How to Add Family to Ring Doorbell

Adding family members to your Ring Doorbell lets everyone in your household stay connected and secure. This guide walks you through the simple process of sharing access, customizing permissions, and troubleshooting common issues—so your whole family can see who’s at the door.

Key Takeaways

• Share access easily: Use the Ring app to invite family members via email or phone number—no need for them to buy a new device.
• Control permissions: Choose what each family member can do, like view live video, receive alerts, or delete recordings.
• Works with multiple users: Ring allows up to 20 shared users per device, perfect for large households or roommates.
• Requires Ring Protect plan: To share video history and recordings, at least one user must have an active Ring Protect subscription.
• Keep your account secure: Always use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication when adding new users.
• Troubleshoot invites: If someone doesn’t receive an invite, check spam folders or resend the invitation from the app.
• Update regularly: Keep the Ring app and device firmware updated to ensure smooth sharing and new features.

How to Add Family to Ring Doorbell: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

So you’ve installed your Ring Doorbell, tested the motion alerts, and maybe even scared off a package thief with a quick “We see you!” through the two-way talk feature. But now it’s time to bring the whole family into the loop. Whether it’s your spouse, teen driver, elderly parent, or college roommate, sharing access to your Ring Doorbell ensures everyone stays informed and safe.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to add family to Ring Doorbell—from sending the first invite to managing permissions and troubleshooting common hiccups. By the end, your entire household will be able to see who’s at the door, review past events, and respond to alerts—all from their own phones.

We’ll cover everything you need to know, including app navigation, permission levels, subscription requirements, and tips for keeping your shared access secure. No tech degree required—just your smartphone, the Ring app, and about five minutes of your time.

Why Share Your Ring Doorbell with Family?

You might be wondering: “Why should I share my Ring Doorbell? Can’t I just handle it myself?” Great question! While it’s true that one person can manage the device, sharing access offers several real benefits:

• Peace of mind: If you’re at work and your teen gets home early, they can see who’s knocking—and you’ll know they’re safe.
• Faster response: If a delivery person arrives while you’re in the shower, your partner can answer the door remotely.
• Shared responsibility: Everyone in the household becomes part of the home security team, not just the “tech person.”
• Emergency readiness: In case of a break-in or suspicious activity, multiple eyes mean quicker action and better evidence collection.

Plus, Ring makes it incredibly easy to add family members—no extra hardware, no complicated setup. Just a few taps in the app, and you’re done.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Before you begin adding family members, make sure you have the following ready:

• A Ring account: You must be the primary account holder (the person who set up the device).
• The Ring app installed: Available for free on iOS and Android.
• Your family member’s email or phone number: They’ll need this to accept the invite.
• An active internet connection: Both your phone and the Ring device should be online.
• Ring Protect plan (optional but recommended): Required if you want shared users to view past recordings.

Note: The person you’re inviting doesn’t need to own a Ring device. They just need a smartphone and the Ring app to accept the invitation.

Step 1: Open the Ring App and Navigate to Device Settings

The first step in how to add family to Ring Doorbell is accessing the right section of the app. Here’s how:

Launch the Ring App

Open the Ring app on your smartphone. If you’re not already logged in, enter your credentials. Make sure you’re signed in as the primary account holder—only the owner can invite others.

Select Your Doorbell

On the home screen, you’ll see a list of your Ring devices. Tap on the doorbell you want to share. If you have multiple Ring devices (like a doorbell and a spotlight cam), choose the correct one.

Go to Device Settings

Once you’re on the device’s live view or event history screen, look for the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner. Tap it to open the Device Settings menu.

Find the “Shared Users” Option

Scroll down until you see a section labeled “Shared Users” or “People”. This is where you’ll manage who has access to your doorbell.

Tip: If you don’t see this option, make sure your app is updated to the latest version. Older versions may have slightly different menus.

