Motion Sensors

There may be a point where you need to rename a device for your SimpliSafe® System. Renaming it can be done easily through the SimpliSafe® Mobile App, but you can also rename a product using your Keypad. The following will walk you through these steps for each platform so you can pick whichever one is easiest for you.

• SimpliSafe® Mobile App

• SimpliSafe® Online Account

• Keypad

SimpliSafe® Mobile App:

1. Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet

2. Select My System from the navigation bar at the bottom of the app screen

3. Choose Device Settings

4. Choose the device you would like to modify

5. Tap arrow next to the name of your sensor

6. Choose a prepopulated name from the list of available names, or scroll down and choose Custom Name to enter your own name

7. Be sure to tap on SAVE in the upper right corner to save your selections

*Note, Custom Names for the Entry Sensor are not supported by Sensor Name Announcement

SimpliSafe® Account Online

1. Login to your SimpliSafe® Online Account using the browser of your choice

2. Choose Devices from the left-hand navigation menu

3. Click on the product you wish to edit, then a pop-up will appear to the right of your browser

4. Select the pencil icon next to your devices name

5. Enter the new name you wish to use in the field

6. Select the check mark when done

7. Be sure to click on Save Changes from the bottom of the pop-up before exiting to save your selection

*Note, Custom Names for the Entry Sensor are not supported by Sensor Name Announcement. To confirm which names are available, please use the SimpliSafe® Mobile App to rename your sensor.

Keypad:

1. Press Menu

2. Enter your Master PIN

3. Choose Devices and then Open to enter the Devices menu

4. Scroll down to select the product you wish to modify

5. Press the screen to the right to choose rename

6. Choose one of the preset names from the list using the rocker, or select Other at the end of the list to enter a Custom Name*

*Note, Custom Names for Entry Sensor are not supported by Sensor Name Announcement.

The Keypad uses ABC mode for typing. In this mode, you'll cycle through the corresponding characters (numbers, symbols, punctuation, letters) using the keys numbered 0-9 on your Keypad.

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*For the '1' key, more characters will appear after 10 presses and in this specific order:

) * + , - . / : ; < = > ? @ [ \ ] ^ _ ' { | } ~

Installing SimpliSafe® sensors takes less than a minute! In most cases, sensors can be mounted on walls by using the adhesive strips on the back of each device. However, there are some situations where the sensor may not adhere to the wall effectively, like:

• Brick surfaces: the surface can be rough in texture and hard to clean thoroughly 

• Hot and humid conditions: humidity can weaken the adhesive strips

• Cold conditions: a cold wall can cause the adhesive to fail

• Dirty surfaces: the adhesives stick best on clean surfaces

For the best results, we suggest making sure that the area you’re adhering the sensor to has been thoroughly cleaned and dried. We recommend wiping the area down with an alcohol-based cleaning product to make sure it’s clear of any dust or dirt. 

Once the area is thoroughly dry, simply peel the paper backing off the adhesives and press the sensor firmly to the wall for 30 seconds.

If you have a sensor that has fallen off a wall, be sure to test the sensor to confirm that it is still working properly and was not damaged.

Alternatively, SimpliSafe® sensors can also be screw-mounted using the included mounting bracket. See our How do I Install my Sensors by Screw-Mounting article for more information.

If you purchased a Motion Sensor from SimpliSafe or an authorized retailer prior to April 2023, it is likely that you have the first generation of the Motion Sensor. 

You can also tell which version of the Motion Sensor you have by comparing the size of the dome on it. The Motion Sensor Gen 1 has a dome with a 1-inch diameter, while the Motion Sensor Gen 2 has a dome that is approximately 1 ½ inches. 

See the photo below for a side-by-side comparison between the two Motion Sensors. 

The warning ‘Sensor Not Responding’ for a Motion Sensor Gen 1 can be caused by a couple of things, including a low battery or a weak connection between the device and the Base Station.

As a first step, we’d recommend ensuring that the battery is correctly installed. To do this:

1. Slide the sensor off its’ bracket by pushing it towards the wall and up

2. Remove the battery from the Motion Sensor

3. Wait 15 seconds, then reinstall the battery again

4. Then, test the Motion Sensor by placing your system into Test Mode using your Keypad.

1. Menu > Enter Master PIN > Test Mode

5. Press and release the button on the Motion Sensor. The Base Station should announce “Motion Sensor” and the timeline should show “Motion Sensor Test” on the SimpliSafe Mobile App.

1. If you do not hear the Base Station respond, the battery within your Motion Sensor may need to be replaced.

1. The Motion Sensor takes a single CR-123A 3V Lithium battery. To replace the battery, slide the sensor up and off its’ bracket. Then replace the battery and slide it back onto its bracket.

If you have replaced the battery and are still encountering the ‘Sensor Not Responding’ error, it likely is the result of a weak connection to the Base Station. A weak connection to the Base Station can often be caused by something environmental, like brick walls or dense home construction. 

To test this, temporarily move the Base Station closer to the Motion Sensor and see if the error stops. If the sensor does work with the Base Station in a new location, it is likely the result of the environment near the prior location that is causing the conflict. You’ll have two options from here; Keep the Base Station in its’ new location closer to this sensor, or try to identify and clear the interference in the sensor's existing location. If you choose to keep the sensor where it’s at, you’ll want to look for environmental factors, such as dense building materials, or wireless devices that are nearby that could be interfering with the RF signal between the sensor and the Base Station. If you have any devices that output a wireless signal, we recommend trying to keep them at least 3-5 feet away from your sensor. That should help to clear up communication between the device and the Base Station.