Bottom line: Ring documents separate app alert tones for doorbell presses and motion, while Nest’s documented controls focus on indoor chimes, temporary quieting, and seasonal doorbell themes. What actually makes a sound in your home depends on the doorbell model, its wiring, and whether you use a compatible smart speaker or an optional chime. A phone alert, an indoor chime, and the sound heard at the doorbell are separate outputs—not one universal ringtone setting.
What you can control with Nest and Ring
| Control or sound | Nest | Ring |
|---|---|---|
| Phone alert tones | Google’s cited guidance covers doorbell audio settings and visitor notifications, but does not describe a Ring-style selector for separate ring and motion app tones. Phone notifications are controlled separately. | Ring documents choosing one app alert tone for a doorbell press and another for motion. |
| Indoor sound | A compatible wired home chime can ring with supported wired models. Visitor announcements can also play on a compatible Google speaker or display. | A supported existing in-home chime may ring; a compatible Ring Chime or Chime Pro can provide another indoor alert option. Compatible Alexa Echo devices are another possible alternative for models that do not support an existing chime. |
| Temporary quieting | Quiet Time temporarily mutes the indoor chime and speaker or display visitor announcements. The app may still send a visitor notification. | Supported Ring Chime devices have a snooze control for Chime alerts. Ring app alert settings are separate. |
| Changing the sound | Google documents seasonal doorbell themes that may appear around some holidays. Availability can vary, and Google says the theme disappears after the holiday, returning the doorbell to its default tone. | Users can select tones for ring and motion events in the app; supported Chime devices also let users choose tones for those event types. |
These are the controls described in the manufacturers’ support guidance; they do not establish that every model or app version has identical options. Check the exact model and the settings shown in your current app.
First decide which sound you mean
Before changing a setting, identify where you want to hear the alert. A doorbell’s outside sound, a wired chime inside the house, a plug-in Ring Chime, a phone notification, and a smart-speaker announcement are distinct outputs. Changing one does not necessarily silence or change the others.
- Sound at the door: Nest seasonal themes can affect the sound played at the doorbell when a theme is available and enabled. This is different from choosing a phone notification tone.
- Existing wired chime: Whether it rings depends on the doorbell model and installation. Check compatibility before assuming either brand will work with your chime.
- Indoor smart device: Nest visitor announcements require a compatible Google speaker or display in the same Home. Ring Chime or Chime Pro can provide a separate indoor sound, subject to compatibility.
- Phone: App notifications are separate from indoor sounders. Muting an indoor chime does not necessarily turn off phone alerts.
How Nest chime and sound controls work
Adjust a supported wired digital chime
Google Home lets users adjust the duration of a digital chime on supported wired Nest doorbells. In Google Home, open the doorbell tile, open its settings, and go to the Doorbell controls. Google documents the duration control for supported wired models; it does not apply to every Nest doorbell.
#1 Best Overall
- Meet the wired Nest Doorbell; with 2K HDR video and Gemini, it knows what’s at your door and and what to do next (Gemini features require a Google Home premium subscription; try it for 1 month at no cost to you)[4]
- No need to recharge or replace batteries; the Nest Doorbell keeps you plugged into home, day and night
- The Nest Doorbell keeps your data safe with encrypted video, two-step verification, and enhanced security through your Google Account; and a green LED light lets you know when it’s processing or streaming video
- With an Advanced subscription to Google Home Premium, know more about what’s happening with notifications like “Person with flowers”[3]; get even more detailed descriptions and tap to see a summary of what happened[3]
- Video is crisp and clear in 2K HDR, the Nest Doorbell’s highest resolution yet[1,2]; see rich color and details, see in the dark with night vision, and see the bigger picture with an expanded 166° field of view[1]
Google explicitly says battery-powered Nest doorbells cannot use a digital chime. If your installation is wire-free, Google recommends a compatible speaker or display for indoor visitor announcements instead.
Use Quiet Time or turn the indoor chime off
Quiet Time is a temporary control, while the indoor-chime switch is a separate on/off setting. In Google Home, open the doorbell tile’s controls and select Quiet Time to choose a duration; you can also end it early. During Quiet Time, the normal outside doorbell sound still plays, but the indoor chime and speaker or display visitor announcements are silenced. Google says the app can still send a visitor notification.
Rank #2
- Meet the wired Nest Doorbell; with 2K HDR video and Gemini, it knows what’s at your door and and what to do next (Gemini features require a Google Home premium subscription; try it for 1 month at no cost to you)[4]
- No need to recharge or replace batteries; the Nest Doorbell keeps you plugged into home, day and night
- The Nest Doorbell keeps your data safe with encrypted video, two-step verification, and enhanced security through your Google Account; and a green LED light lets you know when it’s processing or streaming video
- With an Advanced subscription to Google Home Premium, know more about what’s happening with notifications like “Person with flowers”[3]; get even more detailed descriptions and tap to see a summary of what happened[3]
- Video is crisp and clear in 2K HDR, the Nest Doorbell’s highest resolution yet[1,2]; see rich color and details, see in the dark with night vision, and see the bigger picture with an expanded 166° field of view[1]
For longer-term control, use the indoor-chime on/off switch in the doorbell’s audio settings. Google’s documented paths are for Google Home; older devices or particular setups may use the Nest app, so labels and paths can differ.
