This guide walks you through the simple process of adding someone else to your Ring Doorbell, so they can view live video, receive alerts, and manage notifications. Whether it’s a family member, roommate, or trusted neighbor, sharing access is secure and easy with Ring’s built-in sharing features.
Key Takeaways
- Share access securely: You can invite others to use your Ring Doorbell without giving them your login credentials.
- Multiple user types available: Choose between Owner, Admin, and Guest roles depending on how much control you want to give.
- Easy setup via the Ring app: The entire process takes just a few taps in the Ring mobile app on iOS or Android.
- Customize permissions: Limit what each user can do—like viewing live video or receiving motion alerts—based on their role.
- Revoke access anytime: Remove users instantly if they no longer need access or if you’re concerned about security.
- Works with all Ring Doorbells: This method applies to Ring Video Doorbell, Doorbell Pro, Doorbell Elite, and newer models.
- No extra hardware needed: Sharing access is a software feature—no additional devices or subscriptions required.
How to Add Someone Else to Ring Doorbell
Adding someone else to your Ring Doorbell is one of the best ways to keep your home secure while sharing responsibilities with family members, roommates, or even trusted neighbors. Whether you’re going on vacation and want your neighbor to watch for packages, or you live with roommates who should all be able to see who’s at the door, Ring makes it simple and safe to grant access.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to add another person to your Ring Doorbell using the Ring mobile app. We’ll walk you through each step, explain the different user roles, show you how to customize permissions, and help you troubleshoot common issues. By the end, you’ll feel confident sharing access without compromising your security.
Let’s get started!
Why Share Access to Your Ring Doorbell?
Before diving into the steps, it’s helpful to understand why you might want to share access in the first place. Ring Doorbells are designed not just for individual use, but for household security. Here are a few common scenarios where sharing access makes sense:
- Family members: Spouses, older children, or elderly parents who live with you may need to see who’s at the door when you’re not home.
- Roommates or housemates: If you share a home, everyone should be able to monitor deliveries, visitors, or suspicious activity.
- Trusted neighbors: During vacations or extended absences, a neighbor can keep an eye out for packages or unusual activity.
- Property managers: If you rent out a property, you might want your manager to monitor the doorbell for maintenance or security issues.
- Caregivers or babysitters: Temporary access can be granted to caregivers who need to monitor arrivals or respond to visitors.
Sharing access doesn’t mean giving up control. Ring allows you to assign different levels of permission, so you decide exactly what each person can and can’t do.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before you begin adding someone to your Ring Doorbell, make sure you have the following:
- A Ring Doorbell installed and connected: Your device should already be set up and working with the Ring app.
- The Ring mobile app: Download the free Ring app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Your Ring account login: You must be logged in as the Owner or an Admin to add new users.
- The email address of the person you’re adding: They’ll need a valid email to receive the invitation.
- An active internet connection: Both your phone and the Ring Doorbell should be connected to Wi-Fi.
Once you’ve confirmed these items, you’re ready to proceed.
Understanding User Roles in Ring
Ring offers three types of user roles, each with different levels of access and control. Understanding these roles will help you decide how much access to give each person.
Owner
The Owner is the person who originally set up the Ring Doorbell. This user has full control over the device and account, including:
Visual guide about How to Add Someone Else to Ring Doorbell
Image source: storables.com
- Adding or removing other users
- Changing device settings
- Managing subscriptions (like Ring Protect)
- Deleting videos or events
- Transferring ownership to another user
There can only be one Owner per device. If you’re the Owner, you’re in charge of managing access.
Admin
An Admin has nearly the same permissions as the Owner, but cannot transfer ownership or delete the device from the account. Admins can:
- View live video and recorded events
- Receive motion and doorbell alerts
- Adjust motion zones and sensitivity
- Add or remove Guest users
- Manage device settings (like chime settings or video quality)
This role is ideal for spouses, partners, or trusted household members who need full access but don’t need to manage the account itself.
Guest
Guests have limited access and are perfect for temporary or restricted users. Guests can:
- View live video when they open the app
- Receive motion and doorbell alerts (if enabled)
- Talk through the doorbell (if two-way audio is supported)
However, Guests cannot:
- Change device settings
- View past recordings (unless you enable event history sharing)
- Add or remove other users
- Manage subscriptions
This role works well for babysitters, house cleaners, or neighbors you want to grant temporary access.
Step-by-Step: How to Add Someone to Your Ring Doorbell
Now that you understand the roles, let’s walk through the process of adding someone to your Ring Doorbell. The steps are the same whether you’re adding a family member, roommate, or neighbor.
Step 1: Open the Ring App
Launch the Ring app on your smartphone or tablet. Make sure you’re logged into the account that owns the doorbell.
Step 2: Go to the Device Dashboard
Once the app opens, you’ll see your device dashboard. This shows all your Ring devices, including your doorbell. Tap on the doorbell you want to share access to.
Step 3: Access Device Settings
On the device screen, look for the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner. Tap it to open the device settings menu.
Step 4: Select “Shared Users”
Scroll down in the settings menu until you find the “Shared Users” option. Tap on it to view the list of people who already have access to the doorbell.
Step 5: Tap “Add Shared User”
At the top of the Shared Users screen, you’ll see a button labeled “Add Shared User.” Tap it to begin the invitation process.
Step 6: Enter the User’s Email Address
Type in the email address of the person you want to add. This must be the same email they use for their Ring account (if they have one) or the email they’ll use to create a new account.
Step 7: Choose the User Role
Select the appropriate role: Admin or Guest. (Only Owners can assign these roles.) If you’re unsure, start with Guest—you can always upgrade their access later.
Step 8: Send the Invitation
Tap “Send Invitation.” The person will receive an email with a link to accept the invitation. They’ll need to open the link and either log in to their existing Ring account or create a new one.
