To reset a used Ring doorbell without the previous owner, keep it powered, hold its setup button for 20 seconds, release it, then request ownership during setup in the Ring app. A factory reset does not remove the previous owner’s account registration, so you must also complete the ownership release process before registering it yourself.
If you can reach the seller, ask them to transfer or remove the doorbell from their Ring account. Otherwise, submit an ownership request from your own account and allow up to 15 days. Ring Support cannot expedite that release.
The short version
- Factory reset: Hold the powered doorbell’s setup button for 20 seconds, then release it.
- Account ownership: Resetting the hardware does not release its registration to another account.
- Transfer request: During setup, select Request Ownership, then Only This Device.
- Waiting period: Allow up to 15 days for automatic removal if the registered owner does not respond.
| Option | When you need it |
|---|---|
| Hardware factory reset | Prepare the powered doorbell for setup |
| Peephole Cam 2K button access | Reach the button beneath the outdoor faceplate |
| Drained battery recovery | The doorbell stays unresponsive after charging |
| Owner initiated transfer | The seller can transfer the doorbell to you |
| Owner deactivation | The seller wants to retain eligible recordings |
| Owner deletion | The seller does not need continued access to recordings |
| Recipient ownership request | The previous owner is unavailable |
| Owner approval | The registered owner can approve your request |
| Transfer email or notification | Review a transfer or begin recipient setup |
| Automatic release | The registered owner does not respond |
| Request review or rejection | Check progress or decline an incorrect request |
| Original account sign in | You originally registered it under another login |
| Retailer return or exchange | A retail purchase remains ownership locked |
| Ring Customer Support | Reset, setup, or transfer problems persist |
| Released doorbell setup | Add the doorbell to your account |
| Temporary network connection | Your phone cannot connect automatically during setup |
| Wi-Fi reconnection or change | Your own doorbell needs a network change |
| App reboot | Restart an accessible doorbell connected to Wi-Fi |
| Physical power cycle | Restart through the battery or power supply |
| Internal battery reboot | Restart hardware with a built-in battery |
| Ring app installation | Prepare your phone or tablet for setup |
| iPhone or iPad app update | Update Ring through the App Store |
| Android app update | Update Ring through Google Play |
| Model manual download | Find the correct mounting and faceplate instructions |
Prepare your account and identify the doorbell
Open Ring’s official app download page on your phone or tablet to reach the appropriate app store. Search for Ring, select Ring - Always Home, install it, and tap Open. Create or sign into your own Ring account. Ring requires iOS 17 or later or Android 9 or later.
Charge a battery doorbell before starting, and have your home Wi-Fi password ready. Identify the exact model so you can expose its setup button and QR code correctly. Ring gives general button locations by doorbell family, but mounting and faceplate instructions depend on your model.
Open Ring’s device manual directory, select Ring video doorbells, then choose Battery Doorbells or Wired Doorbells. Download the manual matching your doorbell and follow its mounting or faceplate instructions to access the button and QR code.
Reset the doorbell with its setup button
With the doorbell powered, hold its setup button for 20 seconds, then release it. Ring places the button on the back of internal battery models, on the front beneath the faceplate of removable battery models, and on the right side beneath the faceplate of wired models. Check your model’s instructions before removing parts, since those locations are general guidance.
For a Peephole Cam 2K, remove the outdoor assembly’s faceplate using firm, even pressure around its edges. Hold the exposed setup button for 20 seconds, release it, and replace the faceplate afterward. Its outdoor button access differs from older Peephole Cam hardware.
After resetting, continue with account release and setup in the Ring app. Repeating the reset will not remove the previous owner’s registration or replace an ownership transfer.
Ask the seller to release the doorbell
Ask the registered owner to open the Ring app’s Menu and select Settings > Transfer Ownership, under Location Details. Have them select Create Request > Transfer devices to someone else, select the doorbell, and tap Continue. They can enter your email address or skip that step, then confirm and tap Continue.
The owner can also release the doorbell by removing it from their account. Ask them to open Menu > Devices, select the doorbell, then open Device Settings > General Settings and select the option to remove the device. Their next choice determines what happens to their recordings.
Selecting Keep Events, then Deactivate Device, releases the doorbell while retaining eligible recordings until they expire. A Ring subscription is required to view those recordings. Selecting Delete Events instead releases the doorbell and removes the former owner’s access to its Event History.
Uninstalling the Ring app, physically removing the doorbell, or canceling a subscription does not release ownership. The seller must complete the transfer or device removal process. Manual device removal is unavailable on Ring.com.
Request ownership without the previous owner
Open the Ring app while signed into your own account and select Set Up a Device. Follow the device identification prompts, then select Request Ownership when setup identifies the existing registration. Choose Only This Device to request the used doorbell.
The alternative, Request All, requests the Location’s devices. Use Only This Device when you received just the doorbell. Ring provides this request process when the previous owner is unavailable, deceased, or incapacitated.