Step 2: Send an Invitation to a Family Member

Now that you’re in the right place, it’s time to invite your family member. Follow these steps:

Tap “Add Person”

Inside the Shared Users section, tap the “Add Person” button. A new screen will appear asking for contact information.

Enter Their Email or Phone Number

Type in your family member’s email address or phone number. Ring will send the invitation to that contact method. Make sure it’s accurate—typos are a common reason invites fail.

Choose Their Permission Level

Before sending, you’ll be asked to select what they can do. Ring offers three main permission levels:

• Viewer: Can see live video and event history but can’t change settings or delete recordings.
• User: Can view live video, receive alerts, and respond to motion or doorbell presses. Can also delete their own event history.
• Owner: Has full control, including the ability to add/remove other users and change device settings. (Use cautiously!)

For most family members, User is the best choice—it gives them full access to security features without letting them mess with your settings.

Send the Invitation

Once you’ve entered the contact info and selected permissions, tap “Send Invitation.” Ring will send a notification to your family member via email or SMS.

Example: If you’re adding your teenage daughter, you might choose “User” so she can see who’s at the door after school but can’t accidentally disable motion alerts.

Step 3: Your Family Member Accepts the Invitation

Now it’s your family member’s turn to complete the process. Here’s what they need to do:

Check Their Email or Text Messages

They should receive a message from Ring with a link that says something like: “You’ve been invited to share a Ring device.”

Tap the Link

The link will open either in a browser or directly in the Ring app (if installed). If they don’t have the app, they’ll be prompted to download it from the App Store or Google Play.

Create or Log In to a Ring Account

If they don’t already have a Ring account, they’ll need to create one using the same email or phone number you invited. If they do have an account, they’ll log in.

Accept the Invitation

Once logged in, they’ll see the invitation details—device name, permission level, and your name. They just need to tap “Accept” to gain access.

Tip: If they don’t see the invitation, ask them to check their spam or junk folder. Sometimes Ring emails get filtered out.

Step 4: Verify Access and Test the Setup

After your family member accepts the invite, it’s time to make sure everything works correctly.

Check the Shared Users List

Go back to the Ring app, open your doorbell’s settings, and look under Shared Users. You should now see their name and permission level listed.

Test Live View

Ask your family member to open the Ring app and tap on your doorbell. They should be able to see the live video feed. Try walking to the door—do they get a motion alert?

Test Two-Way Talk

Have them press the talk button and say something. You should hear them through the doorbell’s speaker. This confirms audio is working both ways.

Review Event History

If you have a Ring Protect plan, they should also be able to scroll through past events and watch recordings. If they can’t, double-check that your subscription is active.

Pro Tip: Do a quick “test ring” by pressing the doorbell button. Both of you should receive a notification and be able to answer.

Managing Permissions and Removing Users

Just because you’ve added someone doesn’t mean you’re stuck with them forever. Ring makes it easy to adjust permissions or remove access at any time.

Change Permission Levels

To change what a family member can do:

• Go to Device Settings > Shared Users
• Tap on their name
• Select a new permission level (Viewer, User, or Owner)
• Save changes

Example: If your college roommate is moving out, you might downgrade them from “User” to “Viewer” so they can still see who’s at the door but can’t delete recordings.

Remove a User

To completely remove someone:

• Go to Shared Users
• Tap on their name
• Select “Remove Access”
• Confirm the action

Important: Removing a user doesn’t delete their Ring account—it just revokes access to your device. They can still use Ring for other devices they own or are shared on.

Ring Protect: Why It Matters for Shared Users

If you want your family members to see past events and recordings, you’ll need a Ring Protect plan. Here’s why:

• Without Ring Protect: Shared users can only see live video and real-time alerts. They can’t review past motion events or doorbell presses.
• With Ring Protect: Everyone with access can scroll through event history, watch saved clips, and download recordings.

Ring Protect starts at $3.99/month per device or $10/month for unlimited devices. It’s a small price to pay for full security visibility across your household.

Note: Only the primary account holder needs to have Ring Protect. Once it’s active, all shared users benefit from the recording features.

