Can Police Get My Ring or Doorbell Camera Footage?

A smart doorbell records the front of your home — and police increasingly want that footage. Who controls it depends on whose footage it is and how police are asking.

What the Law Says

There are two paths for police to get your camera footage, plus one big exception:

• A warrant. To compel the footage stored with your camera provider (Ring, Nest, and others), police generally need a warrant or legal process. As of 2024, Amazon ended the tool that let police request Ring footage directly through its app and stated that U.S. law enforcement must use a warrant for individual users’ footage.
• Your consent. You can always voluntarily share your own footage if you choose. Police can simply ask — and you can say no.
• The emergency exception. Providers can release footage without a warrant or your consent in what they decide is a genuine emergency — a situation involving “danger of death or serious physical injury.”

Important caveat: this area is shifting. Company policies and new law-enforcement partnerships keep changing, so the practical rules are not settled.

An Everyday Example

An officer knocks and asks for your doorbell video of the street last night. You can decline, and they would generally need a warrant to compel it from your account. But if there is an active emergency, the provider itself may turn over footage without asking you.

What This Means for You

For everyday requests, the footage from your camera account is generally protected — police need a warrant or your consent, and you can refuse. The exceptions are genuine emergencies and the changing policies of the companies that store your video, so it is worth knowing your camera provider’s current rules.