How to Program a Home-Security Alarm

Enter the default password into the keypad on the home-security alarm's control panel to activate the system; this password is found in the alarm's instruction manual or by asking the company that installed the alarm.

Press the "Stay" or "Program" button on the keypad immediately after entering the password; the button name may vary depending on the manufacturer.

Navigate to the "Setup" menu. Follow the onscreen prompts to configure the sensors connected to the control panel as per your wishes; for example, telling motion-activated security lights to only be active from dusk to dawn, or setting the sensors on all of the windows to active all of the time, while the door sensors are only active during select hours of the day.

Navigate to the configuration menu. Enter the default password into the "Old password" or similarly named field and a new password of your own making into the "New password" or similarly named field.

Return to the main menu. Enter your new password into the keypad. Immediately press "Away" or "Program" -- depending on the system's manufacturer -- to arm the system after 30 seconds have passed so that you have time to exit the home. Press "No Delay" or a similarly named menu after "Away" or "Program" to arm the system so that it begins to function immediately