How to connect to an existing ring doorbell

I recently moved to a new place due to work-related assignments and found a new house to live in along with my family.

The only problem is that the new neighbourhood is known for its crime and other unlawful activities, especially theft and burglary.

Luckily for me, the house’s previous owner had an already installed Ring doorbell to secure his home and surroundings.

But unfortunately, the access to the Ring doorbell still rests with him, and I needed to find a way to change the user settings in the doorbell, which I knew was not a hard task.

I referred to some youtube videos and blog posts on the Ring’s website and found some possible solutions.

You can connect to an already installed Ring doorbell by resetting the device, changing the payment details, deleting the previous owner’s device from the app or by reaching out to Ring’s support team for assistance.

If you ever wondered how to make use of an already installed Ring doorbell, then you are at the right place.

Here is the step-by-step guide to connecting to an existing Ring doorbell used by the previous owner.

Give Access to the Ring Doorbell to the New Owner

If you have moved to a new house and find that the Ring doorbell has already been installed and used by the previous owner, it makes your life easier.

All you need to do is get in touch with the previous owner and ask for access to the Ring doorbell.

But what if the previous owner is out of town or out of reach? In that case, you can reset the doorbell on your own simply by resetting it manually.

You can reset it by removing the screw set underneath the Ring doorbell and pressing the reset button.

Upon resetting the doorbell, you can start afresh by creating a new user account and password.

Cancel the Payment Plan of the Old Owner

You also need to ensure that the existing payment details are not tied to the old owner.

Changing the payment plan is quite easy. Here are the steps to change the payment details of the Ring doorbell.

Open the web browser and navigate to the official Ring website.
On the top right corner of the web page, you will find the login link.
Enter the valid credentials to log in.
Once you log in, the account holder’s name will be displayed on the top right corner of the page.
To change the payment details, go to “Account”.
Press the “X” symbol near the credit card details to cancel or delete the payment details of the old owner.
Enter your credit card details to ensure that the billing is under your name.

You can follow the above steps from the device of your choice, such as PC and mobile phone.

The downside of not changing the payment details is that Ring will charge the old owner for your usage.

Deleting the Device from the Old Owner’s Account

From my understanding, the Ring app can be downloaded, installed and used on multiple devices such as PC, smartphone and tablet.

Meaning, if the previous owner on his device uses the Ring app, he can still have access to your Ring doorbell features and receive alerts.

You can become the sole owner of the account by deleting the previous owner’s account from the Ring app and linking your smartphone to the app.

By linking our device with the Ring app, you will have full access to the already installed Ring doorbell.

Here are the steps to be followed to remove his device from the Ring App.

Launch the Ring app on your device.
Click on the three-dotted lines on the top right corner of the page.
Click on the option “Devices”.
Select the device that you want to unlink or delete from the app.
Click on “Device settings” and navigate to “General settings”.
Select the option “Remove this device”.

Revoking Access to the Ring Doorbell from All Other Users

You may find that the house’s previous owner had given access to the doorbell to some of his friends and relatives who visit him frequently.

If you find other users or guest users in the Ring app, you can also revoke access or unlink their devices from the Ring app.

By now, you would know that all guest users can access some basic features of the Ring doorbell, such as viewing the stored videos and sharing them.

According to my findings found on the Ring support page, removing the guest users from the app is suggested as it is considered a good practice while transferring the user account.

The steps to revoke the shared access are given below.

Begin by launching the Ring app on your smartphone.
Navigate to “Settings”.
Click on “Users”.
Tap on the option “Shared users”.
Then proceed to click “Remove user”.

Reset the Ring Doorbell

You can also Reset the Ring doorbell to erase all the data and settings used by the previous owner.

You can easily do this with the help of a screwdriver.

Firstly, unmount and unscrew the Ring doorbell from the wall.

Once you unmount the device, follow the below steps to reset the doorbell.

Begin by removing the backplate of the doorbell.
You will find an orange button that is designed to reset the device.
Press and hold the orange button for 20 seconds to initiate the reset process.
Once you release the button, you will find the front of the device flashing, which means that the device is performing the reset process.
Wait until the reset process is complete.

Now start again by setting up the Ring doorbell account with a new account and password.

If you are new to setting up the Ring doorbell, then here are the steps to follow to set up the Ring doorbell.

Charge the Ring Doorbell’s Battery

There are chances that the resetting process can drain your battery, even though the Ring Doorbell Battery can last quite a few months.

So before you begin the setup process, ensure that the battery is fully charged.

You can charge the battery by plugging it into a USB port using the orange cable with the device. You might find that the Ring Doorbell isn’t charging, but this should be taken care of with a simple Reset.

You will find the LED blinking green when the doorbell battery is fully charged. You’ll find sometimes that the Ring Doorbell won’t work after charging.

Set Up a Ring Doorbell (1st gen)

If you are using a 1st generation Ring doorbell, then here is the step by step guide to set up the device.