If you originally registered the doorbell yourself, sign into the Ring account you used for that setup. Correcting the login is the first step when your own device appears registered to another account. If it belongs to someone else’s account, continue with the ownership request.
Check the transfer and complete the release
Check your request through Menu > Settings > Transfer Ownership, then select the request. You can also open Ring’s transfer email link or mobile notification to review or respond through the available app or website flow.
Ask the registered owner to approve your request through Menu > Settings > Transfer Ownership > New transfer request. They select the doorbell, tap Continue, then select Transfer. Your recipient completion link starts setup.
Allow up to 15 days after submitting the request. If the registered owner does not respond, Ring allows automatic removal of the doorbell from their account. Support cannot shorten that waiting period.
The owner can reject your request, so submitting it does not guarantee a completed transfer. If it is rejected or the device cannot be transferred, contact Ring for help. For an ownership locked retail purchase, you can also return or exchange the doorbell with its original retailer.
Set up the doorbell on your account
Once the doorbell is released or transferred, use the completion link or select Set Up a Device in the Ring app. Scan the QR code on the back or beneath the faceplate. If scanning fails, tap Set up a non-Ring device or choose manually.
Select or create a Location, name the doorbell, and follow its preparation prompts. Press the setup button, then select Light is Spinning White in the app. On iOS, tap Join; on Android, follow the automatic connection or tap Connect when prompted.
If your phone does not connect automatically, open its Settings > Wi-Fi. Select the temporary network named Ring- or Ring Setup followed by the device’s letters or numbers, then return to the Ring app. Android manufacturers may organize Wi-Fi settings differently.
Select your home Wi-Fi network, enter its password, and tap Continue. Allow any firmware update to finish.
Fix an unresponsive doorbell
If a battery doorbell will not turn on after its battery drains, charge it from a USB wall charger for 30 minutes. For a Peephole Cam 2K, remove the rear cover and battery pack instead, charge the pack fully with the included USB-C cable, then slide it back in until it clicks. If it remains unresponsive, Ring’s recovery procedure is to disconnect the charger, then hold the front doorbell button while holding the setup button for a 30-second factory reset. Ring does not specify which models support this recovery, so reserve it for that drained battery problem and contact Support if it fails.
For a physical restart of a removable battery model, remove the battery pack for 10 seconds, then reinsert it. For a plug-in device, unplug it for 10 seconds, then reconnect it. For a wired device, turn off its power source or circuit breaker, then restore power.
For an internal battery reboot, Ring says to briefly press and hold the setup button; reaching it may require removing the doorbell from its mounting position. Ring does not specify an exact duration for that reboot, which differs from the 20-second factory reset. These restarts do not release account ownership.
Update the Ring app and get help
Ring recommends keeping its app updated for the latest features, so update it before trying setup again. On iPhone or iPad, open the App Store, tap My Account or your account photo, select App Updates, then tap Update beside Ring.
On Android, open the Google Play Store and tap your profile icon. Select Manage apps & device > Updates available > See details, then tap Update beside Ring.
If setup still fails or the ownership request remains unavailable, open Ring’s contact page and select Chat Now or Call Us. For telephone assistance, select your region and country; the United States number is +1 800-656-1918. Explain whether the doorbell is unresponsive, setup fails, or the transfer is blocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Shared User release a doorbell for your account?
Only the account owner can deactivate or delete the doorbell to release ownership. A Shared User can remove their own access, but that does not release the device for your account.
Does removing a Ring doorbell cancel its subscription?
Deleting or deactivating the doorbell does not cancel its subscription. The account holder must handle subscription cancellation separately.
Can you use the Ring desktop app for setup or ownership release?
The old Ring desktop app for Windows and Mac is no longer available. Use the Ring mobile app for setup and account release operations; Ring.com provides supported browser viewing features.
Do you need a factory reset just to change Wi-Fi?
You can change Wi-Fi without a factory reset when the doorbell is already accessible on your Ring account. Open Menu > Devices, select the doorbell, then open Device Health and choose Reconnect or Change Network under Network. Follow the prompts to update the connection.
How do you reboot a doorbell from the Ring app?
For an accessible doorbell connected to Wi-Fi, open Menu > Devices and select the doorbell. Open Device Health, scroll to Reboot This Device, and confirm. Wait a few minutes for the restart, which does not perform a factory reset.
How can the registered owner reject an incorrect transfer request?
If you are the registered owner, open Menu > Settings > Transfer Ownership > New transfer request. Select Reject request, then Reject to decline it.
How do you enable automatic Ring app updates on iPhone or iPad?
Open Settings > Apps > App Store and turn on App Updates. This enables automatic app updates, including updates for Ring.
How do you enable automatic Ring app updates on Android?
In Google Play, open Manage apps & device > Manage > Ring, open More, and turn on Enable auto update. To configure automatic updates for all apps instead, tap your profile icon and open Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-update apps. Choose the connection you want to permit for updates.