6 IFTTT applets to make your Ring video doorbell even smarter
Installing a video doorbell like the Ring 2, which we recently reviewed at GearBrain, is a great way to make your home smarter.
But, as if often the case, a whole range of extra features can be added for free via the If This, Then That (IFTTT) platform.
Read More:
- What is IFTTT? Getting started with the If This Then That smart home automation platform
- Ring Video Doorbell 2 review
After a weekend of experimenting with the Ring Video Doorbell 2, here are some of our favorite IFTTT applets for getting more out of the security device.
Blink your Philips Hue lights when someone rings the doorbell
IFTTT
We already have our Ring doorbell configured to chime through a pair of Amazon Echo Dot speakers and send a notification to our smartphone. But this isn't always enough to get our attention — especially if we're upstairs without our phone.
To solve this, we have an IFTTT applet which blinks our Philips Hue lights when the bell is rung. That way, we have a visual sign wherever Hue lights are installed — in our case, that's the lounge, office, bedroom and roof terrace.
There are also applets to do this with LIFX and Wiz smart lights, plus the TP-Link Kasa platform.
LIFX Bulbs available on Amazon
Switch on Hue lights when motion is detected
IFTTT
This applet has the potential to turn any Hue bulbs into a security light, and is particularly useful now that Philips sells Hue lights designed for the garden. At its simplest, the applet will switch a Hue light on when the Ring detects motion by your door.
This could be an outdoor light to illuminate the front step, a set of lights inside to make it look like someone is at home, or anything you like. You can also set the applet to switch the lights off after a certain amount of time, and for them not to switch on at all during the day. Applets with this ability are also available for LIFX,WeMo, and TP-Link Kasa platforms.
Philips Hue Bulbs Available on Amazon
Reduce the Sonos volume when someone rings the bell
IFTTT
Another simple way to get our attention, this applet lowers the volume of our Sonos One speaker when the Ring is pressed. This not only gets our attention, but also makes it easier to speak to whoever's there via the Ring smartphone app; no need to shout over the music to say you're on your way to the door.
Pause TiVo when the doorbell rings
IFTTT
On a similar note, there's no need to grab the remote and hit pause with this applet, as it will automatically stop your TiVo box when the Ring's button is pressed.
Send an SMS when the doorbell rings
IFTTT
As we said earlier, we use the Ring smartphone app to get our attention. But, as crazy as it may sound, not everyone has a smartphone. For those people — elderly relatives, for example — this applet can be setup to alert them with a simple SMS.
This also means anyone on a particularly strict digital detox can ditch the smartphone for a few days and still be alerted to the door, whether they are within earshot of the Ring's chime or not.
Ring Chime Available on Amazon for $29.99
Pause robotic vacuum cleaner when doorbell is rung
IFTTT
This applet works with Neato vacuum cleaners, which are automatically paused when the doorbell rings. That way, you and the visitor can more easily hear what each other is saying through the Ring smartphone app.
An applet also does this with Roomba vacuum cleaners, which will automatically stop and return to their charging dock when the bell is rung.
