# Claim Ownership of a Device > Summary You just purchased a house with a Rachio controller on it and it seems to belong to another Rachio account, what to do now? Our Transfer Ownership ... Source: https://support.rachio.com/en_us/claim-ownership-of-a-device-S1EnDIJtP Last updated: 2026-06-08T21:59:44.149Z # Summary If you bought a house with a Rachio Controller and would like to take ownership of it,  this article will help you navigate the various options for claiming device ownership. #### Tips * Need to add a new (not previously owned or used) controller to your account? Go [here](https://rachio.kustomer.help/HJ_mNilgK)! * If you simply want to share access to a device with another Rachio user, go [here](https://support.rachio.com/Byu6vUkFD)! ## Transfer an "in use" device to yourself 1. **Add a new device and scan barcode**. After creating your Rachio account, navigate to the home screen and tap the "+ADD" button. Follow the in app flow until you are asked to **scan the barcode or QR code**. #### Note For security reasons, if you choose to _manually enter the controller's serial number, you will not see the option to Transfer Ownership_. **You will need to go back and scan the bar code or QR code** using the camera on your mobile device.  ![V4.0_Transfer_Ownership_Controller_In_Use](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/9d800579d42a5962c263ae4e588bd26e.png) 2. **Select a Transfer option.** If the controller is already paired to another user's account, you'll see the message below. To continue anyway, select one of the options described below - then tap "request transfer". ![V4.0_Transfer_Ownership_Controller_In_Use](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/60bed0c7a9c2aea70c82a6e3e1d98145.png) **Transfer ownership and retain all settings:** This is a good option if you've moved into a home with a Rachio installed and you want to retain all settings, schedules, and zone setup information. This option can save time, as you will not need to reconfigure your zones and schedules. If you select this option, you should review the previously selected settings to make sure they meet your needs. **Transfer ownership and clear all settings:** This is a good option if you want to start from scratch building out your zone settings and schedules. By selecting this option, you will need to set up your zones and select new schedules before your Rachio device will run. #### Tip If you're not confident that the controller was configured correctly initially, we recommend clearing all settings and configuring zones settings and schedules from scratch. View our articles on [Setting Up Zones](https://support.rachio.com/H1U5vUJYP) and [Creating Schedules](https://support.rachio.com/r15XepFfbe) for assistance. 3. **Request transfer**. Once you make your selection, tap "Request Transfer." In most cases, the transfer will be approved immediately and you'll see the success message below. You'll also receive an email confirmation once the controller has been added to your account. ![V4.0_Transfer_Ownership_Controller_In_Use](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/79c75f9b7df28eaaaf1caf54458be94d.png) #### Note If you were unable to complete the transfer, try adding the device again by scanning the barcode. If you see the transfer options mentioned above but receive an error message, force close the app or log out and back in. This helps confirm whether the device has already been added to your account. If the issue persists, please contact our Support team for further assistance. * * * ## **Do you still need help?** We have a chat support team ready to assist you! You can submit a support request by selecting the chat icon in the bottom right of this page and a member of the support team will contact you live. ### ### **Summer Hours (April-September)** 7 am-5 pm (MST), 7 days a week. ### ### **Winter Hours (October-March)** 8 am-5 pm (MST), Monday - Saturday. We are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.