ADT Self Setup Frequently Asked Questions

If you like the reassurance of a name like ADT but don’t want the hassle of a three-year contract, this is the flexible option you’ve been waiting for. ADT Self Setup is a refreshing addition to the DIY home security landscape. You can either choose 24/7 monitoring by ADT’s monitoring centers or monitor it yourself through the app.

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ADT Self Setup has a wide range of security equipment including an outdoor camera, indoor camera, doorbell cameras, motion sensors, door and window sensors, flood sensors, and fire safety sensors. You can learn more about its equipment and its compatibility to other smart home products in our ADT Self Setup equipment guide.

Yep. Since ADT Self Setup only offers DIY security systems and equipment, you can easily remove your old home’s equipment and reinstall it in your new home.

Yes, it has three different cameras: 

• ADT Self Setup Wireless Outdoor Camera
• ADT Self Setup Indoor Camera
• ADT Self Setup Doorbell Camera

Yes, all ADT Self Setup cameras are 1080p quality.

Yes, you don’t need an ADT Self Setup security system or monitoring plan to use its cameras. You can also use ADT Self Setup cameras without a storage subscription plan. If you need extra storage, you can simply add a microSD card to the Indoor Camera or Wireless Outdoor Camera.

The ADT Self Setup Indoor Camera and Outdoor Camera have a field of view of 130°. This is pretty typical for security cameras, though there are some security cameras with much wider fields of view. The ADT Self Setup Doorbell Camera has a wider field of view at 180°, which is excellent when compared with other top doorbell cameras.

When it comes to motion detection, both the ADT Self Setup Wireless Outdoor Camera and the Indoor Camera can detect motion up to 16.4 ft. (5 meters). The Doorbell Camera has a shorter range of 9.8 ft. (3 meters).

You don’t need one, but it does make your doorbell camera’s chime louder. If you or a loved one has trouble hearing doorbell chimes, we would definitely recommend getting the ADT Extender + Chime. It also makes your Wi-Fi signal go farther and increases your cameras’ battery life.

ADT Self Setup is ADT’s version of a DIY security system. Instead of a professionally installed security system, it offers security equipment that can be easily installed by just about anyone.

You can learn more in our comparison of ADT and ADT Self Setup.

Yes, ADT Self Setup used to be called Blue by ADT. Prior to that, before ADT bought it, it was LifeShield. 

Yes. Like its parent company, ADT Self Setup offers professional monitoring. 

Yes, sort of. It uses ADT-owned monitoring centers. ADT has nine monitoring centers located around the country. ADT Self Setup also practices redundant monitoring, which means when one monitoring center goes down (maybe because of a computer malfunction), monitoring is routed to another monitoring center. So you’re always covered. Centers are also backed up with generators so they can work through power outages.

Nope. It uses a cellular connection to link your system with the monitoring site. With cellular, you don’t need to worry about the extra cost of a landline or loss of landline service during a storm.

Videos can be viewed on the ADT+ app. You can get the app from Google Play or the Apple Store. ADT Self Setup also allows users to view camera footage by logging into its customer portal on the website.

According to ADT internet requirements, you need upload speeds of 2.5 Mbps per video doorbell and 2 Mbps for each camera. So if you have two doorbells and two cameras, you need an upload speed of 9 Mbps—and that's on top of requirements for any other devices connected to your home network.

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Yes, ADT Self Setup is compatible with a number of Nest smart home products including Google Nest Thermostat. Even better, syncing is easy. Use these steps to connect ADT Self Setup with your Nest products: 

1. Open the Google Home App.
2. Tap +.
3. Choose Set Up Device.
4. Select Works with Google.
5. Pick ADT Self Setup from the list.
6. Follow the on-screen steps.

You would think so, but no. Unfortunately, if you already have ADT equipment, the devices will be useless with a ADT Self Setup system.

Just the cameras. You can only use ADT Self Setup cameras with LifeShield systems. Other ADT Self Setup products can’t be used with LifeShield.

You can get a month-to-month monitoring plan for just $19.99 per month. This is quite a bit cheaper than other security companies like Vivint and Frontpoint.

No, ADT Self Setup doesn’t require its customers to sign a home security contract, which we love. We wish its parent company, ADT, would follow suit.

If you don’t like ADT Self Setup, you can opt out in your first 30 days. ADT has to receive the equipment back 60 days after your purchase before it will process a refund.

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