Delete a Ring device by removing it from the Ring app
To delete a Ring device, open the Ring app on your phone, tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the bottom right, select Devices, find the camera or doorbell you want to remove, tap it, scroll to the bottom, and tap Remove Device. The app will ask you to confirm — tap Remove again. The device stays physically in your home, but it disconnects from your account and stops recording.
This process works the same way whether you own the device outright or are removing a shared device someone else invited you to use. Once removed, the device no longer appears in your Ring app, and you lose access to its video feed and notifications.
If you are removing a device because you are selling your home or moving, the new owner will need to factory reset the device and set it up with their own Ring account. The device itself is not deleted — only your connection to it is severed.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a device from the Ring app takes about one minute and requires only your phone and the app itself.
- The physical device remains in your home or on your property — deletion only removes it from your account.
- After removal, the device stops sending you notifications and video, but it can be set up again by anyone with access to it.
- If you are selling or moving, tell the new owner the device exists so they can reset it and add it to their own account.
- Removing a shared device affects only your access, not the access of other people you invited to view it.
What happens to the device after you remove it
When you remove a Ring device from your account, the camera or doorbell itself does not break or stop working. It straightforward loses its connection to your Wi-Fi network and your Ring account. If the device is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi at the time you remove it, it will disconnect within a few seconds.
The device will no longer record video, send you motion alerts, or let you view the live feed. Any video already stored in your Ring cloud storage will remain there until your subscription expires or you manually delete it separately. Removing the device does not automatically erase old recordings.
If someone else has physical access to the device — a family member, roommate, or new homeowner — they can factory reset it and set it up with their own Ring account. This is why it matters to tell people you are leaving a device behind.
Remove a device you no longer own or use
If you have moved, sold your home, or no longer want to monitor a particular location, removing the device from your account is the right step. Open the Ring app, go to Devices, select the camera or doorbell, scroll down, and tap Remove Device. You do not need the device to be powered on or connected to Wi-Fi for this to work — the app removes it from your account regardless.
After removal, you will no longer see that device listed in your Ring app, and you will not receive any notifications from it. If you change your mind later, you can set up the device again if you still have physical access to it, but you will need to go through the full setup process as if it were brand new.
Remove a shared device or revoke someone else's access
If you invited someone to view a Ring device — a family member, roommate, or property manager — and want to remove their access, the process is different from deleting the device itself. Open the Ring app, go to Devices, select the device, tap Device Settings, then Shared Users. You will see a list of people you invited. Tap the person's name and select Remove.
Removing a shared user does not delete the device from your account — it only removes their ability to see the video feed and receive notifications. You will still own and control the device. The person you removed will no longer see it in their Ring app.
If you want to delete the device entirely from your own account (not just remove someone else's access), follow the steps in the first section above.
What to do before removing a device
Before you remove a Ring device, consider whether you want to save any video from it. Open the Ring app, select the device, and tap Videos to see your recorded clips. You can read individual videos to your phone by tapping the three dots next to each clip and selecting read. This is useful if you want to keep footage of a break-in, package delivery, or other event.
If you are leaving the device at a property you no longer own or occupy, let the new owner know it exists. Tell them the device model (it will say "Ring Doorbell" or "Ring Camera" in the app), and explain that they can factory reset it and set it up with their own account. Most Ring devices have a reset button on the back or bottom — holding it for 15 seconds will erase all settings and return the device to factory condition.
If you are removing a device because you are switching to a different security system, you may want to check whether your new system can integrate with Ring or whether you need to remove Ring entirely from your home.
Troubleshoot if the remove option does not appear
In rare cases, the Remove Device button may not show up in the Ring app. This usually happens if the app is out of date or if there is a temporary connection problem. Close the Ring app completely, wait 10 seconds, and open it again. If the button still does not appear, go to your phone's app store (Google Play on Android, App Store on iPhone), search for Ring, and update the app to the latest version.
If you updated the app and the button still does not appear, sign out of your Ring account and sign back in. Tap the three lines menu, scroll to the bottom, tap Sign Out, then open the app again and log in with your email and password. This refreshes your account connection and usually brings back the remove option.
If you still cannot remove the device after these steps, contact Ring support through the app by tapping the three lines menu, selecting Help & Support, and choosing your issue. Ring support can remove the device from your account on their end if there is a technical problem preventing you from doing it yourself.
Remove a device if you forgot your password or lost access to your account
If you cannot log into your Ring account but want to remove a device, you have two options. First, try to reset your password by going to the Ring login page on a web browser, tapping Forgot Password, and following the email instructions. Once you regain access to your account, you can remove the device using the steps above.
If you cannot recover your account, contact Ring support and explain that you need to remove a device from an account you no longer have access to. You will need to verify your identity — usually by providing the email address associated with the account and proof of purchase. Ring support can remove the device remotely once they confirm you own it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a Ring device delete my video recordings?
Removing the device from your account does not automatically delete your videos. They stay in your Ring cloud storage until your subscription ends or you manually delete them. To delete videos before removing the device, open the app, select the device, tap Videos, and delete the clips you do not want to keep.
Can I remove a Ring device if it is offline or not connected to Wi-Fi?
Yes. You can remove a device from your account even if it is powered off or disconnected from the internet. The removal happens on Ring's servers, not on the device itself. The device will straightforward stay offline until someone resets it or reconnects it to a network.
What happens if I remove a device and then want to use it again?
You can set it up again, but you will need to go through the full setup process as if it were brand new. You will need the device, your Wi-Fi password, and access to the Ring app. The device will be linked to your account again, and you can view its video feed once setup is complete.
If I remove a device, can the previous owner still see it?
No. Once you remove a device from your account, only you lose access to it. If the device is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi, the previous owner can still see it in their Ring app unless they also remove it. If you are buying a used Ring device, ask the seller to remove it from their account before you take it home.
Do I need to unplug the device before removing it from the app?
No. You can remove a device from the Ring app without unplugging it or powering it off. The device will disconnect from your account within seconds, but you do not need to do anything physical to the device itself. If you want to prevent it from being set up again, you can unplug it or remove its batteries.