For years, Ring’s “Shared User” model was a straightforward way to let family members or trusted friends peek into your home security setup. It worked, but only up to a point. Access was tied to individual devices, permissions were basic, and managing multiple users across a household—or worse, a business—quickly became clunky. Now, Ring has retired that system in favor of something far more flexible: User Permissions. And it’s not just a tweak; it’s a full rethink of how access should work in a world where security systems are increasingly central to both home life and business operations.

Instead of the old binary “you’re in or you’re out” approach, Ring’s new model introduces role-based access at the location level. That means you can grant someone access to your entire Ring setup in one go, rather than fiddling with each camera or doorbell individually. More importantly, you can now tailor what each person can actually do. A contractor might get Limited Access—just enough to check live feeds and event history—while a store manager could be given Standard Access, with the ability to adjust security modes and manage devices day-to-day. For those you trust most, Advanced Access unlocks full control, including managing other users. There’s even a special Installer Access tier, which grants technicians complete control but automatically expires after 48 hours, ensuring your system isn’t left wide open once the job is done.

For homeowners, this shift means no more handing out your master credentials just so a house sitter can check the front door. You can keep your account secure while still letting others do what they need. For businesses, the benefits are even clearer. A front desk employee can be empowered to answer the door and monitor live footage, while regional managers can oversee device settings and user access across multiple locations. It’s a system that scales with complexity, something the old Shared User model simply couldn’t handle.

The privacy angle is worth noting, too. By eliminating the need to share personal account credentials, Ring reduces the risk of accidental exposure. Permissions can be adjusted instantly, so if someone’s role changes—or if you just decide you’re no longer comfortable with their level of access—you can tweak it in seconds. And for existing Shared Users, Ring has mapped them to Standard Access by default, giving you a baseline to work from without disrupting daily routines.

This evolution reflects a broader trend in tech: security systems are no longer just gadgets, they’re infrastructure. As homes get smarter and businesses lean on connected devices, access management becomes as important as the hardware itself. Ring’s User Permissions system acknowledges that reality, offering a more nuanced, scalable way to keep spaces secure without making life more complicated. It’s a move that feels overdue, but one that will likely make managing Ring setups far easier for both families and businesses alike.