to your device is almost guaranteed to void your warranty. If your device is still under warranty, and you want to keep that warranty valid, it's probably best to try that option before going DIY.
With that out of the way, let's get started. The video below covers all the steps, or keep reading for a text guide:
Step 0: Get Your Tools
You’re going to need a few small tools to disassemble your Ring Doorbell Pro. You’ll just need a few screwdrivers and a spudger kit to get this device open. Here’s a list of tools you’ll need:
- Your Ring Doorbell Pro screwdriver that came with your device. It’s a T6 bit screwdriver, in case you lost it.
- A small, electronics or watch screwdriver set.
- A spudger kit.
Step 1: Dismantle the Housing
Use your T6 screwdriver to remove the security screw on the bottom of the device. This allows you to remove the front panel. You’ll have done this step before if you took off your front panel to screw your doorbell into the wall.
If your doorbell is still attached to the wall, you’ll want to remove it to make the rest of this process much easier.
With the cover off, you can now remove the top of the case. It’s held in place with four screws that you can remove with a screwdriver.
This cover is also held in place by a few plastic latches inside the case. Use your spudger tools to pop the case open. The top doesn’t connect to any wires or circuits so you can just pop it right off.
A rubber gasket might fall off when removing the top of the case, but this is normal. You can just line it back up when you’re reassembling your device.
Step 2: Remove the Circuit Board
The circuit board is connected with wires and screws. Be careful when working with your circuit board. You want to avoid touching it as much as possible to keep those delicate electronics safe. They can take some wear, but they are kept safely inside the device for a reason.
Unscrew the two black screws in the middle of the circuit board and then the two silver screws. The silver screws are smaller and one is on the top and the other is on the bottom.
Now that the screws are out, you want to carefully unplug the ribbon cable connected to the circuit board. There is a black latch that holds down the ribbon cable. This needs to be lifted before the ribbon cable can come free.
Use small tweezers or your spudgers to gently remove it. These cables can break easily so remember: go slow and don’t force them.
There are two cable harnesses connecting battery cables on the lower left side of the circuit board. Unplug these harnesses and you’re ready for step 3.
Step 3: Remove the Button from the Circuit Board
Slowly lift back the top of the circuit board. There are still connections on the underside, so you can’t just lift it out.
We need to undo one more ribbon cable before we can remove the button. There is a ribbon cable that runs from the button to the circuit board. Remove that ribbon cable the same way you removed the first one.
We’re now ready to unscrew the screw that holds the button down. Unscrew the button and it should freely slide out of the housing.
Step 4: Remove the Cracked Button
The cracked top of the button is only held in place with a few plastic latches. These are tricky to remove, but the good news is that your button cap is already cracked. Go ahead and pry that damaged cap off—just be careful not to damage the base.
Step 5: Replace the Button
Adding on the replacement is the easiest step. All you need to do is line up the notch on the button base with the groove on the button cap and then snap it into place. This might take a little pressure, so be careful not to damage the ribbon cable in the process.
Step 6: Reassemble Your Ring Doorbell Pro
Now your button is back together and looking great. Reverse steps 3 through 1 to get your device back together. Remember to treat those ribbon cables with care as they can break easily.
Here’s a good tip for getting them back together. Use tweezers to slot ribbon cables back into their sockets and then use a spudger to push the black plastic latch back down.
Once these steps are done, you have successfully DIY fixed your Ring Doorbell Pro:
