Controlling Ring Alarm with Shared Users and Alarm Guest Users

Decide who has access to your Ring devices by adding Shared Users and Alarm Guest Users. After setting up a device, you will automatically be assigned the owner user role. As the owner, you can grant additional users access to the device by making them Shared Users or, for Alarm only, Alarm Guest Users.

  • Owner:
    In addition to being able to view cameras and view and share videos¹, the device owner can add new Shared Users and Alarm Guest Users, adjust system settings and change account information. The owner can also change monitoring settings and arm and disarm a Ring Alarm system.²
    • Ring Video Doorbell and Security Camera owners can invite Shared Users.
    • Ring Alarm system owners can invite both Shared Users and Alarm Guest Users.
  • Shared User:
    A Shared User cannot change system settings or account information but can access Live View and view and share videos.¹ Access to particular cameras can be granted or taken away by the owner. Shared Users can arm and disarm² a Ring Alarm system and unlock any lock they have been given access to by the owner.
  • Alarm Guest User:
    Alarm Guest Users do not have app access, but they can arm and disarm using the Keypad using an access code. If you have an integrated Z-Wave lock, you can give Alarm Guest Users the option to lock and unlock your smart lock. (If you link your Z-Wave smart lock to your Ring Alarm, Alarm Guest Users can both unlock and disarm any lock they have access to.)

Roles and abilities

Owner

The highest level of access. Their permissions include:

  • Access the users' list from Location Settings.
  • Invite other people to become Shared Users and Alarm Guest Users.
  • Add, edit and remove users.
  • Change Ring Alarm monitoring settings (type of monitoring and emergency contacts).
  • Edit, view and delete locations.
  • Add and delete devices from the Base Station.
  • Control and configure devices.
  • View and control a Base Station device.
  • Change account/payment or address information.
  • Access Live View.
  • View and share video clips.¹
  • Receive and control notifications.
  • View Event History.
  • Assign and change others' access codes.
  • Limit others' access to cameras and doorbells.
  • Arm and disarm a Ring Alarm system.²

Note: The same user can be assigned different roles at different locations. A user can, for example, be listed as owner at one location and as a Shared User at another location.

Shared User

Shared Users are able to use some aspects of the system but cannot configure it or change account/payment information. Their permissions include:

  • Access Live View (which cameras the user has access to is determined by the owner).
  • View and share video clips.¹
  • View and control a Base Station.
  • View History.
  • Receive and control notifications.
  • Lock and unlock connected locks
  • Arm and disarm a Ring Alarm system.²

Alarm Guest User

The lowest level of system access. Alarm Guest Users can use some aspects of the system by using a four digit access code the owner assigns to them, but cannot configure it or alter account/payment information. Their permissions include:

  • Lock and unlock connected locks using an access code.
  • Arm and disarm the Ring Alarm system using an access code.

Adding, editing and deleting users

To add a Shared User:

  1. In the Ring app, open the menu
    (≡)
  2. Tap
    Settings
  3. Tap
    Shared Access
    , tap
    Add User
    and tap
    Shared User
  4. Enter the Shared User’s email address
  5. Toggle on the preferred devices and, if sharing access to a Ring Alarm system, create an access code when prompted
  6. Tap
    Send Invite
    • Note:
      If a user already has a Ring account, they will automatically show up as a Shared User. If they do not have a Ring account, they will receive an invitation to create an account. Invitations are valid for seven days.

To add an Alarm Guest User:

  1. In the Ring app, open the menu
    (≡)
  2. Tap
    Settings
  3. Tap
    Shared Access
    , tap
    Add User
    and tap
    Alarm Guest User
  4. Enter the Alarm Guest User’s name
  5. Create an access code
  6. Tap
    Add Guest User

Note: If you have more than one location with Ring devices, make sure you are inviting users from the correct location:

  • Tap on the address at the top of the menu.
  • Tap the correct location.

To resend an invite:

  1. In the Ring app, open the menu
    (≡)
  2. Tap
    Settings
  3. Tap
    Shared Access
  4. Tap the user
  5. Tap
    Resend Invite

To edit a user:

  • In the Ring app, open the menu
    (≡)
  • If you have more than one location with Ring devices, make sure your app is set to the correct location and, if not, tap on the address at the top of the menu and tap the correct location
  • Tap
    Settings
  • Tap
    Shared Access
  • Tap the user you want to edit
  • Make the desired changes
  • Tap
    Save

To remove a user:

  1. In the Ring app, open the menu
    (≡)
  2. If you have more than one location with Ring devices, make sure your app is set to the correct location and, if not, tap on the address at the top of the menu and tap the correct location
  3. Tap
    Settings
  4. Tap
    Shared Access
  5. Tap the user you want to remove
  6. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap
    Remove User
  7. Tap
    Remove

Camera access

As an owner, you can enable or disable shared access to your Video Doorbells or Security Cameras at any time:

  1. In the Ring app, open the menu
    (≡)
  2. If you have more than one location with Ring devices, make sure your app is set to the correct location and, if not, tap on the address at the top of the menu and tap the correct location
  3. Tap
    Settings
  4. Tap
    Shared Access
  5. Tap a user
  6. Use the toggles to enable or disable access to specific devices for that user
  7. Once you are finished choosing, tap
    Save

Ring Alarm access codes

Alarm system owners assign each user a unique, four digit access code. A user can use their access code to arm and disarm a Ring Alarm system using the Keypad. Once the Shared User or Alarm Guest User has been added, the access code must be shared with the new user verbally. Access codes cannot be duplicated or shared with any other users. Only owners can change access codes.

To change an access code:

  1. In the Ring app, open the menu
    (≡)
  2. Tap
    Settings
  3. Tap
    Shared Access
  4. Tap a user
  5. Tap
    Reset access code
  6. Enter a new four digit code
  7. Tap
    Done

¹
Your Ring motion event videos in the cloud are stored temporarily, up to 180 days. Changing your video storage time will only affect videos that are recorded after you adjust your storage time setting. Check Ring Subscription Plans for more information.
²
Using Modes in the Ring app requires a subscription (sold separately).
Last updated 3 months ago