The SimpliSafe Entry Sensor reports when a door or window opens, and automation with it means making that event do something, such as send an alert only in Away mode, turn on a light through a linked service or trigger a camera to record. SimpliSafe's own behavior is based on the system mode: in Away mode an open entry sensor triggers the alarm, in Home mode the same sensor can be set to chime or ignore, and in Off mode it does nothing.
The checks in more detail
In the app, the sensor's settings let you choose how it behaves in each mode, so the first automation is to set what happens when it opens at home, such as a chime, versus when away. If you get alarms when you do not want them, check that the sensor is set to the right behavior in Home mode. Further automations depend on integrations. SimpliSafe works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and, through them, routines can be built around the system's state, but the options for a specific sensor depend on what the service exposes.
Check SimpliSafe's list of integrations and what each can do, and build routines in the other service if the event is available. Often you can trigger a routine from the system arming or disarming but not from a particular sensor, so check what the integration offers before planning. For best results, give each sensor a clear name and location, because they appear in alerts and in integrations. Test it with the system in test mode, so that no alarm is raised.
If a routine does not run, check that the system is online, the integration is linked and the time zone is right. A battery that is low can make the sensor slow to report, so replace it. Remember that a door sensor tells you about the door, not about people, so for lighting based on presence, a motion sensor is better. Contact SimpliSafe if a documented behavior fails.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe Entry Sensor routine, schedule or automation is not running”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The sensor's behavior in Home mode
What separates it Unwanted alarms or no chime
How to confirm Set what it does at home
- 2
An integration that does not expose the sensor
What separates it A routine cannot start from it
How to confirm Check what the integration supports
- 3
A low battery
What separates it Slow reporting
How to confirm Replace the battery
- 4
An unnamed sensor
What separates it Alerts are unclear
How to confirm Name it and set its location
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The behavior wanted in each mode
- The integration
Try in this order
0 of 4 completedSet the sensor's behavior
ReversibleFor each mode.
Name it clearly
ReversibleWith a location.
Check what events they expose
ReversibleBefore building a routine.
Test in test mode
ReversibleWithout an alarm.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Modes
- Behavior follows Away, Home and Off.
- Names
- Clear names make alerts useful.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a documented behavior fails, contact SimpliSafe
- !Test in test mode
- !Do not rely on an automation alone
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What can the Entry Sensor automate?+
Its behavior by mode; more through integrations that expose it.
Can it turn on a light?+
Where an integration allows.
Why alarm at home?+
Check the Home mode setting.
Why a chime?+
The sensor can be set to chime.