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Getting Started with Your Security System

Four short videos covering everything you need to set up your system for the first time — notifications, alerts, and adding users.

1

Setting up push notifications

Do this first — you won’t receive any alerts until notifications are turned on. Anyone who has a login will need to do this on their own device.

1
Tap “More” in the bottom right

This is where notification settings live in the app.

2
Go to “Notifications” (third from the top)

Yours is probably off by default — toggle it on.

3
Tap the settings wheel ⚙ in the top right

This opens the full notification options.

4
Scroll to “Manage All Recipients” at the bottom

Here you can customize specific alert types (events, doorbell, etc.), set timing preferences, and control who sees what. Each person must have their own account and push notifications enabled.

5
Choose “Text Only” and hit Save

“Text Only” means the notification shows words rather than a thumbnail image — this is fine for most people. Tap Save when done.

💡 Everyone with app access needs to turn on their own push notifications. Remind new users to do this when they first log in.
2

Turning on door & window “left open” alerts

Once notifications are on, you can set specific alerts for when a door or window is left open too long.

1
Go to More → Notifications → ⚙ Settings

Same path as above.

2
Tap “Sensor Left Open” at the bottom

This is specific to door and window sensors.

3
Choose the device, duration, and time window

Select which sensor to watch, how long it can be left open before alerting, and whether to notify all day or only during certain hours.

4
Set recipients and hit Save

Choose who gets the alert and how. Then save.

3

Adding someone to the app

This step must be done from the desktop version of Alarm.com — not the mobile app. Do this before they try to log in.

1
Open Alarm.com on a desktop browser

This cannot be done from the mobile app.

2
Go to Users → Manage Login

“Manage Login” only appears on the desktop version. This is different from “Users” — it controls who can log in to the app.

3
Hit Login, type in their info, and Save

They’ll receive credentials to access the Alarm.com app on their device.

💡 “Users” (also accessible from mobile) controls PIN-based device access. “Manage Login” is specifically for granting app login access — make sure you’re in the right one.
4

Adding a user to the panel & locks

This gives someone a PIN to arm/disarm the panel or unlock doors. Can be done from the app.

1
Tap “More” in the bottom right

Same starting point as notifications.

2
Tap “Users” at the top

Then tap the + in the top right and fill in their info.

3
Set or generate a PIN

After creating the account, you can assign a custom PIN or generate one automatically.

4
Toggle on the panel and/or lock access

If they have both a security panel and a lock, you can enable the same code for both. Recommended to leave both on.

5
Hit Save

To remove access later, just delete the user — it instantly revokes their PIN from the system.

💡 For employees or multiple household members, you can add as many users as needed and delete them instantly when access should be removed. This is the best way to control who can enter your property.
Still have questions?

Our team can walk you through any setting over the phone or on-site.

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