Download the Ring app on your smartphone.
Launch the Ring App. If you are a new user, begin by selecting “Create Account” and following the in-app instructions.
If you already have an account and a Ring device installed, then open the app, log in and tap on “Set up a device”.
Select “Doorbells”.
Provide your location details in the app and proceed to name your device.
The next step is to set up your device by pressing the orange button at the back of your Ring doorbell.
You will notice a spinning white light at the front of your device, indicating that the setup is in progress.
Connect to the Ring device from your app using Ring’s temporary wifi access point.
Now using the Ring app, connect to your home wifi network.
Test your device by pressing the front button of your doorbell, as this will initiate the updated software getting it ready for use.

You can also check out the Ring’s support page for guidelines to set up the 1st generation doorbell.

Set Up a Ring Doorbell (2nd gen)

The procedure to set up the 2nd generation Ring doorbell is similar to the first except for the battery part.

The Ring doorbell 2nd generation comes with a removable battery that can be detached from the device for charging purposes.

Another difference is the battery is placed underneath the front plate for the 2nd generation.

The steps to set up the 2nd generation Ring doorbell are as follows.

Charge the removable battery using the orange USB cable.
Insert the battery into the doorbell by opening its faceplate.
You need to hear a click sound to ensure that the battery is secured properly and turn on the doorbell while you wait for the device to boot up.
Download the Ring app on your smartphone.
Launch the Ring app. If you are a new user, begin by selecting “Create Account” and following the in-app instructions.
If you already have an account and a Ring device installed, then open the app, log in and tap on “Set up a device”.
Select “Doorbells”.
Provide your location details in the app and proceed to name your device.
The next step is to set up your device by pressing the orange button at the back of your Ring doorbell.
You will notice a spinning white light at the front of your device, indicating that the setup is in progress.
Connect to the Ring device from your app using Ring’s temporary wifi access point.
Now using the Ring app, connect to your home wifi network.
Test your device by pressing the front button of your doorbell, as this will initiate the updated software getting it ready for use.

You can also check out the Ring’s support page for guidelines to set up the 2nd generation doorbell.

Set Up Ring App Preferences

You can also customize the Ring app settings, such as setting the recording intervals, snapshots, enabling motion-based alerts and choosing the motion zone that needs to be recorded.

You can adjust the recording intervals by following the below steps.

Go to the Dashboard of the Ring app.
Tap on “Devices” and go to “Device Settings”.
Select “Video Recording length” and tap “Max recording length.”
From the list, you can choose the recording length from 15 seconds to 120 seconds.

If you want to get snapshots of the objects outdoors, you can do so by following the procedure below.

Go to the Dashboard of the Ring app.
Tap on “Devices” and go to “Device Settings”.
Tap on “Snapshot Capture”.
Activate the Snapshot feature and the Snapshot frequency time and save the settings by clicking on “Save” on the top right corner of the page.

You can also check out other preferences in the Ring app by reading various guides on the Ring’s Support page.

Choose a Ring Protect Plan

If you are looking to beef up your home security, you can subscribe to a Ring Protect plan.

The Ring Protect plan helps you with additional features such as round-the-clock professional monitoring for Ring alarm, people only mode and extended warranties on the product.

You can refer to the Ring’s subscription page to get details on the various Protect plans in the offing.

Contact Ring Support

If you are still struggling to connect your Ring doorbell, I recommend you get in touch with the Ring customer care team.

You can chat with them online or call them for clarifications regarding the installation and setup of the doorbell.

The Ring’s call centre is available 24/7 to assist you with your queries and grievances.

Alternatively, you can also join the Ring users community and discuss various issues related to Ring devices.

Final Thoughts on Connecting to an Installed Ring Doorbell

You may be unable to connect or install your Ring doorbell if your device is faulty.

Additionally, you may also face problems connecting the doorbell if your home wifi is far from the device.

You may also face delays in setting up or connecting your doorbell, or notification delays if your router or modem is faulty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Ring doorbell require wiring?

Your Ring doorbell is battery powered and does not require any electrical wiring.

Is there a monthly charge for a Ring doorbell?

You can use the Ring doorbell free of cost, but if you want additional features, you need to subscribe to a monthly Ring Protect Plan.

Do Ring doorbells get stolen?

The Ring doorbell is secured and screwed to the wall, and the possibility of it getting stolen is minimal.

Can you tell if someone is watching you on Ring?

Ring’s devices are secure and ensure customer privacy at all levels. However, you can’t find out if someone is watching you on Ring.

Do Ring cameras record all the time?

Ring cameras have a recording feature, but it doesn’t record all the time. However, you can subscribe to Ring Protect Plan to capture short duration videos.

How do I connect to previously owned Ring doorbell?

If you already have an account and a Ring device installed, then open the app, log in and tap on “Set up a device”. Select “Doorbells”. Provide your location details in the app and proceed to name your device.

Can I use Ring doorbell from previous owner?

Registered to Another Owner Message During First Time Setup You can follow the prompts in the Ring app to get ownership of the Ring doorbell or security camera. Note: Make sure you have the most recent version of the Ring app, or you may not see the option to initiate the transfer.