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Monitoring support
Self monitoring
Your panel and app alert you directly when an alarm trips. You decide whether to call police, fire, or medical services. Ideal for tech-comfortable owners and anyone in a low-risk area.
24/7 professional monitoring
A ULC-listed monitoring centre answers your alarms 24/7, tries to verify with you by phone, and can dispatch police, fire or medical services where available.
How alarm verification works
- 1Alarm trips at the panel.
- 2Signal reaches the monitoring center over cellular (with Wi-Fi as backup).
- 3Operator calls the primary phone on file within roughly 30–60 seconds.
- 4If contacted and it's a false alarm, you cancel with your safeword.
- 5If unreachable or the safeword is wrong, operator dispatches police, fire, or medical.
- 6Secondary contacts are called after dispatch to keep them informed.
Emergency dispatch availability
Emergency dispatch is offered wherever local police, fire, and medical services accept monitored alarm signals. Availability, response times, and any local permit requirements depend on your municipality.
Updating emergency contacts
- 1. Open the Alarm.com app → Settings → Monitoring Contacts.
- 2. Add up to 6 contacts and drag to reorder priority.
- 3. Give each contact a call code (safeword). Anyone who can't provide the code will not be able to cancel a dispatch.
- 4. Save. Changes propagate to the monitoring center within a few minutes.
Cancel or change plans
Switch plans anytime from the Billing tab. Upgrades take effect immediately; downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle. Cancel with 30 days' notice — no long-term contract.
