The SimpliSafe Entry Sensor is a small door or window sensor made of two parts, the sensor and a magnet, that talks to the base station by radio, and a reset of it is rarely needed, because most faults are a battery, a gap or the pairing with the base. Before a reset, check the simple causes. The sensor reports open or closed by the gap between the sensor and its magnet, so make sure they are aligned and within the distance the instructions give, and that they are fixed firmly to the frame and the door.
The checks in more detail
A sensor that shows open when the door is closed is often misaligned. Check the battery: a weak battery makes the sensor report badly or drop out, and the app shows a low battery message, so replace it with the type SimpliSafe specifies. If the sensor still misbehaves, remove it from the system and add it again. In the app, open the sensor's settings and use the option to remove it, then add a new sensor by following the steps,
which has you press the sensor's button or trigger it so that the base station hears it. This clears an old or confused pairing. If you are selling the system or moving house, remove the sensor from your account in the app first. A true factory reset of a sensor, where SimpliSafe offers one, follows its article for the Entry Sensor, and the procedure depends on the model generation. After re-adding, test the sensor with the system in test mode: open and close the door and watch the app.
Check that its name and location are right, because the alarm announces them. Keep the base station within range; metal frames and thick walls weaken the radio signal, so a sensor far from the base may need a closer base station or a range extender if SimpliSafe offers one. Do not remove the sensor's tamper cover unnecessarily, since it triggers an alert. If the sensor will not pair with a fresh battery and a short distance, contact SimpliSafe with the sensor's details.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe Entry Sensor will not reset or needs to be reset safely”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A sensor and magnet out of line
What separates it The sensor reports open when closed
How to confirm Realign them within the specified gap
- 2
A weak battery
What separates it Dropouts and low battery messages
How to confirm Replace the battery
- 3
A confused pairing
What separates it The base cannot hear the sensor
How to confirm Remove it and add it again
- 4
A sensor too far from the base
What separates it Weak radio signal
How to confirm Move the base or sensor
- 5
A sale or move
What separates it The sensor is still on your account
How to confirm Remove it from your account first
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The sensor's reported state
- The distance to the base
- Why you want to reset
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the alignment
ReversibleSensor and magnet.
Replace the battery
ReversibleIf it is low.
Remove the sensor in the app
ReversibleThen add it again.
Keep it near the base
ReversibleDuring pairing.
Test with test mode
ReversibleOpen and close the door.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Magnet gap
- Alignment decides the reading.
- Pairing
- Re-adding clears a confused link.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it will not pair with a fresh battery and a short distance, contact SimpliSafe
- !Follow the Entry Sensor article for a full reset
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I reset the Entry Sensor?+
Remove and re-add it, or follow SimpliSafe's article.
Why does it say open when closed?+
The magnet may be misaligned.
Does battery matter?+
Yes.
Does distance matter?+
Yes, to the base station.