ADT sensors can trigger rules in the rules engine. In the ADT+ app open Rules and choose a trigger such as a device action or a device state, for example a door sensor opening, a motion sensor detecting movement, or a sensor going low battery, tampered or communication lost; add conditions such as a time range, daytime, nighttime or days of the week or an armed state; and add actions such as arm away, send a notification or control a Z-Wave light. For example, a Live Light or smart bulb can turn on when a door sensor opens after dark.
Use Run This Rule to test the actions. When a rule stays quiet, confirm it is switched on, that the sensor is reporting with a fresh battery, that the Base is online and that the conditions fit the moment.
The checks in more detail
Motion sensors trigger only when the system state and settings allow. Smoke, CO, heat and water sensors are life-safety and property alerts and are always monitored, so use rules only for extra notifications. Give each rule a descriptive name and look it over whenever you add a sensor. Time-based triggers follow the time zone of your account's location. Edit rules one by one and test each before moving on;
if a rule fires twice, it may have two triggers, and it is worth reviewing them all each season. A rule can trigger on a sensor that loses communication, so you can be told at once when a sensor drops out instead of finding out at the next arm. If a rule depends on a battery-powered sensor, add a second rule that alerts you when that sensor's battery is low, so the first rule does not fail silently.
Differential
Likely causes of “ADT sensors and detectors routine, schedule or automation is not running”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A rule turned off
What separates it A motion or door event does nothing because the rule's Active switch is off
How to confirm Toggle the rule's Active switch on so that it responds when the sensor changes state again
- 2
An offline sensor
What separates it The rule never fires because the sensor is offline, with a flat battery or out of the Base's range
How to confirm Sort out the sensor's battery and distance from the Base first, then set it off once and watch whether the rule runs
- 3
Conditions do not match
What separates it The rule is skipped on some occasions because its day and time conditions do not cover the moment the sensor reports
How to confirm Review the days and hours in the conditions and widen them if the rule ought to run more often
- 4
An offline Base
What separates it Nothing executes because the Base is offline and cannot send the actions out
How to confirm Reconnect the Base, then use Run This Rule once to confirm the actions work
- 5
A wrong time zone
What separates it Timed rules fire at the wrong hour because the account's location and time zone are set wrongly
How to confirm Fix the account's location so the Base follows the right local time for time triggers
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The rule's name and the sensor event that starts it
- The state the sensor showed when it should have triggered the rule
- The conditions set on the rule, especially days and times
- The time zone stored for the account's location
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedOpen Rules
ReversibleIn the ADT+ app go to the main menu and choose Rules, where each rule appears with controls to switch it on or off or edit it.
Choose a sensor trigger
ReversiblePick the sensor as the trigger, using either a device action such as a door opening or a device state such as motion
Add conditions
ReversibleSet conditions for the time, the days and the armed state so the rule fires only when you intend
Add actions
ReversibleAdd actions such as arming the system, sending a notification or controlling a Z-Wave device, in the order you need.
Run This Rule
ReversibleRun This Rule carries out the actions at once, so use it to test the rule instead of waiting for the sensor
Check the sensor is online
ReversibleConfirm the sensor reports in, with a healthy battery and a good link to the Base, because a rule can only react to a sensor that is reporting
Contact ADT
ReversibleIf the rule still fails, tell ADT the rule's name, the trigger sensor and what happened
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Devices this page covers
- ADT Blu Motion Sensor and the Door/Window, Premium Door/Window, Glass Break, Heat, Smoke, Smoke and CO, CO, Water and Temperature sensors, Indoor Siren and Live Light. ADT writes one help article per topic; the notes name where battery types and lives differ.
- Triggers
- Sensor actions and states.
- Actions
- Notify, arm or control devices.
- Tools and supplies
- The ADT+ app on an up-to-date phone, a small screwdriver for battery covers, alcohol wipes for cleaning contacts and mounting surfaces, spare batteries of each listed type, a stable step and a pen and paper for the model numbers.
- 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; sensor batteries are inexpensive. Check the limited warranty first.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Carbon Monoxide Detector, Glass Break Sensor, Heat Detector, Indoor Siren, Live Light, Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector, Smoke Detector.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a rule fails after these checks, contact ADT through chat
- !If a sensor is offline, fix it first
- !If the timing is wrong even after that, correct the location settings on the account
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Triggers, conditions and actions.
Motion sensor setup and use.
Battery types and lives.
Offline meaning and fixes per device.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Can a door sensor trigger a light?+
Yes: a rule can switch on a light when a door sensor opens
Can a low sensor battery start a rule?+
Yes, a sensor's low battery state can be used as a trigger, so a rule can send you a notification when a battery needs changing.
Are smoke sensors always monitored?+
Smoke sensors are monitored only when the account has professional monitoring, otherwise they sound locally and notify you through the app.
Do time triggers use my location?+
Yes, time triggers use the location set on the account, which is why a wrong location makes a rule fire at the wrong time.
Can I turn a rule off?+
Yes, you can turn a rule off with its Active switch, which is useful for a holiday, and switch it back on later.
Does the smoke detector alert monitoring?+
The smoke detector alerts the monitoring center only when the account has professional monitoring, otherwise it sounds and notifies you.
What is a tamper alert?+
A tamper alert is a message that a device was opened or moved, which helps you notice if someone interferes with a sensor.
Where do I see sensor strength?+
You can see a sensor's signal strength in the ADT+ app, which shows how well the sensor is connected to the Base.