How-to guide
Vivint Arm Modes: Stay, Away and Bypass Explained
Vivint has 2 arming modes: Away arms every sensor including motion detectors, and Stay arms the doors and windows but leaves motion sensors and interior doors off so you can move around inside. The default entry delay is 30 seconds and the exit delay 60 seconds; windows and glass break sensors trip instantly in either mode. This guide compares Stay and Away, shows how to bypass a sensor, explains the delays, and gives 4 night settings.
Updated by thevivint.com, an independent Vivint Authorized Dealer.
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Stay vs Away
Use Away when the house is empty and Stay when people are inside; the table shows which sensors each mode arms.
| Sensor | Stay | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior doors | Armed, with entry delay | Armed, with entry delay |
| Windows | Armed, instant | Armed, instant |
| Glass break | Armed, instant | Armed, instant |
| Motion sensors | Off | Armed |
| Interior doors | Off | Armed |
| Smoke and CO | Always on | Always on |
Bypass a Sensor
To arm with a window left open, choose Arm anyway on the Smart Hub and confirm with your PIN, or bypass that sensor in the app's device settings; a bypassed sensor cannot trigger the alarm until the next time you arm.
Smoke and CO detectors cannot be bypassed. Leaving a sensor bypassed by accident is the usual reason a window stays unprotected, so check the panel list after arming.
Entry and Exit Delays
The entry delay gives you 30 seconds by default to disarm after opening an entry door, and customer care can extend it to a maximum of 4 minutes; the exit delay gives you 60 seconds to leave and shut every door after arming.
The entry delay applies only to entry and exit doors. Vivint's FAQ points out that a longer delay also gives an intruder longer before the siren. Arming from the app or a key fob after you step outside skips the exit countdown.
4 Night Settings That Prevent False Alarms
Set these 4 things for night-time arming.
Night settings:
- Arm Stay, not Away, so motion sensors stay off while people sleep.
- Put a keypad by the bedroom so you can disarm without walking past an armed door.
- Set motion-sensor pet immunity to your pet's weight for when you use Away.
- Disarm from the app before letting the dog out in the morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
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