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Using TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption)

TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) is a security feature that encrypts your video and audio during the recording process, through transit, and at rest. TAKE applies to all eligible cameras and cannot be enabled or disabled for individual cameras. Ring's can only use keys to power intelligent features, then deletes these keys.  

To learn more about the encryption process, download the TAKE white paper.

Visit our blog post to learn more about the introduction of TAKE.  

Important note: By design, Ring cannot access or help recover your TAKE encrypted videos if you lose all recovery methods and enrolled mobile devices. Keep your passphrase and cloud backup safe so you don't lose access to your encrypted videos. 

Requirements and eligibility 

Mobile device: 

  • iOS 17+ or Android 9+ 
  • Latest Ring app version 

All Ring cameras support TAKE. Check your camera's encryption status in the Ring app under Your Cameras in the Video Encryption settings which will display as:

  • TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption):
    Ring camera is protected by TAKE. Most Ring features will work. 
  • Standard Encryption:
    TAKE is not yet available for this Ring camera. Video is still encrypted in transit and at rest. Ring will migrate these Ring devices to TAKE automatically when it becomes available. 
  • End-to-End Encryption
    1
    :
    Ring camera has been enrolled in end-to-end encryption
    1
    . Only the Ring account owner and their enrolled personal devices can view this video.
      

Setting up TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) 

To set up TAKE in the Ring app: 

  1. Tap the menu (☰).
  2. Tap
    Control Center
    . 
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption
    . 
  4. Tap
    Let’s turn on TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption)
    .
  5. Tap
    Turn On TAKE
    . 
  6. Set up your recovery options. 

If you'd like to set up End-to-End Encryption1 as your video encryption, visit Using end-to-end encryption.  

Recovery options 

When enabling TAKE, you'll set up recovery options so you can regain access to your encrypted videos if you switch, lose, or set up a new mobile device. The mobile device you use during setup becomes your first enrolled device. When setup completes, TAKE is active on all eligible cameras.  

Ring strongly recommends enabling automatic cloud backup alongside your 12-word passphrase. Additional recovery options, including camera-based recovery, will become available as TAKE rolls out. Ring will notify you when a new recovery option is available on your account, and it will appear in Recovery Settings.   

Automatic cloud backup (recommended) 

iOS: iCloud Keychain automatically saves your encrypted recovery key. When you sign in on a new iPhone or iPad with the same Apple ID, the Ring app automatically restores access to your encrypted content with no extra steps needed. 

Android: Ring uses two options to protect your recovery key: 

  • Google Blockstore
    automatically backs up and restores your recovery key during the device-to-device transfer process. When you set up a new Android device by restoring access from a backup with the same Google account, your key is automatically available. If you set up your new device as new or use a different Google account, the recovery key will not be available.
  • Google Drive backup
    provides an additional cloud-based recovery path. Ring can store your encrypted recovery key in your Google Drive. This requires you to grant Ring permission to access Google Drive during enrollment.   

To recover your access with cloud backup:  

If you set up iCloud Keychain, Google Blockstore, or Google Drive backup, access restores automatically when you sign in to the Ring app on your new mobile device. If access does not restore, use your 12-word passphrase.

12-word passphrase  

When you set up TAKE, the app generates a unique 12-word passphrase. This is your default recovery option and cannot be disabled. 

  • Store your passphrase securely in a password manager, physical safe, or secure note. 
  • Never share your passphrase with anyone. 
  • This method works on any mobile device and any platform, making it your most reliable option if other methods are unavailable. 
  • You can regenerate a new passphrase from any enrolled mobile device at any time.     

To recover access with your 12-word passphrase:  

  1. Install the Ring app on your new mobile device and sign in. 
  2. Tap the menu (☰).
  3. Tap
    Control Center
    . 
  4. Tap
    Video Encryption
    . 
  5. Tap
    Enroll This Device
    . 
  6. Tap
    Enter Passphrase
    . 
  7. Enter all 12 words in the correct order (lowercase, with spaces). 

Important note: If all recovery methods fail, your encrypted videos cannot be accessed.  

Generate a new passphrase  

You can regenerate your passphrase from any enrolled device: 

  1. Tap the menu (☰).
  2. Tap
    Control Center
    . 
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption
    . 
  4. Tap
    Recovery Settings
    . 
  5. Tap
    Generate New Passphrase
    . 
  6. Save the new passphrase securely. 

