Check that Home Security is ready

Check readiness

Open Home Security and review the current status card. If the system is confirming status, wait until the current mode and protection state are shown clearly before you rely on it.

1. Open Home Security for this home and look at the status message on the card.
2. Confirm whether the home is off, Away, Home, Sleep, or in an alarm state.
3. If the app says the connection is interrupted or the status is out of date, refresh and wait for a current status before you trust it.
4. If a connected security system manages protection instead of the built-in settings, use that system’s status instead of the built-in controls.

Review devices and rooms

Devices stay in their usual rooms. Choose which devices participate in Home Security, and check that the right room groupings are selected for protection.

1. Open Devices and rooms.
2. Check the selected count for each room and for Unassigned devices.
3. Select the devices that should participate in protection.
4. Leave ordinary room devices out unless you want them to participate in Home Security.
5. Remember that camera video alone is not a detection signal.

Choose sleeping quarters for Sleep mode

Sleep mode uses the rooms you mark as sleeping quarters. It arms selected sensors everywhere else.

1. Open Sleep mode.
2. Select each room that should count as a sleeping quarter.
3. Review the selection before you rely on Sleep mode.
4. If there are no rooms yet, add a room before you try to choose sleeping quarters.

Confirm alarm output settings

Check the alarm output settings before you rely on them. If Sonos speakers or connected sirens are enabled, the app shows their current readiness notes when available.

1. Open Alarm output.
2. Review Use Sonos speakers, Flash lights after dark, and Use connected sirens.
3. If Sonos speakers are enabled, remember that the alarm uses Siren and Simone's voice in all available Sonos rooms at 50% volume.
4. If Flash lights after dark is enabled, remember that it uses full intensity after sunset and before sunrise at this home.
5. If the alarm was used, verify that original volumes, playback, light colors, brightness, and on or off settings have restored after it stops.

Check entry and exit settings

Entry and exit settings control how much time you have to leave or disarm after a door or window opens.

1. Open Entry and exit.
2. Review Away exit delay and Door / window entry delay.
3. Confirm that the delay values are the ones you expect before you depend on them.
4. Remember that switching from an armed mode to Away applies immediately, while arming from OFF uses the Away exit delay.
5. Remember that a verified keypad unlock disarms every zone, and a verified inside unlock also disarms the home whenever perimeter protection is on.

Test protection while someone is present

Test only when an authorized person is present and can disarm the alarm right away. Use the app to confirm the expected mode and event after each test.

1. Make sure everyone in the home knows you are testing before you begin.
2. Choose the detector or supported lock behavior you want to test.
3. Use the app to arm the expected mode for the test.
4. Trigger the detector or supported keypad or inside-unlock behavior only while the authorized person is present.
5. Verify that the app confirms the expected mode and event.
6. Turn the alarm off after the test and confirm that protection returns to the state you expect.

Dismiss alerts carefully

Dismissing one notification does not disarm the alarm. If the alarm is active, turn it off in Home Security rather than relying on a notification.

1. If you receive an alarm notification, open Home Security and check the live status.
2. Turn the alarm off if you are the authorized person and the situation is safe.
3. Do not assume the alarm is off just because one notification was dismissed.

What you should see afterwards

• The current mode is shown clearly as Away, Home, Sleep, or OFF.
• Selected devices and rooms match the way you want the home protected.
• Sleep mode shows the correct sleeping quarters.
• Alarm output and entry or exit delays match your chosen settings.
• If a test was run, the app confirms the expected mode and event, and restored settings are back after the alarm stops.

Troubleshooting

• If a device is unavailable, empty, or not confirmed, do not count it as proven protection.
• If the app is responding but the status is stale, refresh and wait for a current confirmation before you trust the result.
• If you see a queued change or a command that has not been confirmed, wait for the app to show the completed state before you rely on it.
• If a connected security system is in control, built-in settings are paused and you should use the connected system’s status instead.
• If the alarm remains on after a notification is dismissed, open Home Security and turn the alarm off there.
• If restoration is still in progress after an alarm stops, wait until the app says restoration is complete before changing settings again.