SimpliSafe entry sensor not responding after battery change? So, stay with us in this guide!
Your SimpliSafe entry sensor may develop a fault after replacing the batteries, especially if your battery is discharged or not positioned correctly.
So, this guide will help you define the issue with the sensor and guide you through effective troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue today.
If the SimpliSafe battery sensor is not responding, first, power cycle the base station and reinsert the entry sensor’s battery. Also, re-add the sensor from the app and perform a factory reset on the base station.
Let’s learn more!
SimpliSafe Entry Sensor Not Working After Battery Replacement?
Before starting with any of the solutions, it is recommended to go through the possible causes of the entry sensor’s functionality failure.
So, if you’ve recently changed the battery, the fault could be due to improper battery positioning, discharged battery, or battery compartment faults.
Here are the possible causes for the sensor’s functionality fault:
How Long Does an Entry Sensor Battery Last?
The longevity of the entry sensor’s battery could fluctuate based on how often the sensor goes off and what type of battery it has.
The average lifespan of a CR-2032 3V Lithium battery can be about 6 months, but other higher quality models may also last for up to 2 years.
How long your sensor’s battery lasts does not define or alter the functionality of the sensor.
Still, you should always prefer higher-quality batteries just to feel secure and protected at all times.
SimpliSafe Entry Sensor Not Responding After Battery Change – Fixed
Tip: Follow the instructions consecutively!
1. Inspect the Battery’s Positioning
If the entry sensor has ceased all functionality shortly after installing the new battery unit, there is a high likelihood that the battery has been inserted improperly.
That’s why the first step is to take out the new battery unit, inspect the polarity of the battery compartment, and put it back in.
Here’s how to access the SimpliSafe entry sensor battery and remove it:
- Slide off the entry sensor to remove it from the wall.
- Press down on the release tabs on the sensor’s back.
- Remove the battery from the sensor’s compartment.
- Next, wait for 30 seconds while the battery is ejected.
- Inspect the polarity of the SimpliSafe sensor’s socket.
- Place the battery back in and close the compartment.
Tip: The battery should have imprinted a positive and negative marking on each side!
2. Check for Compartment Obstructions
If you’ve made certain that the new battery is inserted correctly, but your entry sensor does not come online, there could be an obstruction of the electrical poles.
If that’s the case, you should take the battery out once again and thoroughly clean the entry sensor’s electrical compartment.
Here’s how to clean the entry sensor’s compartment:
- Access the battery compartment and remove the battery.
- Tip: Use a can of compressed air to scatter the debris.
- Use some rubbing alcohol and an earstick for cleaning.
- Wait for 3–4 minutes while the compartment is drying up.
- Insert the battery and test the entry sensor’s functionality.
Alert: Do not reinsert the battery while the compartment is still not fully dry.
3. Power Cycle the Base Station
The “Sensor Not Responding” message means that the base station has not been receiving a feedback signal from your entry sensor.
So, if the fault is with the SimpliSafe base station, you should perform a power circulation of the hardware by temporarily suspending the power flow.
Here’s how to perform a power cycle on the base station efficiently:
- Press the power button on the base station to power it off.
- Unplug the power cord from the back of the base station.
- Next, wait for ~60 seconds while the cord is disconnected.
- Reconnect the power cable back into the supplying outlet.
- Wait until the base station turns on and test the functionality.
Tip: Inspect the condition of the station’s hardware components while unplugged.
4. Test With Another Battery Unit
It is also possible that the battery you have inserted into the entry sensor is defective and cannot supply enough electricity to the unit’s hardware.
Even if the battery is brand new, you should insert another CR-2032 3V Lithium battery to determine if the sensor will start working.
So, uninstall the entry sensor from the mounting plate, remove the back compartment, and remove the battery from the socket.
Insert the new battery that answers the current unit in model and size, close the compartment, and determine if the sensor will start working again.
Warning: Verify that the new battery is brand-new and at full battery capacity!
5. Re-Add the Sensor from the App
Another extremely effective solution whenever the entry sensor not responding SimpliSafe is to re-add the unit from the SimpliSafe app.
It is possible that after inserting a new battery, the application has failed to detect the entry sensor, and therefore, it no longer responds properly.
Follow these simple instructions to re-add the entry sensor from the app:
- Launch the SimpliSafe app on your Android/iOS.
- Go to the “My System” page within the application.
- Select “Device Settings” and find the entry sensor.
- Scroll down and press the “Remove Device” button.
- Head back to “Device Settings” and tap the “+” icon.
- Choose the type of the extra sensor you wish to add.
- Follow the instructions to set up the entry sensor unit.
Alert: While the sensor is removed from the app, it will not function properly!
6. Check for Electromagnetic Interference
Even if the positioning of the sensor or the base station has not changed after replacing the batteries, you should still be aware of electromagnetic interference.
Wireless devices that are close to the entry sensor or the base station can congest the transmitted signal.
Dislocate the following or identical devices from the range of your SimpliSafe setup:
- Devices that transmit or emit Bluetooth signals.
- Microwaves, furnaces, or metallic appliances.
- RF transmitters, radios, or signal baby phones.
Note that the SimpliSafe base station uses standard cellular waves to communicate with each extra sensor.
This means that solid obstructions, such as thick cement or wooden walls, can potentially block the signal and prevent the base station from detecting the sensor.
Tip: Test the sensor’s positioning to determine a “sweet” connection spot.
7. Reinstall the SimpliSafe Mobile App
The “Sensor Not Responding” message can be a fault produced by the SimpliSafe app rather than the entry or any of the other extra sensors.
That’s why if you keep getting this error, you should reinstall the SimpliSafe application on your mobile device and re-add the entry sensor.
How to Reinstall the SimpliSafe App On Android?
- Access the settings of your Android mobile device.
- Navigate to “Storage” or the “Applications” section.
- Hold the SimpliSafe app once it shows in the menu.
- Choose the “Uninstall” or the “Remove App” button.
- Download the SimpliSafe app at the Google Store.
How to Reinstall the SimpliSafe App On iOS?
- Hold the SimpliSafe app on the homepage of your iOS.
- Choose the “Remove this app” button from the menu.
- Once uninstalled, launch the App Store on your device.
- Use the search field to locate the SimpliSafe platform.
- Tap the cloud icon to reinstall the SimpliSafe app again.
Notice: Downloading the SimpliSafe app requires a reliable internet connection!
8. Factory Reset the Base Station
If the sensor still fails to connect with the base station, you should perform a factory reset of the base station’s system.
This is the ultimate solution for communication issues, misconfigured settings, or just for optimizing the performance of your system, primarily the base station.
Here’s how to perform a factory reset on the SimpliSafe base station:
- Unplug the power cable of the SimpliSafe base station.
- Pop-open the battery compartment using a screwdriver.
- Remove the base station’s battery for up to 15 seconds.
- Reinsert the battery and put the battery cover back on.
- Reconnect the base station’s power adapter and test.
Upon reconnecting the supplying cable of the base station, it may take up to 2 minutes for the system to come online.
During that time, each of the extra sensors will be reconfigured, and as long as there’s a proper power supply, the frontal LED lamp should be blinking continuously.
Warning: While resetting, the base station and all sensors will be temporarily offline!
Quick Recap
To fix when the SimpliSafe entry sensor not responding after a battery change, reinsert the battery, test with another battery, and clean the compartment.
If the issue persists, re-add the sensor and conduct a sensor factory reset.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.