Authorities say 31-year-old Reginal Davis followed the woman into the lobby of her building in Morris Heights around 6 a.m. Tuesday.
He allegedly threatened her with a gun while going through the her pockets looking for money.
He took off without getting any cash.
Davis is 5-foot-9 and weighs about 220 pounds.
Anyone with information in regards to this attempted robbery is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.