How Do I Use the Entry Delay Feature on the IQ Panel 5?

To adjust Entry Delay on the IQ Panel 5, swipe down from the top of the screen and touch Settings, enter the Installer Code (1111 by default), navigate to Advanced Settings, then touch Security to set the Entry Delay 1 and Entry Delay 2 timers for each individual door or window sensor.

What Entry Delay Does

Entry Delay gives you time to walk to the IQ Panel 5 and disarm the system before an armed door sensor triggers an alarm. Without a delay, opening a monitored entry point while the system is armed would sound the siren immediately. Most households use two delay tiers, a shorter one for a secondary entrance and a longer one for the main door, so everyone has enough time to reach the panel without giving an intruder extra room to work.

The panel supports two separate Entry Delay timers, Entry Delay 1 and Entry Delay 2, each assignable per sensor. A family with kids who come in through a side door might set a longer delay there, while keeping the front door on a tighter window. Entry Delay only applies while the system is armed in Away or Stay mode. It has no effect while the panel is disarmed, and it works alongside Exit Delay, which gives you time to leave after arming.

How to Change Entry Delay Settings

1. Swipe down from the top of the IQ Panel 5 screen. This opens the Settings Tray, which shows quick controls like Wi-Fi, volume, and brightness above the main Settings button.

Settings Tray opened by swiping down on the IQ Panel 5

2. Touch Advanced Settings and enter the Installer Code. The default Installer Code is 1111 unless it has been changed. This unlocks system-level configuration options that aren't available to regular users.

Advanced Settings option on the IQ Panel 5 Settings page

3. Touch Security to view the arming and delay settings. This menu lists Entry Delay 1, Entry Delay 2, Exit Delay, and other arming-related timers for the whole system.

4. Adjust the Entry Delay 1 and Entry Delay 2 values to the number of seconds you want. Most installers set Entry Delay 1 between 30 and 45 seconds for main entrances, and use Entry Delay 2 for secondary doors that need a different timing window.

Entry Delay settings screen on the IQ Panel 5

5. Assign each door or window sensor to Entry Delay 1 or Entry Delay 2 from the sensor's edit page. This determines which timer applies when that specific sensor is triggered while the system is armed.

What to Expect After Setting Entry Delay

Once configured, opening a sensor assigned to Entry Delay while the system is armed starts a countdown on the home screen, along with audible beeping that gets faster as time runs out. You can disarm from the keypad, a paired key fob, or the Alarm.com app before the timer expires. If the timer runs out without a valid disarm, the alarm triggers and the monitoring center is notified. Shorter delays improve security by giving intruders less time to move through the home, while longer delays reduce false alarms from family members who need extra time to get to the panel.

Setting up Entry Delay correctly on the Qolsys IQ Panel 5 balances convenience with security for every entry point in your home. on the IQ Panel 5. For help with Entry Delay settings or other configurations on your IQ Panel 5, 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.