Ring Video Doorbell F89 Fix (Error Code Guide)

by

What This Error Means

F89 on a Ring Video Doorbell means the device failed its firmware startup or update check.
In plain terms: the doorbell tried to boot or update, glitched on power or Wi‑Fi, and is now stuck instead of coming online.

Official Fix

Do it the clean, “by-the-book” way first:

  • 1. Give it solid power.
    • If it’s a battery model: pop the battery out, charge it fully by USB (light goes solid green), then snap it back in and wait 5 minutes.
    • If it’s hardwired: make sure the inside doorbell still works or at least the transformer is rated 16–24 VAC, 30 VA. If lights flicker or the chime is weak, F89 can be a low‑power symptom.
  • 2. Force a proper reboot.
    • Press and hold the setup/reset button on the Ring (usually orange) for 20–25 seconds.
    • Release when the light ring flashes, then leave it alone for a full 2 minutes. It may reboot a couple of times; don’t touch it.
  • 3. Put it back into Setup Mode.
    • Press the setup button once quickly until you see the spinning white light.
    • Open the Ring app > tap the doorbell > Device Settings > General > Remove Device.
    • Now tap “Set Up a Device” and add it again like new. Stay close to the doorbell during this.
  • 4. Clean Wi‑Fi during setup.
    • Use a 2.4 GHz network, not 5 GHz, unless Ring specifically says your model supports 5 GHz.
    • Turn off VPNs, ad‑blocking DNS, or “guest isolation” on the router while you set it up.
    • Keep your phone and the doorbell within a few feet of the Wi‑Fi router if possible, or move the router closer temporarily.
  • 5. Let it sit and finish the update.
    • After setup completes, leave it powered and connected for at least 15 minutes.
    • If it needed a firmware update, it will usually push it now and F89 clears on its own.
  • 6. Still getting F89?
    • Power is good, Wi‑Fi is good, you’ve factory‑reset and re‑set up, and it still shows F89 or never comes online.
    • At that point Ring support usually treats it as a failed unit and offers warranty or out‑of‑warranty replacement.

The Technician’s Trick

This is the stuff the manual doesn’t spell out, but it fixes a lot of “stuck in F89” doorbells.

  • 1. Hard power drain on a wired Ring.
    • Turn off the breaker that feeds the doorbell transformer. Don’t just pop the faceplate off; kill the power.
    • At the doorbell, loosen both low‑voltage wires and pull them off the terminals. Leave it dead for 3–5 minutes so the electronics fully discharge.
    • Reconnect the wires firmly (clean copper, no corrosion, no frayed strands) and flip the breaker back on.
    • Within 30 seconds of power coming back, press and hold the setup button for a full 30 seconds. This often forces a deeper boot and lets the firmware finish.
  • 2. Bypass a weak chime circuit.
    • If you have a mechanical chime and a small transformer (10–16 VA), the Ring can brown‑out during updates and throw F89.
    • Set the Ring Pro Power Kit or wiring to “bypass” mode so the doorbell pulls power straight from the transformer, not through the chime coil.
    • After bypass, repeat the reset and setup steps. If F89 disappears, plan on upgrading the transformer so you’re not on the edge all the time.
  • 3. Use a clean temporary Wi‑Fi hotspot for the update.
    • Use a second phone to create a simple 2.4 GHz hotspot: SSID like “RingTemp”, password with only letters/numbers.
    • Put the hotspot phone right next to the doorbell.
    • Factory‑reset the Ring, set it up on this hotspot, and leave it for 15–20 minutes to grab and finish any firmware update.
    • Once it’s stable and no F89, change its Wi‑Fi in the app back to your normal router.
  • 4. Battery model “hot swap” reset.
    • Charge the battery to 100% on USB.
    • Hold the setup button down, then while holding it, slide the battery into place.
    • Keep holding for 20–30 seconds, then release and wait. This can force a cleaner boot on units stuck mid‑update.

If any of this feels out of your depth, stop at the official reset steps and call a pro or Ring support. Don’t guess at mains power or transformer wiring.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Doorbell is under 3–4 years old, no water damage, transformer is decent (16–24 VAC, 30 VA), and F89 showed up right after a power cut or Wi‑Fi issue.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: You need an electrician to upgrade the transformer or wiring just to keep this one Ring alive, and it’s already out of basic warranty.
  • ❌ Replace: You’ve done full resets, clean power, and a hotspot update, F89 still comes back, or the unit has visible corrosion or case damage — the main board is likely toast.

Parts You Might Need

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.