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Create a button press notification for the Alarm.com Video Doorbell

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Alarm.com doorbells can trigger a notification when the camera detects motion or someone presses the doorbell button. Doorbell call notifications and recording rules can be created and configured using the Alarm.com app and Alarm.com customer website.

Note: The following steps are for creating a notification only. For more information about how to configure a Video Analytics recording rule and notification, see Configure a Video Analytics rule for an Alarm.com doorbell camera.

Additional considerations

  • After sending the initial notification, repeated button-press SMS, Email, and Push notifications will have a 20-second delay before a new notification can trigger. This does not impact the doorbell ringing on a wired or wireless chime.
  • Doorbell call push notifications will have a unique doorbell sound effect that is different than other push notification sounds and cannot be changed.
Doorbell call notifications vs. doorbell call recording rule notifications

Although both notification types will result in the user receiving a notification, doorbell call notifications serve a different purpose from doorbell call recording rule notifications.

  Doorbell call notification Doorbell call recording rule notification
What triggers the notification? The doorbell button is pressed The doorbell button is pressed and the doorbell uploads a saved clip for the event
When is the notification sent? As soon as the system reports that the doorbell button was pressed As soon as the saved clip is uploaded to the cloud
How can I use the notification?
  • You will be linked directly to the doorbell's Live View stream
  • Doorbell calls can be answered directly through push notifications
 You will be linked to the saved clip that was created by the recording rule

For more information about how to use the doorbell call screen on the Alarm.com app, see Interact with visitors and devices using the doorbell camera call screen.

Create a button-press notification

Button-press notifications can be created using the Alarm.com app and Alarm.com customer website.

  1. Log in to the Alarm.com app.
  2. Tap Video .
  3. Tap Configure.
  4. Tap to select the desired doorbell camera. 
  5. In Automation, tap Setup Doorbell Call Notifications.
  6. Tap Add.
  7. Tap Doorbell Call.
  8. Name the notification.
  9. In For the selected devices, tap to select the desired doorbell camera.
  10. In When the following event occurs, tap to select Motion, Button Pushed, or both.
  11. In During this time frame, tap to select At all times or Only during the following times to choose a schedule for the doorbell camera to follow.
  12. In Notification filtering, tap to select the desired filters.
  13. In Recipients, tap Add.
    • In the Address Book, tap to select the recipients to notify, or tap Add Contact to add a new Address Book recipient.
       
      Note: It is recommended to use a push notification (i.e., recipients with a phone icon next to their description) rather than an email or text notification. Users can answer a doorbell call directly through the push notification.
       
    • Tap Close.
  14. Verify the notification is configured with the correct settings.
  15. Tap Save.
  1. Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
  2. Click Notifications.
  3. Click New Notification, or click Edit to edit an existing notification.
  4. Click Doorbell Call.
  5. I For the selected devices, click to select the desired device.
  6. Click to select Button Pushed. 
  7. In During this time frame, click to select At all times or Only during the following times to choose a schedule for the doorbell camera to follow.
  8. In Notification filtering, click to select the desired filters.
  9. In Recipients, click Add.
    • In the Address Book, click to select the recipients to notify, or click New to add a new Address Book recipient.
       
      Note: It is recommended to use a push notification (i.e., recipients with a phone icon next to their description) rather than an email or text notification. Users can answer a doorbell call directly through the push notification.
       
    • Click Close.
  10. Verify the notification is configured with the correct settings.
  11. Click Save.
Attach a thumbnail to a doorbell call push notification

A thumbnail picture can be attached to doorbell call push notifications for Button Pushed events. It is possible to long-press the push notification to expand the thumbnail image for a closer look, or tap the push notification to see the device's live view. These thumbnails are also stored in the Activity history feed.

Note: Thumbnails can only be attached to a doorbell call push notification for the ADC-VDB770 on firmware version 02234+ and ADC-VDB775. Push notification thumbnails are also compatible with Touchless Doorbell as long as that feature is enabled. For more information, see Enable Touchless Doorbell for the Alarm.com Video Doorbell.

Note: Thumbnails can only be attached to doorbell call notifications with the Button Pushed event type.

  1. Log in to the Alarm.com app.
  2. Tap More.
  3. Tap Notifications.
  4. Tap Configure.
  5. Tap Doorbell Video Call.
  6. Using the dropdown menu next to the intended recipient, select Attach Thumbnail.
  7. Tap Save.

Note: Thumbnails can only be attached to doorbell call notifications with the Button Pushed event type.

  1. Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
  2. Click Notifications.
  3. For the desired doorbell call notification, click Edit.
  4. Using the dropdown menu next to the intended recipient, select Attach Thumbnail.
  5. Click Save.