 Your previous passphrase will no longer work after generating a new one.  

Camera-based recovery  

If you have a TAKE enrolled Ring camera nearby, you can recover access over Bluetooth without your passphrase or cloud backup. Camera-based recovery will be on by default for capable cameras. You can turn this feature off from the Recovery Settings in the Ring app.   

Camera-based recovery will become available as TAKE gradually rolls out to all neighbors.  

Camera-based recovery is not available for the following Ring devices: 

  • Video Doorbell (1st Gen) 
  • Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) 
  • Video Doorbell Wired 
  • Stick Up Cam (1st Gen) 
  • Stick Up Cam (2nd Gen) 
  • Spotlight Cam Battery (1st Gen) 
  • Peephole Cam 
  • Car Cam 

Important note: Camera-based recovery is not available for Ring accounts that have one or more Ring cameras enrolled into End-to-End Encryption1.  Learn more about recovery options for Ring cameras enrolled in End-to-End Encryption.   

Feature compatibility  

While most features are available when TAKE is enabled, some features require a temporary pause of TAKE to use. Pausing will keep your setup intact, and resuming does not require re-enrolling or recreating your passphrase.  

If you turn on a feature that is not yet compatible while TAKE is enabled, the Ring app will offer to pause TAKE for you.  

Pausing must be done from an enrolled device. If your mobile device is not enrolled, the Ring app will prompt you to enroll first. 

Videos recorded before pausing TAKE stay protected by TAKE and will remain viewable from your enrolled devices. Videos recorded while TAKE is paused will use Standard Encryption. 

To pause TAKE: 

  1. Tap the menu (☰).
  2. Tap
    Control Center
    . 
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption
    . 
  4. Tap
    TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption)
    .
  5. Tap
    Pause and Continue
    . 

TAKE will pause on all enrolled cameras. To resume, return to the same setting and re-enable TAKE.  

Features that require a temporary pause in TAKE: 

  • Video Search
    2 
  • Video Descriptions
    3 
  • Unusual Event Alert
    3 
     
  • Single Event Alert
    3 
  • Active Warnings
    3
     
  • Familiar Faces
    4 
  • Virtual Security Guard
    5
      
  • Video Verification 
  • Quick Replies 
  • Integration with Alexa and Fire TV 
  • Viewing on ring.com 
  • Ring Appstore
  • Third-Party App Integrations 

Encryption Activity Log 

The encryption activity log records encryption events for each Ring camera and shows when an enrolled device was given or removed access, when encryption was turned on or paused, or when a recovery backup was created. You can manage your mobile devices to remove or verify any personal devices found on the Encryption Activity Log.   

To access the encryption activity log: 

  1. Open the Device Dashboard for your camera. 
  2. Tap
    Device Health
    . 
  3. Tap
    Encryption Status
    . 
  4. Tap
    Encryption Activity Log
    . 

Managing personal devices  

You can always view or manage which mobile devices are enrolled in your encryption in the Ring app.  To view your enrolled devices in the Ring app:  

  1. Tap the menu (☰).
  2. Tap
    Control Center.
      
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption. 
     
  4. Tap
    Personal Devices
    . 

 

Verify a personal device  

Device verification confirms the identity of a mobile device on your personal device list using a QR code or a 60-digit number to verify enrolled personal devices. 

To verify an enrolled personal device: 

  1. Tap the menu (☰).
  2. Tap
    Control Center.
      
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption. 
     
  4. Tap
    Personal Devices
    .  
  5. From the
    Personal Devices
    list, select a device. 
  6. Tap
    Scan the QR code
    . 
  7. Scan the QR code displayed on one mobile device with the other to confirm the Verification Number matches on both mobile devices. 
    • If you cannot scan, tap Compare a 60-digit number and confirm the number matches on both.

Important note: If the verification check cannot be completed, the Ring app will display a message that the mobile device cannot be verified. Make sure you have the correct mobile device and try again.    

Remove a personal device  

Removing a personal device revokes its access to encrypted video and signs it out of your encryption. To remove a device: 

  1. Tap the menu (☰).
  2. Tap
    Control Center.
      
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption.
     
