How Do I Allow a Keyfob to Disarm an Alarm on the IQ5 NS?

To allow a keyfob to disarm an alarm event on the IQ5 NS, open the IQ Installer app, navigate to Installation, Security and Arming, find Keyfob Alarm Disarm, then turn on the toggle right there and save it. This is disabled by default on every panel that ships out of the box new.

Why This Setting Is Different From Regular Keyfob Disarming

The IQ5 NS (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) normally lets a keyfob disarm the system whenever it's simply armed and quiet, controlled by the separate Keyfob Disarming setting. Keyfob Alarm Disarm covers a narrower, more specific situation: whether that same keyfob can disarm the system after an alarm has already been triggered and the siren is sounding. These are two different moments, and the panel treats them as two different permissions.

By default, Keyfob Alarm Disarm is turned off, meaning a keyfob can silence and disarm a system that's simply armed, but can't stop an active alarm event once it's already triggered. In that case, only a valid user code entered at a paired keypad, or the Alarm.com app, can disarm during an active alarm, which is a deliberate limitation on what a small radio-frequency remote is allowed to do on your security system.

How to Allow a Keyfob to Disarm an Alarm Event

1. Open the IQ Installer app. This is the mobile app used to configure the IQ5 NS, since the panel has no display of its own.

2. Connect to the panel. The app communicates with the IQ5 NS over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to load its configuration menus.

3. Enter the Installer Code when prompted. The default Installer Code is 1111, though your account admin may have changed it to something else, like 2222.

4. Touch Installation. This opens the Installation menu, which lists Devices, Installer Settings, System Logs, Sirens and Alarms, Security and Arming, and Camera Settings.

5. Touch Security and Arming. This menu holds all the arming behavior toggles, including Keyfob Disarming, Keyfob Instant Arming, Keyfob Alarm Disarm, and Arm Stay - No Delay.

IQ5 NS Security and Arming option in the Installation menu

6. Find Keyfob Alarm Disarm in the list. This setting is disabled by default, meaning a keyfob currently cannot disarm an active alarm event.

7. Turn on the Keyfob Alarm Disarm toggle. Once enabled, pressing the keyfob's disarm button will stop an active alarm event the same way a valid user code would.

Weighing Convenience Against Verification

Turning this on adds real convenience if a false alarm goes off and the nearest thing at hand is a keyfob rather than a phone or a memorized code. But it's worth considering who carries a keyfob and under what circumstances. A lost or stolen keyfob that can silence an active alarm removes one more safeguard between an intruder and a quiet house, since disarming an alarm in progress is a more sensitive action than disarming a system that's simply been left armed overnight.

How This Interacts With Keyfob Disarming

Keyfob Alarm Disarm only matters if the base Keyfob Disarming setting is also turned on, since a keyfob that can't disarm the system at all obviously can't disarm it during an alarm either. If you've previously turned off Keyfob Disarming entirely, enabling Keyfob Alarm Disarm on its own won't restore any keyfob disarm capability, you'd need to re-enable Keyfob Disarming first in the IQ Installer app. Think of Keyfob Alarm Disarm as an extension of Keyfob Disarming into alarm situations specifically, not a standalone permission.

If the Keyfob Still Can't Disarm an Alarm

If a keyfob still isn't disarming an active alarm after turning this on, confirm that Keyfob Disarming itself is also enabled, since both settings need to be on together. Also confirm the keyfob is actually enrolled and functioning, since a keyfob with a dying battery or one that's fallen out of range won't respond regardless of how these toggles are set. If everything checks out and it still isn't working, a factory-reset or re-paired keyfob may be needed to restore reliable communication with the panel.

A Practical Way to Test the Change

After enabling Keyfob Alarm Disarm, it's worth confirming it actually works rather than assuming the toggle took effect. Trigger a controlled test, such as opening a door sensor while the system is armed to start a real alarm event, then press the keyfob's disarm button to confirm it stops the siren. Let your monitoring provider know ahead of time that you're testing, so a real dispatch doesn't get triggered by the test alarm. If the keyfob doesn't stop the alarm during this test, double check in the IQ Installer app that both Keyfob Disarming and Keyfob Alarm Disarm are turned on, since missing either one will cause the test to fail.

Enabling Keyfob Alarm Disarm on the IQ5 NS lets a keyfob stop an active alarm event, not just disarm a quietly armed system on the IQ5 NS. For help with Keyfob settings or other arming behavior toggles or other configurations on your IQ5 NS, 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.