ADT's Base article gives the setup order. In the box are the Base, a power cord and the product box with a QR code that you scan during setup, so keep the box. You need a Bluetooth-capable phone or tablet, the ADT+ app on the latest iOS or Android, your ADT+ account password, wifi at 2.4 or 5 GHz and cellular service where the Base will sit, with the phone and Base on the same secure wifi network.
The checks in more detail
Place the Base on a tabletop within five feet of an outlet that is always on, in a central spot, clear of metal, heat sources, routers and televisions, and where you can hear its siren and children cannot reach it. Plug it in, open the ADT+ app and follow the prompts. Then add devices from the menu: Devices, plus, ADT Device, and choose the type; the system must be disarmed to add a device.
If you have no account, the email used when you ordered is your username. Z-Wave devices are added with Smart Home Device, and the Base enters inclusion mode. ADT lists a setup support phone line. If setup stalls, check Bluetooth, the wifi network and the outlet. Keep the product box, since ADT's setup needs the QR code printed on it. Pair each device close to the Base and mount it afterwards. Set up when you are not rushed.
Scan the product box QR code early in setup, since losing the box is a common reason people stall halfway through. ADT suggests placing the Base in a first or second floor room and not the basement, so plan the location before you plug in, since moving a Base later means rechecking each sensor's signal. Check the phone's Bluetooth permission for the ADT+ app before you start, because setup depends on it and a blocked permission looks like a device fault.
Differential
Likely causes of “ADT Base will not complete setup or pairing”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong wifi network
What separates it Setup fails part-way through because the phone and the Base are on different wifi networks
How to confirm Put the phone and the Base on the same wifi network before you try the setup steps again
- 2
Bluetooth off
What separates it The ADT+ app cannot find the Base during setup even though the Base is powered on nearby
How to confirm Turn Bluetooth on for the phone, since the app uses it to find the Base and start setup
- 3
A poor position
What separates it Setup takes very long or drops because the Base sits far from the router and the signal is weak
How to confirm Move the Base to the center of the home, near an outlet within five feet, then try setup again
- 4
A switched outlet
What separates it The Base loses power in the middle of setup because its outlet is switched off by a wall switch
How to confirm Use a continuous outlet that is always on, so that setup can finish without the Base losing power
- 5
System armed
What separates it The app cannot add a device to the Base because the security system is currently armed
How to confirm Disarm the system first, then add the device again from the Devices section in the app
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The step of setup where it stops and any message the app shows
- The wifi network name and whether the phone is connected to it
- Where the Base is placed and how far it is from the router
- Whether Bluetooth is switched on for the phone
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedKeep the box
ReversibleKeep the product box, because it carries the QR code that you scan during setup, and you will need it before the app can pair with the Base.
Place the Base centrally
ReversiblePlace the Base centrally with an outlet within five feet, so that the power cord reaches and the Base has good wifi and cellular signal.
Open the ADT+ app
ReversibleOpen the ADT+ app on your phone and sign in with the email you used when you ordered, then follow the prompts to start setup for a new Base.
Scan the QR code
ReversibleScan the QR code on the product box when the app asks, and follow the prompts that appear, one at a time, until the Base is listed.
Put the phone on the same wifi
ReversiblePut the phone on the same wifi as the Base during setup, since ADT says both must be on the same secure network for the Base to be configured.
Add devices
ReversibleAdd devices from the Devices menu using the plus button, choosing the type of device you are adding, and follow the pairing steps for each.
Test the system
ReversibleTest the system in Test Mode when everything is added, so you can confirm each sensor and the Base respond without setting off a real alarm.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Setup
- Uses the ADT+ app and a QR code.
- Devices
- Added after the Base.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If setup stalls after these checks, contact ADT's support line and tell them the step where it stopped
- !If the account cannot be found, use the order email
- !If a device will not add, remove and re-add it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Base setup and placement.
Removing and adding devices.
Base LED patterns.
Primary, Admin, Standard, Basic and Duress users.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What do I need to set up?+
You need a phone or tablet with Bluetooth, the ADT+ app on the latest version, and wifi at 2.4 or 5 GHz, plus cellular coverage where the Base sits.
Where do I find the QR code?+
The QR code is on the product box, so keep the box until the Base is set up; the app scans it to identify the Base and start the pairing.
What is my username?+
Your username is the email address you used when you ordered, and it is the same one you use to sign in to the ADT+ app and to the plus.adt.com portal.
Where should I place the Base?+
Place the Base in a central position in the home, near an outlet that is always on, so its wifi and its radio link can reach every sensor.
Must the system be disarmed to add devices?+
Yes, the system must be disarmed before you can add devices, so disarm first, then add each device from the Devices section of the app.
How do I add a Z-Wave device?+
To add a Z-Wave device open Devices, tap the plus button, choose Smart Home Device and follow the steps to put the device into pairing mode.
Is there a setup phone line?+
Yes, ADT has a setup phone line, and it is the best next step if setup stalls after you have checked the network, Bluetooth and the Base's position.
What does a blue LED mean?+
A blue Base LED means the system is armed, and when it blinks blue it means the Base is in pairing mode, ready to add a device.
What does a purple LED mean?+
A purple LED on the Base means firmware is downloading, so leave the Base powered and connected until the light returns to normal.
What does a red quarter mean?+
A blinking red quarter of the LED bar means a network connection is missing: the third quarter is wifi and the fourth is the link to ADT.