Use a Google speaker or display for announcements
Visitor announcements require a compatible voice-assistant speaker or display configured in the same Home as the doorbell. A device’s Do Not Disturb setting prevents announcements. Phone notifications are separate and require notification access for the doorbell. See Google’s guidance on how visitor announcements work.
Rank #3
- Capture it all with Retinal 4K video — See your home or business in the ultimate clarity with Retinal 4K.
- Zoom in up to 10x — Catch details at a distance with up to 10x Enhanced Zoom.
- See, hear and speak to visitors on camera — With Live View & Two-Way Talk with Audio+, you’ll be able to interact with who’s there in real time, right from your phone.
- Tailored detection for more exact alerts — 3D Motion Detection pinpoints motion on your property so you’ll receive more precise alerts and fewer interruptions.
- True color, even in low light — With Low-Light Sight, just a little ambient light gives you true color video. In total darkness, your camera switches to crisp black-and-white to keep details sharp.
Seasonal doorbell themes are not a permanent tone library
Google says seasonal themes may appear around some holidays. When enabled, a theme plays at the doorbell and, if visitor announcements are enabled, in the home. Google says the theme leaves the app after the holiday and the doorbell returns to its default tone. Do not count on a particular theme being available: availability can vary by time and may depend on what appears in the app. See Google’s doorbell settings guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Ring app tones and Chime controls work
Choose different app tones for rings and motion
Ring’s support instructions describe selecting tones from the device’s Alert Settings and App Alert Tones controls. Choose a sound for doorbell rings and a different one for motion alerts. This lets you distinguish a button press from detected motion by sound, rather than treating every notification as the same event. Menu wording may vary as Ring updates the app; use the labels displayed for your device. See Ring’s alert-tone instructions.
Rank #4
- The Nest Doorbell has built-in intelligence and can tell the difference between a person, package, animal, and vehicles and send you an alert in the Google Home app[1], no subscription required
- Easily check in from anywhere 24/7 with live HD video with HDR and night vision[1]; see what you missed with 3 hours of free event video history[2]; or add a Nest Aware subscription (sold separately) for up to 60 days of event video history[3]
- If your Wi-Fi goes down or there’s a power outage, the Nest Doorbell will store up to 1 hour of recorded events so you can see what you missed[4]
- The Nest Doorbell is easy to install wired or wire-free; the built-in battery means it works with any door, or connect it to your existing doorbell wires with the included wire connector
- Whether you choose battery or wired installation, the battery-powered Nest Doorbell cannot continuously record 24/7 video history, even with a Nest Aware subscription
Add a Ring Chime for an indoor sound
Ring Chime and Chime Pro are optional indoor sounders, not a requirement for using Ring app alerts. Ring’s instructions describe linking a Chime-family device to a camera or doorbell, choosing whether it responds to “Rings” or “Motion Detected,” previewing a tone, and saving it. Supported devices also offer a snooze control for Chime alerts. Compatibility varies by generation and model, so confirm that your doorbell and intended Chime device work together before buying. See Ring’s Chime setup guidance.
Check existing in-home chime compatibility
Ring support lists doorbell models that do not support an existing in-home chime and points to alternatives such as a Ring Chime-family device or compatible Alexa Echo alerts. Consult the current compatibility guidance for your exact model and region before relying on existing wiring: Ring’s in-home chime guidance.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Always know who’s at the door with the wired Nest Doorbell; get an alert when someone approaches and talk to visitors at your door from anywhere[1]
- With person alerts, this video doorbell can tell the difference between a person and a thing and alert you even if they don’t ring the bell[1]
- Nest Hello is now the Nest Doorbell (wired); no matter which name is on the box, you’ll find the same great product inside
- The wired Nest Doorbell requires the Nest app; it’s not compatible with the Google Home app
- Easily check in from anywhere with 24/7 streaming and continuous video recording; go back and view a 3-hour snapshot history to see what you missed[1,2]
Which system fits your sound-control needs?
- Choose based on event-specific phone tones: Ring’s documented controls are the clearer fit if you want different app sounds for a button press and motion.
- Choose based on temporary indoor quiet: Nest documents Quiet Time for silencing the indoor chime and Google speaker or display announcements while the app may still notify you. Ring Chime snooze applies to Chime alerts, not necessarily every Ring alert endpoint.
- Choose based on a wired chime: Verify your exact doorbell model and wiring. Nest’s digital chime-duration adjustment is for supported wired models, and battery Nest doorbells cannot use a digital chime. Ring’s existing-chime support also varies by model.
- Choose based on smart-speaker announcements: Nest announcements need a compatible Google speaker or display in the same Home; Ring’s cited guidance names compatible Alexa Echo alerts as an alternative for certain installations.
- Choose based on changing the sound at the door: Nest documents seasonal themes, but they are time-limited and not guaranteed to appear. Ring’s cited tone controls emphasize app alerts and supported Chime devices.
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