How Do I Add and Control Z-Wave Lights With the IQ5 Hub?

To add Z-Wave lights on the IQ5 Hub, go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Installation > Devices > Z-Wave Devices, touch Add Device, then Include. Press the pair button on the fixture and name it. Swipe left from the home screen to the Lights page and toggle any fixture on or off.

Before You Begin

The IQ5 Hub (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) includes a built-in Z-Wave radio that supports up to 80 Z-Wave light modules, dimmers, smart switches, and smart bulbs. Pairing lights to the IQ5 Hub unlocks a dedicated Lights page on the touchscreen where you can toggle fixtures individually or in groups. When combined with Alarm.com home automation, you can create schedules, scenes, and arming-state triggers to automate your lights without manual input.

The IQ5 Hub supports dimmers with adjustable brightness sliders, on/off switches, and smart sockets with energy monitoring. If you pair a dimmer, the Lights page shows a horizontal slider you drag to set the exact brightness level. For standard on/off devices, touching the icon toggles the light. You can select multiple lights and use the ON/OFF group buttons to control them simultaneously, which is useful for turning off all lights in a room or zone at once.

Before pairing, make sure the light module is powered on and within 30 feet (9 meters) of the IQ5 Hub during the inclusion process. Z-Wave devices extend their network range once installed throughout the home, but starting close to the panel during enrollment reduces pairing errors. If the device was previously paired to another controller, run a Clear Device exclusion before attempting to add it to the IQ5 Hub.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Swipe down from the top of the IQ5 Hub screen to open the Settings Tray. Touch SETTINGS, then enter the Installer Code (1111 by default). Navigate to Advanced Settings > Installation > Devices > Z-Wave Devices.

IQ5 Hub settings tray accessed by swiping down from the top

2. Touch Add Device on the Z-Wave Devices screen. The IQ5 Hub prompts you to touch Include. Touch Include to start the inclusion process. The panel enters pairing mode and waits for a nearby Z-Wave device to respond.

IQ5 Hub Z-Wave Add Device inclusion screen

3. Press the pair or learn button on your Z-Wave light module. Check your device's documentation for the exact button and press count. The IQ5 Hub detects the device and displays a configuration screen. For S2-capable devices, grant the requested security keys and enter the DSK from the device label if prompted.

4. Name the device and optionally assign a local automation rule. Enter a clear label like "Kitchen Light" or "Garage Lamp." In the Automation dropdown, choose Night, Evening, or Front Door to assign a simple rule that runs locally on the IQ5 Hub without requiring Alarm.com. Touch Add to save the device to the network.

IQ5 Hub Z-Wave device configuration during enrollment

5. Swipe left from the IQ5 Hub home screen to open the Lights page. The Lights page appears after the first Z-Wave light module is enrolled. Each paired fixture displays a status icon showing whether it is currently on or off.

IQ5 Hub Lights page overview with all control options

6. Control your lights from the Lights page. Touch a bulb or outlet icon to toggle it on or off. For dimmers, drag the slider to adjust brightness. Select individual lights by touching the circle next to each, then use the ON or OFF buttons to control the group. Touch Get Status to update the current state of selected lights. On smart outlets, touch the Energy icon to view current power consumption.

IQ5 Hub light control status icons for all fixture types

Remote Control via Alarm.com

With an Alarm.com monitoring plan that includes home automation, you can control IQ5 Hub lights remotely from the Alarm.com smartphone app. Alarm.com also supports smartwatch control, allowing you to trigger lights from a wearable. You can build scenes that combine lights with locks, thermostats, and arming actions, creating consistent routines for morning, evening, and away modes that run without manual input.

Alarm.com smartphone app showing Z-Wave light control for IQ5 Hub

Z-Wave light control on the IQ5 Hub gives you full local and remote management of your home lighting through a clean touchscreen interface on the IQ5 Hub. For help with Z-Wave light control and home automation or other configurations on your IQ5 Hub, contact the Alarm Grid support team. We are here Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Email us at support@alarmgrid.com, call us at 888-818-7728, or visit our website and chat with a live support agent.