Use Ring’s in-app Transfer Ownership workflow—not an app uninstall, subscription cancellation, Wi-Fi change, or physical removal—to hand a Ring camera or doorbell to someone else. The current owner opens Menu (☰) → Settings → Location Details → Transfer Ownership, selects the device, enters the recipient’s email, and submits the request. Download important clips first, because ownership transfer and video retention are separate issues.
What Ring ownership means
The owner is the Ring account that originally registered and set up the device. A Shared User can view or operate a camera but does not own it and cannot perform the owner’s removal workflow. The recipient must claim the device on a separate Ring account.
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| Role | What it means |
|---|---|
| Owner | Controls registration, transfer, recordings and account-level settings. |
| Shared User | Has delegated access; adding one does not change ownership. |
| New owner | Sets up the transferred device on their own Ring account and Wi-Fi. |
| Location | A Ring account grouping that may contain several cameras, doorbells or other devices. |
Ring says device removal must be performed in the app, not on Ring.com. Menu labels can vary by country, device category and app version. See Ring’s current instructions at Transfer ownership of a Ring device.
Before you start the handoff
- Confirm you are signed in as the account owner, not a Shared User.
- Ask the recipient for the email address on their Ring account. They should use their own account rather than your login.
- Download clips needed for an insurance claim, delivery dispute, police report, neighbor or tenant matter, or personal archive.
- Review Shared Users and Alexa-linked access. Remove people who should not retain access after the handoff.
- Identify the product category. Camera and doorbell transfers are documented differently from some Ring Alarm, Echo Bridge, Sidewalk and Smart Lighting products.
- Have the device, its QR code or serial number, the new Wi-Fi credentials and any required mounting or power equipment available.
How the current owner transfers a Ring camera or doorbell
- Open the Ring app.
- Tap Menu (☰).
- Tap Settings.
- Under Location Details, tap Transfer Ownership.
- Tap Create Request.
- Choose Transfer devices to someone else.
- Select the camera, doorbell or other eligible devices.
- Tap Continue.
- Enter the new owner’s email address.
- Confirm the devices and tap Continue.
Ring allows up to 25 devices per transfer request. Transferred devices appear deactivated in the former owner’s app. Ring says this workflow cannot be canceled; restoring a device to the former account requires setting it up again. The recipient should then open Ring using their own account and complete setup, including Wi-Fi, Live View, notifications and any desired plan.
#1 Best Overall
- Outdoor Cam (Stick Up Cam) Battery is a battery-powered camera that’s built for outside, but ready for anywhere.
- Live View and Two-Way Talk - See, hear, and speak to people on camera and can check in on your home any time through the Ring app.
- Place almost anywhere - Place on a flat surface or mount to a wall with the versatile mounting bracket. Add-on the Mount for Outdoor Cam (Stick Up Cam) for ceiling mount (sold separately).
- Cover every corner - Watch over your entire home by connecting one or multiple Outdoor Cams (Stick Up Cams) to the Ring app.
- Rechargeable Battery - Easily setup Outdoor Cam (Stick Up Cam) Battery by inserting the battery pack and connecting to Wi-Fi.
If the recipient has already requested ownership
The former owner receives an email and mobile notification. To approve the request, follow this path:
- Menu (☰) → Settings → Location Details → Transfer Ownership.
- Tap New transfer request.
- Select the devices to approve.
- Tap Continue, confirm the devices and tap Transfer.
If the request is unwanted, use the same path, choose Reject request, then tap Reject.
What happens to recordings
Save wanted videos before beginning. Ring’s deactivation controls distinguish between keeping and deleting Event History:
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Keep Events
In the Ring app, go to Menu (☰) → Devices → select the device → Device Settings → General Settings → Remove Device → Keep Events → Deactivate Device. Eligible recordings remain available to the former owner until they expire, and Ring says a subscription is required to view recordings.
Rank #2
- Powerful protection for any property* — 1080p HD security camera for your home or business with motion-activated LED floodlights, 105dB security siren.
- Real-time alerts* — Get motion-activated notification when anyone steps in view of your camera.
- Customizable Motion Zones* — Fine-tune which areas you want to focus on in the Ring app.
- Light up large outdoor areas* — 2000 lumen motion-activated floodlights give unwanted visitors nowhere to hide.
- Sound the siren with a tap* — Activate the 85dB siren from the Ring app to send unwanted visitors running.
Delete Events
Use Menu → Devices → device → Device Settings → General Settings → Remove Device → Delete Events. The former owner loses access to that device’s Event History. This does not erase copies already downloaded or separately shared, and it does not cancel the attached subscription.
Retention is not indefinite
Ring’s current U.S. plan page says eligible motion-event videos can be stored for up to 180 days, subject to plan, feature, region and account settings: Ring Protect plans. The new owner does not receive the former owner’s Event History through the transfer workflow.
Does transferring cancel Ring Protect?
No. Ring explicitly says transferring a device does not cancel the attached Ring subscription. The former owner must separately review renewal and billing. Ring does not state that the plan automatically moves to the recipient, so the new owner should check which coverage is available on their own account after setup. A plan is not required to complete ownership transfer; Ring says basic live-answer and alert functions can remain available without one, while recorded video and advanced features may require a subscription.
When the former owner cannot be contacted
The recipient can start Ring’s ownership-request process:
Rank #3
- Look in anytime – Watch over your home or business day or night in wide-angle, 1080p HD video with Color Night Vision and see what’s happening with Live View.
- Stop intruders in their tracks – With 2 motion-activated LED spotlights that turn on when they detect motion, and sound the built-in security siren with just a few taps.
