ADT's Base article lists the wifi requirement: wifi connectivity at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, plus cellular service where the Base sits, and says the Base and your phone must be on the same secure wifi network during setup with the network name and password on hand. The Base LED reports status: blinking blue while it connects to Bluetooth, wifi and ADT, then solid green when fully connected, and the third quarter of the LED bar blinks red when it is not connected to wifi.
The checks in more detail
Place the Base centrally and off metal, since the article says a Base needs a strong wifi and cellular signal to reach ADT's servers. Keep it away from routers, televisions, cable boxes and heat sources. If wifi drops, restart the router, check the password has not changed and update it through the ADT+ app; the app can reconfigure the Base's connection. Save the network name and password for future setup, as ADT advises. Basement locations are not as good for coverage. Wifi affects the app, cameras and updates, while the Base's sensors use ADT's own radio, so sensors do not depend on your wifi.
If the Base cannot connect after these steps, contact ADT through chat, and check ADT's status indicator article for the LED patterns. Save the network name and password beside the Base, as ADT advises, so setup and troubleshooting never stall on a forgotten detail. Keep the Base away from routers and televisions, which ADT lists as things to avoid placing it near. After a router change, update the wifi through the app the same day.
The Base needs both wifi and cellular, so a house with strong wifi but weak cell signal at the Base can still show no link to ADT, and moving the Base a floor up often helps. Because the Base needs cellular as well as wifi, a home that has a strong router but a weak mobile signal where the Base sits will still show a red fourth quarter, and the practical fix is to move the Base to a window side or a higher floor. Update wifi details through the ADT+ app straight after any router change, and confirm the LED returns to solid green before you leave.
Differential
Likely causes of “ADT Base will not stay connected to Wi-Fi”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A weak signal
What separates it The third quarter of the LED bar blinks whenever the Base has a weak wifi signal at its location
How to confirm Move the Base or the router closer together and see whether the blinking third quarter stops
- 2
A changed password
What separates it The Base was connected before and went offline right after the wifi password or router was changed
How to confirm Update the new wifi password in the ADT+ app so the Base can rejoin the network
- 3
Wrong network during setup
What separates it Setup fails part-way because the phone and the Base were not on the same wifi network at that moment
How to confirm Use the same network as the phone during setup, then finish the pairing steps in the app
- 4
A basement location
What separates it The Base sits in a basement or lower floor where the wifi and cellular signals are weak
How to confirm Move the Base to a floor above ground level, ideally near the center of the home
- 5
Interference from electronics
What separates it The connection drops at random times when nearby routers, TVs or other electronics are running
How to confirm Move the Base away from routers, TVs and other electronics that can interfere with its wifi radio
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The LED bar pattern, especially whether the third quarter is blinking
- The wifi network name and whether it is on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
- Where the Base sits in the home and on which floor
- Whether the wifi password was changed recently
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the LED bar
ReversibleCheck the LED bar and look at the third quarter: if it blinks red the Base has no wifi, and if it glows steadily the wifi link is working normally.
Use the same network as the phone
ReversibleUse the same network as the phone during setup, because ADT says the Base and the phone must be on the same secure wifi network while the Base is being set up.
Save the SSID and password
ReversibleSave the network name and password somewhere safe, so that you can re-enter them quickly if the router is replaced or the Base ever needs to rejoin.
Move the Base
ReversibleMove the Base to a central position on the first or second floor if you can, because cellular and wifi both reach better above ground.
Update wifi in the app
ReversibleUpdate the wifi details in the ADT+ app after any change to the router, the password or the network name, so the Base can reconnect on its own.
Restart the router
ReversibleRestart the router and check that other devices connect, which tells you whether the problem is the home network or the Base's own radio.
Contact ADT
ReversibleContact ADT if the Base still will not stay connected after these steps, and mention the network band and the LED pattern you saw.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Wifi
- Used for the app, cameras and updates.
- Sensors
- Talk to the Base over ADT's own radio.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it will not connect, contact ADT through chat
- !If the signal stays weak after you relocate the Base, move it again or add a stronger router or extender
- !If cellular is also weak at the new spot, ask ADT to check the cellular coverage at your address
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Base setup and placement.
Base LED patterns.
Offline meaning and fixes per device.
AC power and backup battery.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Which wifi does the Base use?+
The Base uses 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz wifi, so it will work with most home routers, provided the password entered in the app is correct.
What does solid green mean?+
A solid green LED on the Base means it is fully connected, both to your wifi and to ADT, and nothing further needs to be done.
Are basements good?+
Basements are not good for coverage, because concrete and earth weaken both wifi and cellular signals, so a floor above is a better place.
Do sensors need wifi?+
The sensors do not need home wifi, because they talk to the Base over ADT's own radio link, and only the Base needs the home network.
Should I save the password?+
Yes, save the wifi password, since you will need it again if the Base has to rejoin after a router replacement or a factory reset.
Can electronics interfere?+
Yes, electronics such as routers and TVs close to the Base can interfere with its radio, so give it some space from them.
Does the Base have battery backup?+
Yes, the Base has a backup battery that keeps it running for up to 24 hours when mains power is lost, so the system stays protected during a power cut.
Where should the Base sit?+
Put the Base in a central position, within five feet of an outlet that is always on, so its wifi, cellular and sensor radio links can reach the whole home.
Can the outlet be switched?+
No, the outlet must give continuous power, so avoid any outlet controlled by a wall switch, which could leave the Base running on its backup battery.