What happens to Ring devices when the owner dies
Ring LLC (Amazon.com, Inc.) has a formal process for transferring devices after an account holder dies
Ring Customer Support
Ring Customer Support (deceased / medically incapacitated owner account takeover)
After a Request Ownership claim, the previous owner has up to 15 days to respond before doorbells, cameras, and chimes auto-remove. Ring Alarm, Smart Lighting, Echo Bridge, and Sidewalk devices have no auto-removal window and depend on Ring Support processing time, which Ring does not publish. Ring also notes that Customer Support cannot expedite requests to release devices.
Ring LLC (Amazon.com, Inc.) offers a process for transferring Ring devices to family members after the account holder dies.
How to request a transfer
Here is the process for transferring Ring devices after the account holder dies:
- •Ring Alarm systems
- •Ring Smart Lighting devices
- •Echo Bridge
- •Amazon Sidewalk devices
- •The original owner's email address on file
- •The original owner's contact number on file
- •The device's MAC address (serial number) for each device being transferred
- •Official certified documentation showing you are the authorized person to access the decedent's estate (for example, a death certificate plus Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
Required Documents
- Original owner's email address on file with Ring
- Original owner's contact number on file with Ring
- Device MAC address (serial number) for each Ring device being transferred
- Official certified documentation showing you are the authorized person to access the decedent's estate (for example, a death certificate plus Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
Timeline
After a Request Ownership claim, the previous owner has up to 15 days to respond before doorbells, cameras, and chimes auto-remove. Ring Alarm, Smart Lighting, Echo Bridge, and Sidewalk devices have no auto-removal window and depend on Ring Support processing time, which Ring does not publish. Ring also notes that Customer Support cannot expedite requests to release devices.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Ring has a Request Ownership flow in the Ring app for previous owners who are deceased or otherwise unavailable. The previous owner has up to 15 days to respond, after which video doorbells, security cameras, and chimes auto-remove from the old account so the new owner can complete setup. Ring Alarm systems, Ring Smart Lighting devices, Echo Bridge, and Sidewalk devices do not auto-transfer and require Ring Customer Support to finish the transfer.
No. Although Ring is owned by Amazon and signs in with Amazon credentials, device ownership is handled by Ring Customer Support through the in-app Request Ownership flow, not the Amazon Bereavement Support process. The Amazon process covers the rest of the account (Kindle, Prime Video, Photos, Alexa, AWS, Amazon Pay); Ring devices are transferred separately.
Recorded video is retained only while a Ring Protect subscription is active and is tied to the account that captured it. It is not separately inheritable. Save or download any footage you want to keep before the account or subscription is closed, because access ends when the subscription lapses.
For a deceased owner's account takeover, Ring requires the original owner's email address and contact number on file, the device's MAC address (serial number), and official certified documentation showing you are the authorized person to access the decedent's estate (such as a death certificate plus Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration). Ring states this documentation is required so account information is provided only to authorized persons with a legal entitlement.
A Ring Protect subscription auto-renews until it is cancelled, and recorded video is retained only while it is active. The subscription is tied to the account, not separately inheritable. Save any footage worth keeping before the subscription lapses or is cancelled, then cancel the subscription if it is no longer needed so it stops billing.
After a Request Ownership claim, the previous owner has up to 15 days to respond. If there is no response, doorbells, cameras, and chimes auto-remove from the old account so the new owner can finish setup. Ring Alarm, Smart Lighting, Echo Bridge, and Sidewalk devices do not auto-remove and require a Ring Customer Support case, which has no published timeline; Ring also notes that Customer Support cannot expedite requests to release devices.
After the transfer is complete, the recipient can use the devices according to the program's standard terms. Document the deceased account holder's details to make this process easier for your executor or family.
Sources
Data sourced from Ring LLC (Amazon.com, Inc.) primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Ring Customer Support
Ring Customer Support (deceased / medically incapacitated owner account takeover)
After a Request Ownership claim, the previous owner has up to 15 days to respond before doorbells, cameras, and chimes auto-remove. Ring Alarm, Smart Lighting, Echo Bridge, and Sidewalk devices have no auto-removal window and depend on Ring Support processing time, which Ring does not publish. Ring also notes that Customer Support cannot expedite requests to release devices.