- Focus on important areas – Customizable motion zones let you choose exactly what your camera covers – so you only get notified about what matters most.
- Convenient Power – Easily power your device with the Quick Release Battery Pack.
- Speak to visitors on camera – Talk to guests anytime, from anywhere with Two-Way Talk.
- Open the Ring app and tap Set Up a Device at the bottom of the dashboard.
- Follow the setup prompts. If the QR code fails, choose Set up a non-Ring device or choose manually.
- Tap Request Ownership.
- Choose Request All for the whole Ring location, or Only This Device for one camera or doorbell.
Ring notifies the previous owner by email and mobile notification. For cameras and doorbells, Ring documents a process that can leave the device on the former account for up to 15 days while notices are sent; if the owner does not respond, it is automatically removed from that account. This 15-day rule should not be generalized to Alarm, Echo Bridge, Sidewalk or Smart Lighting products.
Take the device offline if Ring requires it
If the device is online, disconnect its power or remove its battery. Ring says it can take up to 24 hours after powering off before the device is ready, and it should remain offline while the request is pending. Backup Internet and Amazon Sidewalk connections may be treated differently. Ring Support cannot expedite a pending ownership-release request.
Transfer, Shared Access, deactivation or deletion?
| Situation | Use | Important consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Selling or gifting to a known recipient | Transfer Ownership | Clean handoff; the old app may show a deactivated entry. |
| Leaving the device behind while preserving old clips | Keep Events, then transfer | Viewing recordings requires an eligible subscription. |
| No old footage is needed | Delete Events | Old Event History access is lost. |
| Temporary or continuing access | Shared User | The original owner remains owner. |
| The same owner is moving the device | Change Wi-Fi or location settings | Do not use an ownership transfer. |
To remove a Shared User, open the device’s More (•••) → Device Settings → Shared Access, select the location if prompted, choose the person and remove them. Alexa devices linked to that person’s Ring account may need separate cleanup. Ring’s access guidance is at Manage access to your Ring account and devices.
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Moving home is not automatically an ownership change
If you are taking your own device to a new property, use the relevant Wi-Fi or location settings. If the camera stays for a buyer or incoming tenant, use Transfer Ownership. Physically uninstalling it, deleting the Ring app or changing the location does not release the account registration. Ring’s moving guidance is available at Moving with your Ring devices.
Rank #4
- Get the whole picture – Watch over your home day or night in 1080p HD video with Live View and Color Night Vision.
- Video previews – Record a few extra seconds before every motion event with Advanced Pre-Roll to get a more complete picture of what happened.
- Privacy at your fingertips – Turn off your camera and mic with the manual Privacy Cover, then reactivate with a simple swivel.
- Get important alerts – Get real-time alerts when the camera detects movement, and choose exactly what your camera covers so you only get notified above movement that matters.
- Versatile mounting options – Find the perfect angle on a table, or mount up high with the flexible swivel mount. Indoor Cam is plug-in, making it easy to move where you need it.
Troubleshooting common handoff failures
“Transfer Ownership” is missing
- Verify that you are the account owner.
- Update the Ring app and check the correct location.
- Try the app rather than Ring.com.
- Confirm you are using the email address that originally registered the device.
The buyer still sees an ownership error
Deleting the app, canceling Ring Protect or removing the hardware does not release ownership. The seller must complete the in-app transfer or the buyer must begin Request Ownership.
The QR code will not scan
Choose Set up a non-Ring device or choose manually, then use the device’s serial number or MAC address when prompted.
Several devices appear in the request
Choose Only This Device unless every device at that Ring location is intended for the new owner. Do not select Request All casually.
A retailer-sold device is registered to someone else
Return or exchange it through the retailer where appropriate, or use Ring’s ownership-request process. Ring Support may investigate, but it does not promise an instant release and cannot expedite the documented waiting period.
Best Value
- Capture it all with Retinal 2K video — From wide views to tighter focus, it’s easy to see your home or business in crisp clarity with Retinal 2K.
- Zoom in up to 6x — Catch details at a distance, inspect faces, and more with up to 6x Enhanced Zoom.
- Connect to who’s there — See, hear, and speak in real time with Live View and Two-Way Talk.
- Get real-time alerts — Receive real-time notifications on your phone when motion is detected.
- Easily recharge — Simply insert the included removal tool to detach your doorbell from the wall, then recharge the built-in battery via USB-C. (Cable not included.)
Alarm, Bridge, Sidewalk or Smart Lighting is involved
Stop and check Ring’s product-specific instructions. Transfer behavior is not identical across these categories, and some Smart Lighting scenarios may require manual removal or depend on future support.
Privacy and account-security checklist
- Export every clip you need before transfer or deletion.
- Remove unwanted Shared Users and review linked Alexa access.
- Sign out of Ring on devices that should no longer control the account.
- Never give the buyer your Ring password.
- Confirm the buyer is using a separate Ring account.
- Check whether your Ring Protect renewal will continue billing.
Ring’s Control Center provides account, verification, Shared User and linked-device controls.
After the buyer receives the device
- Accept the transfer notification, or finish the ownership request.
- Keep the device offline if Ring instructs you to do so.
- Set it up under the buyer’s Ring account and connect the new Wi-Fi.
- Test Live View, motion alerts, doorbell calls and recording behavior.
- Choose a Ring Protect plan only if the required recording or advanced features justify it.
- Check the device’s name, location, users and Alexa integrations.
Use only model-compatible batteries, chargers, mounts, wedges, solar accessories or power supplies. Ring lists accessories at Ring accessories; a replacement camera is needed only when the inherited unit is unsuitable, damaged or incompatible with the installation.
Quick Recap
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