Ring Video Doorbell F73 Error Code Fix

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What This Error Means

F73 on a Ring Video Doorbell means the doorbell failed its startup / cloud check and aborted. It’s powering up, but the brain can’t finish loading or connect to Ring’s servers, so it stays offline or stuck in setup.

Typical signs:

  • Ring app shows an F73 error during setup or when checking device status.
  • Doorbell light spins or flashes, never goes solid, and won’t come online.
  • You might hear a click or see it wake up, then it dies back to nothing useful.

Official Fix

Ring doesn’t publish much on “F73” specifically, but their official playbook treats it like a power / Wi‑Fi / firmware failure.

  • 1. Check power first.
    • Wired models (Pro, Wired, 2/3/4 hardwired): transformer must be 16–24 VAC, ideally 30 VA or higher. Read the label on the transformer or doorbell chime box.
    • Battery models: pop the doorbell off, charge it over USB until the ring is solid and the app shows 100%.
    • If the chime or transformer is buzzing, hot, or clearly ancient, that’s a red flag.
  • 2. Reboot everything.
    • Kill power to the doorbell for 60 seconds (breaker off or disconnect the two low‑voltage wires).
    • Turn power back on and let it boot for a full minute.
    • Reboot your Wi‑Fi router and any mesh nodes or extenders. Wait until Wi‑Fi is fully back up.
  • 3. Do a full factory reset on the doorbell.
    • Hold the orange / setup button for 15–20 seconds until the light pattern changes, then release.
    • Leave it alone for at least a minute while it wipes and reboots.
  • 4. Re‑add it clean in the Ring app.
    • In the app, remove the old device entry if it still shows up.
    • Tap “Set Up a Device”, pick Video Doorbell, scan the QR code, follow every prompt.
    • Stand close to your router, use 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi, and enter the exact Wi‑Fi password.
  • 5. Update software and kill anything that interferes.
    • Update the Ring app to the latest version.
    • Update your phone’s OS if it’s way out of date.
    • Turn off VPNs, “secure DNS”, and ad‑blocker apps during setup.
  • 6. Call Ring support if F73 still shows up.
    • Tell them it shows F73 even after power‑cycling and factory reset.
    • If you’re under warranty or on Ring Protect Plus hardware coverage, they usually move toward replacement.

The Technician’s Trick

Here’s what people who install these all day actually do when F73 keeps coming back.

  • 1. Hard power reset at the breaker.
    • Find the breaker that feeds the doorbell transformer and shut it off, not just the light switch.
    • Leave it off 2–3 minutes so the transformer and the Ring fully discharge.
    • Flip it back on and watch the boot sequence. If it now comes up clean, you had a hung internal state causing F73.
  • 2. Bypass the old mechanical chime.
    • Open the chime box. Follow Ring’s wiring diagram to bypass the chime coil or install the Pro Power Kit / bypass module if your kit included one.
    • Goal: take the chime’s load out so the Ring sees full voltage.
    • If F73 disappears after bypassing, your chime or house wiring was dragging voltage too low under load.
  • 3. Check voltage right at the Ring’s terminals.
    • Grab a cheap digital multimeter, set it to AC volts.
    • Probe the two screws on the back of the Ring while it’s mounted and powered: you want roughly 16–24 VAC, steady.
    • Have someone press the button. If it dips hard (around 15 VAC or less), that weak transformer is a prime suspect for F73.
  • 4. Bench‑test the doorbell off the wall.
    • Battery models: run it on USB only, on a table close to the router, and try setup again.
    • Wired models: power it from a known‑good 16–24 VAC plug‑in adapter or spare transformer with short test leads.
    • If it still throws F73 on clean test power, the main board is done. Don’t chase wiring ghosts; push Ring for a swap.
  • 5. Clean and reseat the mount.
    • Pull the Ring off the bracket. Look for green corrosion, burned spots, or loose screws on the backplate contacts.
    • Wipe contacts with isopropyl alcohol, snug the terminal screws, remount firmly.
    • Flaky contact can give “just enough” power to light up but not enough to pass self‑test, which can trigger an F73‑type fault.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Doorbell is under 3–4 years old, still under any Ring warranty / Protect Plus plan, and F73 clears after reset, stronger power, or a simple chime bypass.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Unit is older, house wiring or transformer clearly need work, and you’d be paying an electrician plus parts just to keep an aging doorbell alive.
  • ❌ Replace: F73 stays even on clean bench power, there’s water damage or heavy corrosion, or Ring offers a discounted upgrade that’s close to what a proper repair would cost.

Parts You Might Need

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