Step 9: Wait for Acceptance
Once they accept the invitation, they’ll appear in your Shared Users list. They can now open the Ring app and access your doorbell based on the permissions you assigned.
Customizing Permissions for Shared Users
After adding someone, you can fine-tune what they can see and do. Here’s how to customize their access:
Enable or Disable Alerts
You can choose whether a shared user receives motion alerts, doorbell rings, or both. To adjust this:
- Go to Shared Users
- Tap the user’s name
- Toggle “Motion Alerts” and “Doorbell Alerts” on or off
For example, you might allow a neighbor to receive doorbell alerts but not motion alerts to reduce unnecessary notifications.
Share Event History
By default, Guests cannot view past recordings. To allow them to see event history:
- Go to the user’s profile in Shared Users
- Enable “Share Event History”
This is useful if you want a caregiver to review recent activity while you’re away.
Adjust Motion Zones (Admins Only)
Admins can modify motion zones and sensitivity. If you don’t want them changing these settings, keep them as a Guest instead.
How to Remove Someone from Your Ring Doorbell
If someone no longer needs access—like a former roommate or temporary caregiver—you can remove them instantly.
Step 1: Open the Ring App
Go to the device dashboard and select your doorbell.
Step 2: Go to Shared Users
Tap the gear icon, then select “Shared Users.”
Step 3: Find the User
Tap on the name of the person you want to remove.
Step 4: Remove Access
Tap “Remove User” and confirm your choice. They will immediately lose access to the doorbell and stop receiving alerts.
Tip: If you’re removing a Guest, they won’t be notified. Admins may receive a notification that their access was revoked.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with a simple process, you might run into a few hiccups. Here are solutions to the most common problems.
The Invitation Email Isn’t Received
If the person doesn’t get the invitation email:
- Check the spam or junk folder
- Confirm the email address was entered correctly
- Resend the invitation from the Shared Users screen
- Ensure the email isn’t already associated with another Ring account
If they have an existing Ring account with a different email, they’ll need to update their email or use the correct one.
The User Can’t See the Doorbell in Their App
After accepting the invitation, the doorbell should appear in their app. If it doesn’t:
- Ask them to log out and log back into the Ring app
- Force close the app and reopen it
- Check that they’re logged into the correct Ring account
- Ensure your device is online (check the status in your app)
Alerts Aren’t Working for the Shared User
If the person isn’t getting notifications:
- Verify that alerts are enabled for their role
- Check their phone’s notification settings for the Ring app
- Make sure “Do Not Disturb” or “Silent Mode” isn’t blocking alerts
- Confirm they haven’t muted the device in their app
“Add Shared User” Option Is Grayed Out
If you can’t add a user, it may be because:
- You’re not the Owner or an Admin
- Your Ring Protect subscription has expired (some features require an active plan)
- You’ve reached the maximum number of shared users (Ring allows up to 20 shared users per device)
Log in as the Owner or renew your subscription if needed.
Best Practices for Sharing Ring Doorbell Access
To keep your home secure while sharing access, follow these best practices:
- Only share with trusted individuals: Avoid giving access to people you don’t know well.
- Use Guest roles for temporary access: This limits what they can do and makes it easy to revoke later.
- Regularly review shared users: Check your Shared Users list monthly and remove anyone who no longer needs access.
- Enable two-factor authentication: Protect your account by requiring a code when logging in from a new device.
- Monitor activity logs: Ring keeps a record of who views live video or accesses recordings—review it periodically.
- Communicate expectations: Let shared users know when and how they should use the doorbell.
Does Sharing Access Require a Ring Protect Plan?
A common question is whether you need a Ring Protect subscription to share access. The answer is no.
Basic sharing features—like inviting users and granting live view access—are free and available to all Ring users. However, some advanced features do require a Ring Protect plan:
- Viewing past recordings: Without a plan, shared users can only see live video. With Ring Protect, they can access event history.
- Extended video storage: Recordings are saved for longer with a subscription.
- Person detection and advanced alerts: These features are part of the paid plan.
If you want shared users to see past events, consider subscribing to Ring Protect. Otherwise, basic sharing works perfectly without it.
Can You Add Someone Who Doesn’t Have a Ring Account?
Yes! When you send an invitation, the person doesn’t need to have a Ring account yet. The email invitation includes a link to create a free Ring account. Once they sign up, they’ll automatically gain access to your doorbell based on the role you assigned.
This makes it easy to share access with neighbors, friends, or family members who are new to Ring.
Sharing Access with Multiple Doorbells
If you have more than one Ring Doorbell (or other Ring devices like security cameras), you can share access to all of them at once—or individually.
When you add a shared user, you’ll be asked which devices they can access. You can select:
- All devices
- Specific devices (e.g., only the front doorbell)
This is useful if you have a doorbell at the front and back of your house, and you only want the neighbor to monitor the front.
What Happens If You Move or Sell Your Home?
If you’re moving or selling your home, it’s important to remove all shared users before transferring ownership.
To do this:
- Go to Shared Users and remove each person
- Then, transfer ownership to the new homeowner via the Ring app
This ensures the new owner starts with a clean slate and full control over the device.
Conclusion
Adding someone else to your Ring Doorbell is a simple, secure way to enhance your home’s safety and convenience. Whether you’re sharing access with a spouse, roommate, or trusted neighbor, Ring’s flexible user roles and easy-to-use app make it possible in just a few taps.
By following this guide, you’ve learned how to invite users, assign roles, customize permissions, and troubleshoot common issues. You now have the tools to share access responsibly and keep your home secure—no matter who’s watching the door.
Remember: only share with people you trust, review access regularly, and use Guest roles for temporary needs. With these practices, your Ring Doorbell will continue to be a valuable part of your home security system.