Tips for Secure and Smooth Sharing

Sharing your Ring Doorbell is convenient, but it’s important to do it safely. Here are some best practices:

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Make sure both you and your family members use strong passwords for your Ring accounts. Avoid common phrases like “password123” or “ring2024.”

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Go to the Ring app > More > Settings > Two-Factor Authentication and turn it on. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code from your phone when logging in.

Limit Owner Access

Only give “Owner” permissions to people you fully trust. Owners can remove you from your own device—yikes!

Regularly Review Shared Users

Every few months, check who has access. Remove ex-roommates, old partners, or anyone who no longer needs to be there.

Keep the App Updated

Ring frequently releases updates with bug fixes and new features. Make sure everyone in the household updates their app regularly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with the best setup, things can go wrong. Here’s how to fix the most common problems when adding family to Ring Doorbell.

Invitation Not Received

Symptom: Your family member says they never got the invite.

Solution:

• Double-check the email or phone number you entered.
• Ask them to check spam/junk folders.
• Resend the invitation from the Shared Users menu.
• Ensure their email provider isn’t blocking Ring messages.

Can’t Accept the Invitation

Symptom: The link doesn’t work or gives an error.

Solution:

• Make sure they’re using the correct email/phone to log in.
• Try opening the link in a different browser or the Ring app.
• Clear the app cache or reinstall the Ring app.
• Contact Ring Support if the issue persists.

No Live Video or Alerts

Symptom: Your family member can see the device but gets no video or notifications.

Solution:

• Check that the doorbell is online (green light in the app).
• Verify their permission level—Viewers may have limited access.
• Ensure their phone notifications are enabled for the Ring app.
• Restart the Ring app and their phone.

Recordings Not Showing Up

Symptom: Past events are missing for shared users.

Solution:

• Confirm that Ring Protect is active on the primary account.
• Check that the event was recorded (motion sensitivity may be too low).
• Ensure the shared user has “User” or “Owner” permissions.
• Wait a few minutes—sometimes recordings take time to process.

Device Shows as “Offline”

Symptom: The doorbell isn’t responding for anyone.

Solution:

• Check your Wi-Fi connection.
• Restart the doorbell by removing and reinserting the battery (or turning off the power for hardwired models).
• Move your router closer or use a Wi-Fi extender if signal is weak.
• Update the device firmware via the app.

Advanced Tips for Families with Multiple Devices

If you have more than one Ring device—like a doorbell, indoor cam, and floodlight cam—you can share them all with the same family members.

Share All Devices at Once

Instead of adding users device by device, you can share your entire Ring location:

• Go to the Ring app > More > Locations
• Select your home
• Tap “Shared Users” and add people there

This gives them access to all devices at that location with the same permissions.

Customize by Device

You can also set different permissions per device. For example, your teen might be a “User” on the doorbell but only a “Viewer” on the indoor camera for privacy.

Use Groups for Roommates or Extended Family

If you live with roommates or have frequent visitors (like grandparents), consider creating a “Viewer” group so they can see who’s coming and going without full access.

Conclusion: Keep Your Family Safe and Connected

Adding family to your Ring Doorbell isn’t just a tech trick—it’s a smart way to strengthen your home security and keep everyone in the loop. Whether it’s making sure your kids get home safely, coordinating package deliveries, or just knowing who’s knocking at 10 p.m., shared access makes life easier and safer.

By following this guide, you’ve learned how to add family to Ring Doorbell in just a few simple steps: sending invites, setting permissions, verifying access, and troubleshooting issues. With the right setup, your whole household can be part of your home’s security team.

Remember to keep your app updated, use strong passwords, and review shared users regularly. And if you haven’t already, consider upgrading to Ring Protect for full recording access—your family will thank you the next time they need to review a suspicious event.

Now go ahead—invite your spouse, your teen, your mom, or your best friend. The more eyes on your door, the safer everyone feels.