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Using the SOS Button in the Ring app

The SOS feature offers an additional way to request immediate first responder assistance to your location. You can tap the shield-shaped icon on the app dashboard or during a Live View to request immediate police, fire department, or medical dispatch to your device’s location or to sound your device’s siren.

SOS for Ring Alarm users

If you request police or fire response, the siren will sound on your Ring Alarm or Alarm Pro Base Station and Keypad. If you request a medical response, your Ring Alarm or Alarm Pro Base Station will announce that a medical emergency response has been requested.

Requirements for SOS for Ring Alarm

To use this feature, you must have a Ring Alarm or Alarm Pro with a Ring Home Premium subscription or a Ring Home Standard Plan with the Alarm Pro Monitoring add-on service (sold separately). You also must enroll in SOS in the Ring app.

Requirements for SOS for Ring cameras

If you don’t have a Ring Alarm, you can request emergency dispatch, but your camera device(s) will not sound a siren. To use this feature, you must have a Ring doorbell or camera with a Ring Home Premium subscription. You also must enroll in SOS in the Ring app.

Compare alarm vs. camera SOS functionality

Product
Activate siren with SOS
Dispatch emergency services
Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro
with Professional Monitoring
Yes
Yes
Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro
without Professional Monitoring
Yes
No
No Ring Alarm
with Professional Monitoring
No
Yes
No Ring Alarm
without Professional Monitoring
No
No

How to enroll in SOS

  1. Open the Ring app to the main dashboard.

  2. Tap the menu (☰).

  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Tap
    SOS
    .
  5. Tap
    Setup SOS
    .
  6. Review the information about using SOS for Cameras, and tap
    I agree
    .
  7. Type in the nearest cross streets, and tap
    Continue
    .
  8. Complete the emergency contact information.
  9. If necessary, create a verbal password. Verbal passwords are only required for neighbors with Ring Alarm. This step is optional for neighbors using SOS for Cameras only.
SOS Feature

How to use the SOS feature

Prior to requesting dispatch, visually confirm there is an emergency situation.

  1. Open the
    Ring app
    .
  2. Tap the
    shield icon
    in the top-right corner
  3. Swipe to select police, fire, or medical
    dispatch
    or "
    Sound Siren Only
    " to activate the alarm without dispatch.
  4. Wait through the 5-second countdown (If you did not mean to activate SOS, you may cancel during this time).
  5. If you are using a Ring Alarm, after 5 seconds your Alarm Base Station and Keypad sirens will activate. These sirens indicate that police or fire dispatch has been requested.
  6. Confirm the "
    Help Requested
    " message on your screen
  7. The monitoring center will call your
    first emergency contact
    .
  8. If the contact answers, they can
    confirm or cancel
    the emergency.
  9. If no one answers, the center dispatches emergency services to your Ring Alarm location.
  10. The center then calls your other emergency contacts.

Cancelling emergency dispatch: You have the option to cancel an SOS request during the 5-second countdown by pressing the Cancel Help button in the Ring app. After that, you can only cancel an SOS emergency response by answering the first call. Canceling SOS using the app after the first 5 seconds will not stop emergency responders, if no one answered the initial call.

Last updated 3 weeks ago

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