ADT's Rules article describes the rules engine that automates the security system and Z-Wave devices. A rule has triggers, conditions and actions. Triggers, the when this happens, can be a time of day, sunrise or sunset, a device action, the system's armed state or a device state such as low battery, tampered or communication lost. Conditions, under these conditions, limit a rule to a time range, daytime, nighttime, days of the week or a system state of armed, disarmed or alarming.
The checks in more detail
Actions, my system should, are what happens, and you can have several, such as arm away and send a notification. Name rules clearly, for instance Arm at work time for arming Monday to Friday at 7 AM. Create rules in the ADT+ app or portal main menu under Rules. Run This Rule tests a rule's actions. Toggle a rule Active off and on for temporary changes instead of deleting it.
If a rule does not run, check it is active, the trigger and conditions match, the Base is online and the devices it controls are online. Time triggers follow your location's time zone. Keep rules simple and review them after adding devices. Test each rule with Run This Rule before you rely on its schedule. A rule that fires twice may have two triggers. Review rules at the start of each season.
A rule that arms the system at a set time is useful on workdays, but add a condition for days so it does not arm while you are home on holiday. ADT rules can act on a device state such as low battery, tampered or communication lost, so you can build a rule that alerts you the moment a sensor drops out instead of waiting for the next check. Give each rule a clear name and a note of why it exists, so that months later you can tell which rule to change when your routine changes.
Differential
Likely causes of “ADT Base routine, schedule or automation is not running”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A rule turned off
What separates it Nothing runs at the times you expect because the rule has been switched off and is not active
How to confirm Toggle the rule's Active switch on so that it starts responding to its trigger again
- 2
A wrong condition
What separates it The rule skips some days because a condition limits the days or the time range in which it may run
How to confirm Check the days and the time range in the conditions and widen them if the rule should run more often
- 3
An offline Base
What separates it The rule never executes because the Base is offline and cannot carry out the actions you set up
How to confirm Fix the Base's connection first, then run the rule once to see that it works
- 4
An offline device
What separates it The action fails for one device because that device is offline or has dropped off the Z-Wave network
How to confirm Reconnect the device, or remove and add it again, so the rule has a working device to control
- 5
A wrong time zone
What separates it A time trigger fires at the wrong time because the location and time zone on the account are wrong
How to confirm Correct the location so the Base uses the right time zone and sunrise and sunset times
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The rule you made and the trigger, conditions and actions it uses
- Whether the rule is switched on and active
- Whether the Base and the device it controls are online
- The time zone and location set on the account
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedOpen Rules
ReversibleOpen Rules from the main menu in the ADT+ app, where you can see each rule, switch it on or off and create a new one.
Set a clear name
ReversibleSet a clear name that describes the action, such as Lights on at sunset, so you can tell rules apart when you have several.
Add trigger, condition and action
ReversibleAdd a trigger, a condition and an action, in that order, because a rule needs all three to know when to run, whether to run and what to do.
Use Run This Rule
ReversibleUse Run This Rule to test it straight away, which carries out the actions without waiting for the trigger and shows whether the devices respond.
Toggle Active
ReversibleToggle Active off and on again for temporary changes, such as when you are away, rather than deleting the rule and building it again.
Check the Base and devices are online
ReversibleCheck the Base and every device the rule uses are online in the status screen, since a rule cannot act through an offline Base or device.
Contact ADT
ReversibleContact ADT if the rule still does not run, and tell them the rule name, its trigger and which device did not respond.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Devices this page covers
- ADT Base (ADTBASE502R0), the central controller for ADT Blu with a built-in keypad, siren, speaker and 24-hour battery backup. ADT writes one help article per topic; the notes name where the Base differs from sensors, keypads and cameras.
- Triggers
- Time, sunrise, sunset, devices and states.
- Actions
- Arm, notify or control devices.
- Tools and supplies
- The ADT+ app on an up-to-date phone, the product box with its QR code, a Phillips-head screwdriver for accessories, a small flashlight for reading the LED and labels and a pen and paper for the model and codes.
- Repair cost
- Most fixes cost nothing. ADT lists Video Connect at $9.99 a month, Self-Protect at $14.99 and Pro-Protect with video at $34.99 with no long-term contract. Check the limited warranty first.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a rule fails after checks, contact ADT through chat
- !If a device is offline, fix it first
- !If the time is wrong even after this, check the location settings on the account
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The menu paths are the maker's own and vary by app and firmware version. Prices are typical published figures and change.
Triggers, conditions and actions.
Base LED patterns.
Removing and adding devices.
Notification troubleshooting.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What are triggers?+
Triggers are the when this happens part of a rule, such as a time of day, sunrise or sunset, or a device changing state.
What are conditions?+
Conditions are the under these conditions part, which limits a rule to certain days, times or system states so it does not always run.
What are actions?+
Actions are the my system should part, meaning what the system does when the rule runs, such as turning a light on or sending a notification.
Can I test a rule?+
Yes, you can test a rule with Run This Rule, which runs its actions immediately so you can see the result without waiting for the trigger.
Can I turn a rule off temporarily?+
Yes, you can turn a rule off temporarily by switching Active off, and switch it back on later without losing any of its settings.
Can a rule send a notification?+
Yes, a rule can send a notification as one of its actions, so you are told when something happens even when you are away.
Can rules control Z-Wave devices?+
Yes, rules can control Z-Wave devices, such as lights and locks, provided the devices are paired with the Base and online.
Can I get help with setup?+
Yes, ADT lists a support phone line for setup, which is useful if the app stalls or the Base will not connect during installation.
Where is the Emergency feature available?+
The Emergency feature is available only with professional monitoring, so check that your plan includes it before relying on it.
Are Z-Wave devices supported?+
Yes, Z-Wave devices are supported through the Base's inclusion mode, which lets you add compatible lights, locks and other smart home devices.