What has changed with Ring video encryption?
On 26 August 2026 Amazon-owned Ring announced TAKE, which it says "will become the default encryption for all Ring customers worldwide when fully rolled out". Rollout is phased, beginning in September 2026, and Ring has not published a completion date.
Ring already encrypted video in transit and at rest. TAKE changes who holds the keys. Each video is protected by unique, rotating keys. A copy is held temporarily in a secure cloud enclave, which Ring describes as a sealed vault that releases keys only under strict, limited conditions. Ring can only get access to power the intelligent features active on your account (it names Smart Alerts), after which it deletes the keys. You, and any Shared Users you trust, keep the keys on enrolled devices such as a phone, tablet or computer.
Ring's own analogy is a house key: the lock maker keeps no copy, and a homeowner lends a spare only for as long as it is needed.
How is TAKE different from Ring's end-to-end encryption?
TAKE is not end-to-end encryption. Ring says it is inspired by E2EE's privacy principles while keeping the full feature set, which means Ring can temporarily reach the keys to run cloud features. True E2EE, which Ring launched in 2021 and still offers as an optional setting, means only your enrolled devices ever hold the keys.
| Feature | Standard (before TAKE) | TAKE (new default) | Optional E2EE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encrypted in transit and at rest | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keys held on your enrolled devices | No | Yes, plus a temporary cloud copy | Yes, only |
| Ring can reach keys | Yes | Temporarily, to run active features, then deleted | No |
| Shared Users and cloud features | Work | Designed to keep working | Disabled |
| Live view, playback, sharing | Work | Not specified by Ring | Still work |
The E2EE column comes from Ring's description of the existing option: it switches off Shared Users and cloud-based features, can be set per device in the Ring app, and can be changed at any time. The TAKE column reflects Ring's announcement; Ring has not yet detailed exactly which features TAKE supports beyond Smart Alerts.
Does TAKE change anything for Home Assistant users?
Ring hasn't said. Neither the announcement nor the coverage we found addresses third-party or API access, so any effect on integrations is unconfirmed. Treat anything beyond that as speculation until Ring documents it.
What we do know is how the integration works today. Home Assistant's Ring integration "does not connect locally to devices, all communication goes via the cloud", polling the Ring cloud every 60 seconds. Doorbells and stick-up cameras get a live view entity, and playing recorded video needs a Ring Protect plan. Home Assistant's page says nothing about end-to-end encryption.
The practical advice is to avoid switching on optional E2EE if you rely on cloud features, and to watch the Home Assistant release notes and integration issue tracker after your account is enrolled in TAKE. If a Ring entity stops updating, check that before blaming your network. Our Ring camera guide covers which models and features rely on the cloud, and if you want footage that never leaves your house, our security camera guide compares local-storage options.
What don't we know yet?
Several details are still unpublished:
- Supported devices: Ring hasn't listed which cameras and doorbells get TAKE.
- UK timing: Ring says "worldwide" and phased from September, with no UK-specific date.
- Feature coverage: only Smart Alerts is named explicitly.
- Key retention: a Privacy Guides forum post claims keys are deleted after 24 hours. We could not confirm that figure in Ring's own material, so don't rely on it.
- Independent verification: the privacy claims are Ring's own framing and have not been independently audited.
Should you do anything now?
Probably not much. TAKE is designed to be automatic, and Ring says customers will be notified when they can enrol. If you are privacy-conscious and don't use cloud features like Smart Alerts or Shared Users, optional E2EE remains the stronger setting. If you pay for Ring Protect, check our Ring subscription cost breakdown to see what you actually use before changing settings.
