Ring officially does not support VPNs, but with the right protocol and configuration — split tunneling, router-level exclusions, or self-hosted setups — you can make them work together. We break down the three best technical approaches and the tools that enable them.
Short answer: not easily. Ring officially does not support VPNs.1 The company warns that VPNs introduce latency, cause IP blocks, and break the live-view feature. If you flip on a standard "app-level" VPN and open the Ring app, you'll likely see "Device Offline" or a spinning wheel that never resolves.
But that doesn't mean you have to choose between security and your doorbell. With the right protocol and a bit of configuration, you can run a VPN and keep Ring working.
Ring cameras need a stable, low-latency connection to their cloud servers. A VPN routes your traffic through an extra hop, which adds latency. Worse, Ring's servers sometimes see traffic from a VPN IP and block it — they can't distinguish a legitimate user from someone trying to mask an attack.1
The fix isn't to ditch the VPN. It's to keep Ring's traffic off the tunnel while everything else stays protected.
Most modern VPN clients let you choose which apps use the tunnel and which bypass it. You simply exclude the Ring app from the VPN. Ring connects directly to the internet, while your browser, email, and everything else stay encrypted.
Works with: WireGuard (via most clients), OpenVPN (via most clients).
If your Ring camera connects to Wi-Fi, you can set up the VPN on your router and then exclude the camera's IP or MAC address from the tunnel. The camera never touches the VPN. This is the cleanest approach because the camera itself doesn't need any configuration — it just sees the open internet.2
Works with: OpenVPN (router firmware), PiVPN (self-hosted on your network).
If you must route Ring through the VPN (e.g., you're on a public Wi-Fi network), switch to WireGuard. It uses a leaner cryptographic kernel than OpenVPN and typically adds 5–15 ms of latency instead of 30–50 ms.2 That can be the difference between a live view that loads and one that times out.
We're focusing on protocols and self-hosted tools here — not "VPN services" — because the workaround is about how you tunnel, not who you tunnel through.
Best for: low-latency setups and split tunneling.
WireGuard is the modern gold standard for VPN protocols. Its kernel-level implementation means less overhead and lower latency than OpenVPN. If you're on a public network and need to keep Ring working, WireGuard gives you the best chance of a usable live view. Most WireGuard clients also support split tunneling natively.
Best for: router-level configuration and device exclusions.
OpenVPN is the most widely supported protocol across router firmware (DD-WRT, OpenWrt, pfSense). If you want to run the VPN at the router level and exclude your Ring camera by IP or MAC, OpenVPN is your safest bet. It's heavier than WireGuard, but the router-level approach means the camera never touches the tunnel anyway.
Best for: self-hosted control on a Raspberry Pi.
PiVPN is a lightweight script that turns a Raspberry Pi into a WireGuard or OpenVPN server. You get full control over routing rules, split tunneling, and device exclusions — all on a $35 device that sits on your own network. It's the most flexible option if you're comfortable with a little command-line work.
| Feature | WireGuard | OpenVPN | PiVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latency overhead | Very low (5–15 ms) | Moderate (30–50 ms) | Depends on protocol chosen |
| Split tunneling | Native in most clients | Native in most clients | Manual routing rules |
| Router-level setup | Supported (limited) | Widely supported | Yes (as server) |
| Ease of setup | Easy (app-based) | Moderate (config files) | Moderate (script-based) |
If you want the simplest fix: use a VPN client with split tunneling and exclude the Ring app. If you want the most reliable fix: run the VPN on your router and exclude the camera's IP. And if you're starting from scratch, pick WireGuard for lower latency.
Ring may not support VPNs, but with these workarounds, you don't have to choose.
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