  4. Tap
    Personal Devices
    . 
  5. From the
    Personal Devices
    list, select a device. 
  6. Tap
    Remove Device
    . 

Shared Users  

Shared Users can view your encrypted Ring cameras with TAKE enabled on their own enrolled personal device.

  • New Shared Users:
    Accepting a shared user invite also enrolls a new shared user in TAKE.
     
  • Existing Shared Users:
    For most Shared Users, no action is required; these users will be added to encryption automatically when you enable TAKE.  

How Shared Users get access 

If a shared user cannot view encrypted content, updating to the latest Ring app usually resolves it. If not, they can send an access request.  Send an access request to an Owner: 

  1. Open the Ring app. 
  2. Tap the
    Access Restricted
    camera tile. 
  3. Tap the encryption notification and follow the in-app prompts.  

If access is still not granted after the in-app steps are completed, you can ask the owner to remove you as a shared user and add you again. You do not need a new Ring account, just accept the new shared user invite to gain or restore access.  

Shared Users access requests  

If you are a shared user who needs access to someone else's encrypted cameras, follow these steps to find your outgoing requests: 

  1. Open the Ring app.  
  2. Tap the menu (☰).
  3. Tap
    Control Center.
     
  4. Tap
    Video Encryption
    . 
  5. Tap
    Access Requests
    . 
  6. Tap
    Sent Requests
    . 
  7. Tap
    My Requests
    . 

Each request shows the Ring device owner's name and one of the following statuses:  

  • Request Pending:
    The Ring device owner has not yet responded to your request. 
  • Request Again:
    Tap to resend your request if the owner has not responded. 

 

Approve or decline Shared Users access requests  

When a shared user sends an Access Request, it will notify the account owner in the Ring app.  

To approve or decline a shared user’s access request in the Ring app: 

  1. Tap the menu (☰).
  2. Tap
    Control Center
    . 
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption
    . 
  4. Tap
    Access Requests
    . 
  5. Tap
    Approve Access
    or
    Decline Action
    for each request. 

 

Shared Users and recovery  

Shared Users manage their own viewing devices and recovery options. They cannot manage the account owner's encryption settings.  

Reset TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption)  

Resetting encryption permanently removes access to all previously encrypted videos and cannot be undone. Ring cannot restore encrypted videos. 

If you reset your account encryption: 

  • All enrolled cameras are unenrolled from TAKE. 
  • All enrolled mobile devices are unenrolled. 
  • All previously encrypted videos become permanently inaccessible.     

To reset TAKE:  

  1. Tap the menu (☰).
  2. Tap
    Control Center
    . 
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption
    . 
  4. Tap
    Reset Account Encryption
    . 
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset. 

Frequently asked questions  

Can I turn off TAKE for specific cameras? 

No. TAKE applies to all eligible cameras. 

Can Ring employees view my encrypted video? 

No. You always control your videos and who can view them. 

What if I lose my passphrase and cannot recover access? 

To recover access, Ring recommends setting up Automatic cloud backup as a recovery option at the time of encryption setup. If all recovery methods fail, your encrypted videos cannot be accessed. You can reset encryption and start fresh, but previously encrypted video is permanently lost.  

Last updated 0 days ago
1The number and type of Ring devices enrolled in video end-to-end encryption may impact user experience and Ring device battery life.
2Compatible Ring subscription required. Feature not available for customers in Illinois due to state-specific legislation.
3Compatible Ring subscription required. Features not available for customers in Illinois due to state-specific legislation. Unusual Event Alerts, Video Descriptions, and Single Event Alert, and Active Warnings availability limited to mobile devices with select primary languages. Unusual Event Alerts trains off Video Descriptions and may be impacted by the number of events and other device limitations. Learn More.
4Compatible Ring subscription and select devices required. Familiar Faces is not available for customers in Illinois, Texas, and Portland, Oregon due to specific legislation.
5Compatible Ring subscription and eligible device required. Service available in all 50 U.S. states (territories not included). Ring does not own its monitoring center. See Ring Alarm licenses at: ring.com/licenses. Additional fees may be required for permits, false alarms, or Alarm Verified Guard Response, depending on your local jurisdiction.
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