SimpliSafe systems can be linked to voice assistants and other smart home platforms from the app and the SimpliSafe website, and SimpliSafe's own help center covers the app, Keypad and modes that voice commands rely on. Check the SimpliSafe site for the current list of supported assistants and the commands available, since integrations differ by plan and change over time. To use voice, link the assistant in its own app with your SimpliSafe account, discover the system and use its name.
The checks in more detail
Arming by voice depends on your mode: Home mode arms perimeter sensors and Away mode arms everything including motion, as SimpliSafe explains, and entry and exit delays still apply. Disarming by voice is usually restricted or needs a PIN, so a spoken PIN protects you. If a voice command fails, check the Base Station is online, that the SimpliSafe account is linked, that the system name matches and that the app works.
If sensors are open, the system may refuse to arm, so close doors and windows or bypass sensors in the app. Update the SimpliSafe app and the assistant. Keep account security in mind and enable two-factor where offered. Test arming by voice while standing at the Keypad so you can see the result at once. Use short unique names for the system. Practise a few commands. If you use voice arming, set your entry delay so you can reach the Keypad before an alarm sounds when you disarm.
SimpliSafe explains that Home mode leaves motion sensors off, so a voice command to arm at bedtime should be Home, and Away should be reserved for when the house is empty. Do not link voice control to a device that guests can speak to if disarming does not require a PIN. Practise arming and disarming in front of the Keypad after setting up voice, so that you know exactly what the system does with open sensors and delays before you rely on it.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe Base Station (Gen 3) does not respond to voice control”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An unlinked assistant
What separates it The assistant cannot find the system because the SimpliSafe account has not been linked to it
How to confirm Link the account in the assistant's own app, following its prompts to sign in to SimpliSafe
- 2
An offline Base Station
What separates it Commands fail because the Base Station is offline and cannot receive them
How to confirm Restore the Base Station's power and wifi, then check the app shows the system as online
- 3
An open sensor
What separates it The system will not arm by voice because one of its sensors is open
How to confirm Close the open door or window, or bypass the sensor in the app, then ask again
- 4
A wrong system name
What separates it The assistant says the system is not found because you used a name that does not match
How to confirm Use the exact name of the system, and ask the assistant to discover devices again if you renamed it
- 5
No PIN on voice disarm
What separates it Anyone can disarm by voice because no PIN is needed for that voice command
How to confirm Require a PIN for disarming, so that a spoken command alone cannot turn the alarm off
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which voice assistant or smart home platform you are using
- The exact name that you gave the system
- Which mode you asked for, such as Home or Away
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the SimpliSafe site
ReversibleCheck the SimpliSafe website for the list of supported assistants, to be sure yours works with the system.
Link the account
ReversibleLink the SimpliSafe account inside the assistant's app, signing in when it asks for your login.
Use the exact system name
ReversibleUse the exact system name and run device discovery, so that the assistant knows what to call.
Confirm the Base Station is online
ReversibleConfirm the Base Station is online and that the app itself works, before you blame the voice link.
Close open sensors
ReversibleClose any open sensors, or bypass them in the app, because an open sensor stops the system arming.
Require a PIN
ReversibleRequire a PIN for disarming, so that voice control cannot be used to turn the alarm off freely.
Contact SimpliSafe
ReversibleContact SimpliSafe if linking fails, and tell them the assistant and the exact message you get.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Modes
- Home arms perimeter; Away arms everything.
- Delays
- Entry and exit delays apply.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If linking fails, contact SimpliSafe support and tell them which assistant you are using
- !If arming is refused, check the app for open sensors that block the mode
- !If commands stop working, unlink the account and link it again
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Modes.
Delays.
Notification types and setup.
Users and invitations.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Which modes can voice arm?+
Voice can arm the Home and Away modes, and the system follows the same rules as arming from the app.
Does voice disarm need a PIN?+
It should, since a PIN requirement for disarming stops anyone nearby from switching the alarm off by voice.
Why won't it arm?+
The most common reason is an open sensor, such as a door or window that is not fully closed.
Do delays still apply?+
Yes, the entry and exit delays still apply, so you have the same time to leave or to disarm.
Should I check the site for assistants?+
Yes, check the SimpliSafe website for the assistants it supports before you spend time on linking.
Can the app work while voice fails?+
Yes, the app can keep working while voice fails, which points to the link with the assistant.
Should I relink after issues?+
Yes, relinking after an issue refreshes the connection and often clears a stale link between the two.