SimpliSafe Keypad Out Of Range? (We Have a Fix!)
SimpliSafe has a line of home security products that are meant to keep you protected whether you are home or not. One of their products is a digital keypad that can be used on any of the doors in on your home.
There is an issue, however, with it saying that the keypad is out of range. But what can this mean? Your SimpliSafe keypad is having issues connecting. The fix is pretty simple, however. Remove the batteries, let it sit for anywhere from 10 to 15 seconds, and then pop the batteries back in. Power up your device again, with the device now in test mode. From there, you can continue the resetting by hitting the power button.
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Why is My SimpliSafe Keypad Saying, “Out of Range”?
SimpliSafe home devices connect to a smart hub that controls everything. That can include motion lights, cameras, and your SimpliSafe keypad. From time to time, you may notice that your keypad is disconnected or says, “out of range.”
So, what gives? Well, more often than not, the station is either too far from the keypad or the keypad has not been properly paired with the station. This is a common occurrence; you need to ensure that your station is within range of all the devices.
Reconnecting Your SimpliSafe Keypad
The good news is that it is not difficult to troubleshoot the problem and get your keypad connected again. Remember that before you start, your base station should be within range of any devices that it is paired with. When the base station is too far away, any devices out of range will have a difficult time staying connected if they connect at all.
There are a few simple steps to get the issue resolved and your keypad back online. If it doesn’t work the first time, try it again. Sometimes it takes more than one try to get your SimpliSafe keypad connected again. And if nothing works even after troubleshooting the issue, you may need to bring in a tech to check out the issue.
Step 1: Remove the Batteries
The problem with your SimpliSafe keypad being out of range can usually be resolved with a reset. The quickest and easiest way to reset the keypad is by cutting off the power. Pop all of the batteries out of any keypad that is out of range. If you have multiple keypads, that means powering both down.
Step 2: Power Down the Base Station
Next, you want to head over to your base station. Much like the keypad, you want to ensure that the base station has no power or batteries. You are resetting the base station as well, so don’t skip this step.
Give it about 10 to 15 seconds to reset, then power up the base station again. Don’t just pop the batteries out and put them right back in. Give the device sufficient time to reset once again before moving to the next step.
Step 3: Powering the Station Up
Finally, you will need to power up your base station once again. If you do this correctly, the base station should be in test mode. From here, you will need to press the power button again in order to resume the reset feature.
By the time the base station is done resetting, you can put the batteries back into the keypad and try again. If you keep getting the “out of range” error, you will need to repeat the steps and ensure that the base station is closer before trying to reboot the station again.
Having a Second Keypad
Things can get a little more complicated if you have a second SimpliSafe keypad. Even if only one is out of range, there are steps that will need to be taken to ensure that both are online. The reboot option above is the easiest step but not applicable if you have a second device.
How to Reset Your SimpliSafe Keypads if You Have a Second Keypad
Okay, so you have a second keypad that may or may not be working. You know at least one of them is out of range of the base station, so a reset will need to be performed. The process is pretty straightforward, albeit with a few more steps than with a single keypad.
Step 1: Access the Menu
Start by locating and pressing “menu” on your second keypad. You will be prompted to enter your Master PIN. Do so and you will be taken to the next screen.
From there, find “devices” and then find the keypad that is issuing the “out of range” error among the choices. It is identified one of two ways: by the name that you assigned it or by the serial number found under the battery cover on the keypad itself.
Step 2: Device Not There
There is a chance that you go through your devices and don’t see the keypad that has the error. If this happens to you, go back up to the top of your “devices” menu and click on “add device.” From there, you should be able to add a keypad.
It is helpful to know whether or not you have both keypads programmed in. It isn’t a huge deal and takes just a few extra minutes to set up the second keypad. But when one of them is out of range and not functioning, it is helpful to have both devices added.
Step 3: Press the Panic Button
On the top of the keypad that is having the issue, press and hold the red “panic” button. Only do this when prompted to do so, pressing it at any other time may throw off the reset process and require you to do it all again.
The base station should then acknowledge your new device with a message saying, “keypad added.” You should also be prompted to name the station, making it easier to find should you run into this issue again in the future.
Step 4: Naming and Resetting
Finally, name the keypad. Exit by clicking on “menu”, which is located at the bottom left corner of your keypad. When you have programmed in the new keypad, you can then move forward with resetting both it and the base station with the steps above.
One Last Fix
Maybe resetting your keypad(s) didn’t quite work. That is okay, there is one final step that could do the trick. If you have tried rebooting both the keypad and the base station, it could be that you need to reset the router.
Unplug your router, giving it 30 or so seconds before you plug the device back in. This will remove the IP address from any SimpliSafe devices on the network. Your system will then try to reconnect to the router, recognizing your keypad once again.
Keep Your Base Central to Your Home
The primary reason why you will run into issues with any of your SimpliSafe devices is that the base station is too far away. The base station needs to be centrally located to all of the devices in order to ensure that they are working properly.
The size of your home can play a factor in whether or not your base station is in range of the other devices. When ordering your SimpliSafe system, size of the home should come up. You will then be provided equipment to accommodate a larger home.
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Check for Updates
There is always the off chance that the software on either your keypad or base station is out of date. The good news is that you can initiate an update that will bring the software up to current standards and (hopefully) pair successfully.
Checking for updates is likely going to be the last thing you do before calling for a service tech. If the issue persists, it requires a professional to troubleshoot the problem and apply a solution.
Initiating System Updates
If you think that system updates may be an issue, you can check yourself. Look for the gear on your keypad; if it isn’t there, you can check by going into the keypad’s menu. Find “system settings,” and then look for “check for updates.”
From there, you will need to bring the keypad to the base station to ensure that it is in range. Prompt the install menu and then select “install update” when it comes up. The install and reboot takes a little time, so give it about 10 or so minutes to install the update and restart the system.
As the updates are happening, your base station light will turn an amber color. The keypad will also show you what percentage that the update is at so you can get real-time updates if you are on the impatient side. The update should finish and the keypad will reboot. You can then take it back to its door and test out the range once again. More often than not, the software update is the last thing thought of but can provide a simple fix.
Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.
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