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If, like me, you’re interested in home security, you’ve likely heard of SimpliSafe. The brand became a household name thanks to its simple and affordable DIY home security solution, which includes a base station, keypad controller, and entry sensors for windows, doors, and cabinets.
Sensors play a critical role in home security, alerting you when someone tries to access a protected area. But what if you get notified that your sensor has stopped responding to the base station communicator, indicating that your home is no longer 100% protected?
Toget connectedagain quickly, follow this guide onhow to reseta SimpliSafe entry sensor.
Table of Contents
Why Is My SimpliSafe Sensor Not Responding?
A “Sensor Not Responding” error message means your sensor cannot check in with the SimpliSafe base station. Here are some potential reasons for this.
1. The Batteries Need To Be Replaced
SimpliSafe entry sensors include a blue LED light that flashes once when the sensor is triggered and twice when the sensor is reconnected to the smaller magnet piece. If the blue lights don’t go off when you trigger your sensor, this indicates that your batteries need to be replaced.
To resolve this issue, try replacing your sensor’s batteries. Slide the sensor off its bracket and swap out the old battery for the new one.
If your sensor doesn’t respond, it may be offline. You can find steps to reset your SimpliSafe sensor later in this guide.
2. The Sensor Is Broken
If you change the batteries and you still don’t see LED flashing lights, this could also be a sign that the sensor itself is broken. Look for any physical damage that could indicate why your sensor is no longer working.
If you see no signs of damage, try deleting the sensor from your system via the keypad or SimpliSafe mobile app. Then, add the sensor back to your system. You can learn more about the mobile app in ourSimpliSafe app review, which covers monitoring, app control, and more.
3. Your Sensor Is Too Far Away From The Base Station
If the blue light flashes but the sensor is still not functioning correctly, this could be a sign that your sensor is too far from the base station. Dense physical objects—like stone or metal—or devices that output a wireless signal can cause interference between your sensor and base station.
Put the base station in “Test Mode” to determine if your sensor is too far from the base station:
- Selecting “Menu” on the SimpliSafe keypad and enter your master PIN
- Navigate to “Test Mode” and select
- The base station will audibly announce that it is running a test
- Press the button on the top of the sensor that you want to test
- If the base station can communicate with the sensor, you’ll hear the base station announce the sensor
If you did not hear the SimpliSafe base station acknowledge the sensor, try moving the entry sensor to a different spot on the door or window or moving the base station closer to the sensor and rerunning the test. SimpliSafe alsorecommendsplacing the base station three to five feet away from any other devices that output a wireless signal. In the case of a motion sensor, SimpliSafe recommends placing the sensor six feet above the floor for optimum performance.
What Causes A SimpliSafe Sensor To Go Offline?
A “Sensor Not Responding” warning indicates that your SimpliSafe sensor has a poor connection to the base station. These sensors regularly check in with the base station, and if they are unable to connect repeatedly, they will go offline. So, “offline” means that the sensor cannot check in with your SimpliSafe base station.
How To Reset A SimpliSafe Sensor
If your sensor doesn’t come back online after replacing the battery or moving the base station, you may need to delete it from the SimpliSafe mobile app and add it back to your system.
To remove a sensor:
- In the SimpliSafe app, choose “My System” in the navigation bar
- Select “Device Settings” and tap the sensor you wish to remove
- Press “Remove Device”
From there, you can add the sensor to your system again through the mobile app or the keypad.
To add a sensor via the mobile app:
- In “Device Setting,” select the plus icon or “+ Add Device” and follow the on-screen instructions
To add a sensor using the keypad:
- Open the menu and enter your master PIN
- Select “Devices”
- Choose “Add Device” and follow the provided on-screen instructions
Our Personal Experience With SimpliSafe
We had SimpliSafe for years and were pleased with its functionality and affordable monitoring cost. At the time, it was by far the least expensive monitored home security option at $25/month. While it didn’t come with all the bells and whistles of a system like Frontpoint or Vivint, the sensors were easy to install and the system just worked. The monitoring response for triggered events was very quick.
The only hiccups we had were with smoke detectors using up the batteries too quickly. This ended up being a mounting issue (an improperly mounted detector will sound an installation alert that will drain the battery). We solved this with a little piece of electrical tape. SimpliSafe support was okay but not amazing – it took several calls to get to the bottom of things and in the end we used a DIY solution.
– Alex Schenker, Safe Smart Living Editor & SimpliSafe Customer
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our readers frequently ask about SimpliSafe sensors. Don’t see yours? Ask us in thecomments.
Do SimpliSafe Sensors Work Without A Subscription?
The sensors essentially work the same with or without a subscription. The one thing that’s missing is the “secret alarm,” in which the system notifies only certain people when it is triggered instead of an audible alarm from the base station. The base station will not have cellular backup without a professional monitoring plan. This means that without Wi-Fi, your system won’t be able to send alerts.
How Long Does A SimpliSafe Sensor Last?
According to SimpliSafe,the lifespan of the entry sensor’s battery is up to 10 years.The rest of SimpliSafe’s sensors should last around five years. You can learn more about SimpliSafe’s offerings in ourSimpliSafe review.
What Other Products Does SimpliSafe Offer?
While a base station, keypad, and entry sensors are the foundation of the SimpliSafe security system, the brand offers many more products for a smart, secure home. We’ve reviewed a number of these products, including theSimpliSafe Smart Lock,doorbell camera, andSimpliCamindoor camera.
Did you get your SimpliSafe sensor to respond? Let us know in thecomments!
Why Trust Safe Smart Living?
Since joining the Safe Smart Living team, Tara has covered various safety and security topics, including home security and automation, online security, identity theft protection, and personal safety tips. Tara is dedicated to helping our readers understand how to use the latest home security technology without the headache. When writing this article on unresponsive SimpliSafe sensors, Tara gathered the experience of previous users, along with guidance from the service itself.
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