SimpliSafe automation starts with modes and delays. Home mode arms the perimeter sensors, such as entry sensors, and leaves motion sensors off so you can move around, while Away mode arms everything, including motion sensors, and SimpliSafe's article explains the difference. Entry Delay gives time to disarm after opening a door, Exit Delay gives time to leave after arming, and Instant Trigger removes the delay for a sensor; SimpliSafe's delays article explains all three.
The checks in more detail
Location-based arming reminders in the app can prompt you to arm when you leave. Device and sensor settings let you customize each sensor, such as chime, sensitivity and whether it triggers in Home or Away. Smart Locks can lock on arming, and cameras can start recording on alarm or motion. If an automation seems not to run, check the mode, the sensor's settings, that the Base Station is online and that no sensor is bypassed. Push notifications tell you when the system arms or disarms.
Test each behavior in Test Mode. Keep settings simple and review them after adding devices, and check delays are long enough for your route through the house. Change one setting at a time and test it before adding the next. A rule that fires twice may have two triggers. Review modes each season. Give a new mode setup a week of normal use before changing delays, since a household routine shows the right numbers.
SimpliSafe's Instant Trigger removes the delay for a sensor, which suits a window but not a front door you walk through daily, so choose it per sensor rather than for the whole system. Review your delays after moving furniture or changing your route to the Keypad, since a longer walk needs a longer Exit Delay. A short Exit Delay plus a slow walk to the door is the classic cause of an alarm on leaving, so time yourself leaving once and set the delay to that time plus a margin.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe Base Station routine, schedule or automation is not running”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong mode
What separates it Motion sensors are not armed, or the system is over-armed, because the wrong mode is chosen
How to confirm Choose Home mode to leave motion sensors off, or Away mode to arm every sensor, as suits you
- 2
A delay that is too short
What separates it You get false alarms because the entry or exit delay is too short to disarm in time
How to confirm Lengthen the Entry Delay or the Exit Delay in the settings, so you have longer to react
- 3
A bypassed sensor
What separates it A sensor does not trigger because it has been bypassed and so is ignored
How to confirm Clear the bypass in the app, so that the sensor is included when the system is armed
- 4
An offline Base Station
What separates it Nothing runs on schedule because the Base Station is offline and cannot follow instructions
How to confirm Restore the Base Station's power and wifi connection, then check that the app shows it online
- 5
Reminders off
What separates it You get no prompt to arm because arming reminders are switched off in the app
How to confirm Enable location based arming reminders, so that the app prompts you when you leave home
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which mode was used, such as Home, Away or Off
- The entry and exit delay settings currently set
- Any sensors that are bypassed at the moment
- Whether the Base Station shows online in the app
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedChoose Home or Away
ReversibleChoose Home or Away as needed, since Home arms the entry sensors and Away arms motion sensors too.
Set delays
ReversibleSet the entry and exit delays to give enough time to disarm at the Keypad, and to leave the home.
Use Instant Trigger where suitable
ReversibleUse Instant Trigger where it suits, which removes the delay for a chosen sensor such as a window.
Enable arming reminders
ReversibleEnable arming reminders, which are based on your phone's location, to prompt you to arm the system.
Clear bypasses
ReversibleClear any bypasses before you arm, because a bypassed sensor will not trigger the alarm at all.
Test in Test Mode
ReversibleTest each device in Test Mode, to be sure that every sensor reports to the Base Station properly.
Contact SimpliSafe
ReversibleContact SimpliSafe if it still fails, and tell them the mode, the delays and the sensors involved.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Devices this page covers
- SimpliSafe Gen 3 Base Station, with its Keypad and the monitoring plans that give it cellular backup. SimpliSafe writes one help article per topic; the notes name where the Base Station differs from sensors, cameras and the lock.
- Modes
- Home and Away.
- Delays
- Entry, Exit and Instant.
- Tools and supplies
- The SimpliSafe app on an up-to-date phone, a Phillips-head screwdriver for battery covers on some devices, a small flashlight for reading device labels, rechargeable batteries approved for the Base Station and a pen and paper for the serial number and PINs.
- Repair cost
- Most fixes cost nothing. SimpliSafe lists monitoring at $1.10 a day for Core and $0.76 a day for Standard, with Self Monitoring at $0.33 a day and paid monthly with no contract. Check the limited warranty first.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If automations fail after checks, contact SimpliSafe support
- !If false alarms recur, adjust the delays and check that people know how to disarm
- !If a sensor is ignored, clear the bypass
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Modes.
Delays.
Arming reminders.
Test Mode.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What is the difference between Home and Away?+
Home mode arms the perimeter sensors and leaves motion sensors off, while Away mode arms everything.
What is Instant Trigger?+
Instant Trigger removes the entry delay for a sensor, so opening it sounds the alarm straight away.
Can I get arming reminders?+
Yes, the app can send arming reminders based on your phone's location, so you do not forget to arm.
Can a bypass stop a trigger?+
Yes, a bypassed sensor is ignored, so it will not trigger the alarm until you clear the bypass.