New owners take over a Ring doorbell by having the previous owner remove it from their Ring app, or by starting a transfer request in the app if the old owner is unavailable. Ring says the previous owner should go to Devices → Device Settings → General Settings → Remove this Device ; if that isn’t possible, the new owner can begin setup and choose “I want to transfer this device” during the QR-code setup flow.

What the new owner does

  1. Open the Ring app and tap Set Up a Device.
  1. Choose the doorbell category and scan the QR code on the device or packaging.
  1. When the transfer screen appears, tap I want to transfer this device.
  1. If the doorbell is online, it must be powered off first; Ring says it can take up to 24 hours after powering off before setup is available.

What happens next

Ring emails the previous owner about the transfer attempt and gives them 15 days to respond. If they do not respond, Ring releases the device so the new owner can finish setup and gets a confirmation email. If the device is reported stolen or the transfer is blocked for another reason, Ring directs you to Customer Support.

Practical tip

If you’re buying a home or taking over a used doorbell, ask the seller to remove the device from their account before move-in; that is the fastest path and avoids the waiting period.