Lock down your Ring doorbell: encrypt clips, stop filming the street

Turn on end-to-end encryption for your Ring doorbell, stop it filming the street, and switch off the features that scan or share clips.

This guide turns on end-to-end encryption for your Ring doorbell and cameras, so Ring's servers hold clips only your own phones can open. It also cuts what the camera records about your neighbours and switches off the AI and sharing features that reach past your front door. Set aside about 30 to 45 minutes.

Why bother

A doorbell camera records everyone who walks past, and by default those clips sit on the company's servers, where they can be leaked, misused or handed over. Ring has given footage to police without a warrant or the owner's consent in cases it judged emergencies. End-to-end encryption means Ring holds clips it cannot open. It does not stop the camera filming your street, and it switches off several features.

Before you start

Time: 30 to 45 minutes. Your cameras may need to be set up again during enrolment.
You need: the Ring account owner's login, the phone you use for Ring, and something to write on for a 12-word passphrase.
Versions: checked against Ring's help pages on 14 October 2026. Ring requires iOS 17 or later or Android 9 or later, plus the latest Ring app. Update the app first. UK and Australian apps spell it Control Centre.
Devices that can't do end-to-end encryption: Video Doorbell (1st and 2nd Gen), Video Doorbell Wired, Stick Up Cam (1st and 2nd Gen), Spotlight Cam Battery (1st Gen), Peephole Cam and Car Cam. On those, you can still do Steps 5 to 9.
Tell your household first. Shared Users lose access, and clips stop playing on Echo Show, Fire TV and ring.com.

Steps

1 Decide between end-to-end encryption and TAKE

The Video Encryption screen offers two options.

End-to-End Encryption: only your own enrolled phones and tablets can play clips. Ring says it cannot access them.
TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption): Ring says it uses the keys briefly for AI features, then deletes them. Shared Users can still watch on their own enrolled devices. Better than standard encryption, weaker than end-to-end.

With end-to-end encryption, you lose:

Shared Users and video links
Viewing on ring.com, Alexa, Echo Show and Fire TV, plus Alexa+ Greetings and third-party integrations
Familiar Faces, Video Search, Video Descriptions, Smart Alerts, Motion Tracking and Bird's Eye View
Single Event Alert, Unusual Event Alert, Active Warnings and Virtual Security Guard

You keep Live View, Event History playback, downloading and deleting clips, Rich Notifications, 24/7 Recording, the Timeline Scrubber and Motion Warning. If you can live without the first list, choose end-to-end encryption. If someone else in your home truly needs their own access, choose TAKE and still do Steps 4 to 9.

2 Turn on end-to-end encryption

Open the Ring app and tap the menu (☰).
Tap Control Center > Video Encryption.
Tap Let's turn on End-to-End Encryption, then Continue.
Accept the prompts for each camera. Ring lists which features that camera will lose. If a camera asks to be set up again, follow the on-screen steps.

You should see each compatible camera listed under Video Encryption with an End-to-End Encryption status. A camera that says Standard Encryption is not yet supported or still enrolling.

If you chose TAKE, the path is Control Center > Video Encryption, then the TAKE option and Turn On TAKE.