How to Use the Neighbors App for Community Safety

Ring's Neighbors app lets you see safety alerts, share video, and stay connected with your neighborhood watch community.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Download and set up Neighbors
2.Set your neighborhood
3.Browse and read community posts
4.Post a safety alert
5.Manage notification preferences

Download and set up Neighbors

~15s

Search for "Neighbors: Home Security App" in the App Store or Google Play. Install the free app. You can create an account with your email address. If you already have a Ring account, sign in with those credentials.

Set your neighborhood

~16s

When prompted, enter your home address. Neighbors shows posts and alerts within a 5-mile radius. Your exact address is never shown to other users — only a general area. Allow location permissions so alerts can be sent to you even when the app is in the background.

Browse and read community posts

~22s

The main feed shows posts from neighbors in your area, including security camera clips, photos, and text descriptions of safety concerns. Posts are labeled by distance (for example, "0.3 miles away"). Tap any post to read more details and see any comments or updates.

Quick Tip

Tap the "Alerts" tab to see official alerts from local police and fire departments — these are separate from community posts.

Post a safety alert

~23s

If you see something suspicious, tap the "+" button to post. Choose a category (vehicle break-in, theft, suspicious person, etc.), add a description, and attach a photo or video if you have one. Your post will be visible to neighbors within 5 miles.

Warning

Post factual observations, not accusations. Describe what you saw, not who you think the person is. Avoid posting content that identifies private individuals without clear evidence of criminal activity.

Manage notification preferences

~15s

Tap your profile iconNotification Settings to choose what types of alerts you receive. You can enable high-priority alerts only, mute alerts during certain hours, and adjust the distance radius for notifications. This prevents your phone from buzzing constantly for minor incidents.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Use the Neighbors App for Community Safety

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Neighbors is a free community safety app made by Ring (owned by Amazon). It's a neighborhood watch platform where local residents, businesses, and law enforcement share safety information, video clips from security cameras, and alerts about suspicious activity.

Anyone can use the Neighbors app for free — you do not need to own a Ring doorbell or camera. You can post text alerts about things you've seen, view posts from neighbors nearby, and follow updates about incidents in your area.

If you do have a Ring device, you can optionally share clips from your camera to the community feed when relevant — for example, footage of a package theft or someone trying door handles at night. Sharing is always optional and you control what's posted.

The app also has an "Active Alerts" section that shows emergency alerts from local police departments and public safety agencies who use the platform to communicate directly with residents.

Neighbors is similar to Citizen but more focused on community sharing rather than 911 dispatch data. The two apps complement each other well — many people use both.

The app is available on iPhone and Android and works across the United States.

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