How Do I Delete All Z-Wave Devices on the IQ5 NS System?

To delete all Z-Wave devices on the IQ5 NS, open the IQ Installer app, go to Installation, Devices, Automation Devices, then touch the three-dot menu. Choose Remove all Z-Wave automation devices, turn on the confirmation toggle, and touch Remove. Allow time to re-enroll each device.

What Removing All Z-Wave Devices Does

The IQ5 NS (available in AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE) can remove every Z-Wave device it controls in a single action. The manual labels the option Remove All Devices, with the note Factory Default Reset, because it resets the Z-Wave controller inside the system. The manual also lists it as Delete All Z-Wave Devices, which it describes as a factory reset of the Z-Wave controller that does not factory reset the devices that were previously included.

That last point matters. If the system is the primary controller of your network, which is the normal setup in a home, resetting it leaves the devices orphaned. According to the manual, you must exclude and re-include every device in the network afterward. Each light, lock, thermostat, or garage door controller keeps the old network information until it is cleared.

Before You Start

This action removes only Z-Wave devices. Your security sensors and other devices are not affected. It does affect every Z-Wave light, lock, thermostat, and controller on the system, so any security system scenes or rules that rely on them will need those devices added again. Plan on having time to re-enroll each one, and keep any device instructions handy.

If you only need to remove one device, use Clear Device for a working device or Delete Failed Device for one that no longer communicates. Use Remove All Devices only when you want to start the Z-Wave network over, such as when you are replacing the system or rebuilding a network that has become unreliable.

How to Delete All Z-Wave Devices

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 WIFI to load its configuration menus.

3. Enter the Installer Code when prompted. The default Installer Code is 1111. The Dealer Code, 2222, also works.

4. Touch the Config tab. This is where system configuration menus live in the app.

5. Touch Installation, then Devices. This opens the Devices menu.

6. Touch Automation Devices. This opens the Automation Devices page, which lists your enrolled Z-Wave devices.

IQ5 NS Automation Devices option in the Devices menu

7. Touch the three-dot menu at the top of the page. The menu offers Clear Z-Wave devices and separate options to remove all PowerG, Z-Wave, or Zigbee automation devices.

8. Touch Remove all Z-Wave automation devices. Choose the Z-Wave option only, since the PowerG and Zigbee options remove a different set of devices.

IQ5 NS menu with Remove all Z-Wave automation devices highlighted

9. Turn on Yes, I want to perform this action. The page asks if you are sure you want to remove all Z-Wave devices, and the Remove button stays unavailable until this toggle is on.

IQ5 NS confirmation toggle for removing all Z-Wave devices

10. Touch Remove. The IQ5 NS removes all Z-Wave devices.

What to Do After the Reset

Start by clearing each device so it can join the new network. The Clear Device option removes a Z-Wave device from its previous network, including one that was enrolled with this system before. Touch Clear Device, then press the pair or learn button on the device when the system starts sending its clear signal. Each Z-Wave device is different, and not every device has a hard button for this, so check the device instructions.

Once a device has been cleared, add it again with Add Device in the Z-Wave Devices page of the app. Add the devices one at a time, giving each a clear name as you go, so you can confirm each one works before moving on.

Remove All vs. Clear Device vs. Delete Failed Device

The Z-Wave Devices page has three removal options, and each one has a different purpose. Clear Device removes one working device and requires you to press its pair or learn button. Delete Failed Device removes a device that has stopped communicating and needs no interaction with the device itself. Remove All Devices resets the whole Z-Wave controller and removes every device at once. Choose the smallest option that solves your problem.

If You Decide Not to Continue

The confirmation step gives you a chance to back out. If you are not sure, cancel and review your device list first. Nothing is removed until you confirm, and a device that is still working normally is usually better handled with Clear Device. If you are unsure whether a full reset is the right fix for a problem, contact Alarm Grid support before going ahead.

Deleting all Z-Wave devices from your IQ5 NS resets the Z-Wave controller, so plan to add each device again afterward on the IQ5 NS. For help with Z-Wave devices or other device settings 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.