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Bypass a sensor on a Qolsys IQ Pro

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Bypassed sensors won't trigger an alarm. On the Qolsys IQ Pro, there are multiple options to bypass sensors remotely using the Alarm.com customer website or Alarm.com app.

For more information about bypassing sensors directly from the security panel, see Qolsys IQ Pro - User Guide. 

How does it work?

When sending a remote arming command, there's the option to:

  • Bypass Specific Sensors - This option allows the user to select specific sensors to bypass, regardless of the sensor's status. 
    • Only the first 32 bypassable sensors appear for this option. Life safety zones do not appear and cannot be selected to be bypassed.  
  • Bypass all open sensors/system issues - This option requires panel software version 4.3.0n+ and Alarm.com app version 5.3.1+. When available, it is selected by default when arming the system remotely. On panel software versions before 4.3.0n, the following note appears at the bottom of the arming page: Force bypass will be applied to any open sensors or system issues. 
    • If this option is unselected when arming, the panel will fail to arm if there are open sensors or trouble conditions. 
    • A motion sensor that has been activated, such as one that has recently detected motion, would not be bypassed if the panel is being armed away. 
       
      Important: When Auto Bypass is enabled, this option does not display and force bypass will be applied to any open sensors or system issues. 

Note: The Force Bypass option is automatically selected on Qolsys panels to ensure the system can be armed successfully, even if there are open sensors or system issues. This feature is designed to prevent arming failures. Alarm.com aims to provide a seamless and efficient user experience, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing the risk of failed arming due to unresolved conditions.

Other remote arming features

Other remote arming features include the following: 

  • Night Arm 
  • Arming Schedules 
  • Arming automation rules 
  • Force Arm 
    • If Force Arm is enabled in panel programming, all sensors that would prevent arming are automatically bypassed when the system is remotely armed and, while armed, will automatically remove the bypass for a sensor if the sensor is restored to its normal state (e.g., is closed). For more information about adjusting panel programming remotely, see Upload and download panel device settings. 

On software 4.3.0n+, Auto Bypass must be enabled for these other remote arming features to function properly. For more information about enabling Auto Bypass, proceed to Enable Auto Bypass. 

On software below 4.3.0n, these other remote arming features arm the system like a remote arming command. Therefore, the panel will automatically force bypass any sensors that would prevent arming. 

Notifications
  • If customers want to be notified when the system is unable to arm, verify that My system is unable to arm is selected when creating System Event notifications. 
  • If customers want to be notified of bypassed sensors, verify that A sensor on my system was bypassed is selected when creating System Event notifications.

For more information about creating a System Event notification, see Create a system event notification.

En Grade 2 behavior 

When En Grade 2 is enabled: 

  • On firmware 4.3.0n: 
    • Users must address any open sensors before they are able to arm remotely. Otherwise, users will have to arm at the panel. 

Remotely bypass sensors while arming

Sensors can be bypassed while arming using the Alarm.com app and Alarm.com customer website. 

Remotely bypass sensors while disarmed

Sensors can be bypassed/unbypassed while the system disarmed using the Alarm.com app or Alarm.com customer website.

When sensors are bypassed using this method, the selected sensors stay bypassed until it is manually unbypassed or the system is armed and then disarmed, whichever comes first. 

Important: The system must be disarmed to configure bypassed sensors. 

 

Enable Auto Bypass 

For panel software version 4.3.0n+:

  • When Auto Bypass is enabled, force bypass will always apply to open sensors or system issues when arming the panel. Auto Bypass must be enabled for other remote arming features (i.e., Night Arm, Arming Schedules, Arming automation rules, Force Arm) to function properly. 
  • When Auto Bypass is disabled, customers have the option to Bypass all open sensors/system issues. 

For panel software version below 4.3.0n:

  • This setting only affects arming locally at the panel. Remote arming will automatically bypass all open or tampered sensors regardless of whether this setting is enabled or disabled.