How Do I Add Photos to the Photo Frame on the IQ Panel 5?

To add photos to the IQ Panel 5 Photo Frame, swipe down from the screen's top and touch Photo Frame in the settings tray. Touch ADD to select built-in WIFI photo packs, transfer photos using Bluetooth on Android devices, or connect to the panel’s built-in access point to upload pictures.

Before You Begin

The IQ Panel 5 (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) features a built-in Photo Frame that turns the 7-inch touchscreen into a digital picture frame when the security system is idle. You can choose from pre-loaded WIFI photo packs that download directly to the panel, or you can transfer your own photos from a smartphone. The panel must be connected to your WIFI network to download the built-in photo packs. If you plan to transfer personal photos, you will use either Bluetooth (Android devices only) or the panel's built-in WIFI Access Point, which works with both Android and iOS devices.

Adding Photos to the Photo Frame

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the settings tray. The settings tray slides down and displays quick access controls for volume, brightness, and several feature icons. You will see the Photo Frame icon in the tray alongside Settings, Messages & Alerts, Clean Screen, and Language options.
2. Touch Photo Frame in the settings tray. The Photo Frame screen opens, showing a grid of thumbnail images currently stored on the panel. Along the top of this screen, you will find four buttons: Play, Delete, Add, and Settings. These controls let you manage all aspects of the Photo Frame feature.
3. Touch ADD to begin adding photos. A drop-down menu appears with several options. You can select from WIFI photo packs including Default, Buildings, Flowers, Mountains, and Water. Each pack downloads a themed set of high-quality images directly to the panel over your WIFI connection. For personal photos, select Bluetooth (Android only) or Panel AP to transfer images from your smartphone.
   • Upload photos using Bluetooth (Android only). Put your Android device into Bluetooth pairing mode. On the panel, choose Bluetooth then follow the on-screen prompts to pair your device. Once paired, select the photos you want to transfer then confirm the upload.
   • Upload photos using the Panel AP (recommended for most phones).
     • Select Panel AP from the dropdown. The panel will display its network name (SSID) and password.
     • On your phone, open WIFI settings.
     • Select the panel’s network name from the list of available networks.
     • Enter the password shown on the panel screen.
     • Once connected, follow the on-screen instructions to upload your photos using your device’s browser.
4. Touch Replace All Photos if you selected a WIFI photo pack. The panel downloads the selected photo pack and replaces the existing images in the Photo Frame library. If you chose Bluetooth or Panel AP instead, follow the on-screen prompts to pair your device and transfer your own photos. The Panel Access Point creates a temporary WIFI network that your phone connects to directly, making it the recommended option for iPhone users since Bluetooth photo transfers are only available on Android devices.

Tips

After adding photos, you can customize how they display by touching Settings on the Photo Frame screen. From there, you can adjust the display duration to control how long each image shows before transitioning (1, 2, or 5 minutes), change the transition effect between Dissolve and Fade to Black, and enable or disable Shuffle mode.

The Photo Frame Start Time setting controls how many minutes of inactivity pass before the Photo Frame activates, with options ranging from 1 to 30 minutes. You can also configure Nighttime Mode to automatically turn off the display at a set time each evening and turn it back on each morning, which prevents the screen from lighting up a dark room. You can use Alarm.com with your home automation setup, but the Photo Frame runs independently on the panel itself and does not require an active monitoring plan to function.

Adding photos to the Photo Frame on the IQ Panel 5 personalizes your security panel and gives it a practical secondary function as a digital picture frame. For help with the Photo Frame or other features on your IQ Panel 5, contact the Alarm Grid support team. We are here Monday - 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.