If the screen on your Qolsys panel is dark, black, or will not wake up, first determine whether the panel is simply sleeping or whether it has lost power or stopped responding.
These instructions apply generally to:
A dark screen does not always mean the alarm system is powered off. The display may be sleeping while the system continues operating.
Touch the screen once.
If nothing happens, wait a few seconds and try again.
If the display wakes normally and the panel responds to touch, the screen may simply have been in its normal sleep or display mode.
If the screen wakes when touched and then goes dark again after a period of inactivity, this may be normal display behavior.
If you want the display behavior changed, contact CommTech Systems if the normal customer-accessible display settings do not provide the option you need.
If the screen is visible but unusually dim, check the normal display or brightness controls available from the panel.
Increase the brightness if needed.
If the display remains extremely dim even at a normal brightness setting, contact CommTech Systems.
If touching the screen does nothing, determine whether the panel shows any other signs of operation.
Listen or look for:
If the system produces normal sounds but the display remains black, the issue may involve the screen itself.
Contact CommTech Systems.
If you have Alarm.com access, check the system from the app.
Look at:
If Alarm.com is receiving current information while the panel screen remains black, the system may still be operating even though the display is not functioning correctly.
If the screen is black and Alarm.com also shows the system Offline, there may be a power or panel problem.
Check whether the property currently has electrical power.
Determine whether other electrical devices in the property are working.
If the entire property has lost power, the Qolsys panel may be operating from its backup battery.
If the backup battery becomes depleted during a long outage, the panel may eventually shut down.
Restore normal building power when safely possible.
If the building has power but the panel appears completely off, check the panel's normal power source only if it is safely accessible.
Look for obvious issues such as:
Do not open electrical equipment or handle exposed wiring.
In some installations, the panel's power source may be affected by a GFCI-protected circuit.
If a nearby GFCI outlet is tripped and it is safe to do so, reset it.
If it immediately trips again, do not repeatedly reset it.
Contact a qualified electrician or CommTech Systems as appropriate.
If the circuit supplying the alarm equipment has tripped, it may be possible to reset it once if it is safe to do so.
If the breaker trips again, do not continue resetting it.
There may be an electrical problem requiring service.
If you can hear normal panel sounds or Alarm.com shows current activity but the display remains black, contact CommTech Systems.
Do not assume the alarm system is fully unusable simply because the screen is dark.
If the display is visible but does not respond correctly to touch:
If the touchscreen remains frozen, contact CommTech Systems.
If some areas of the touchscreen work but others do not, the touchscreen may have a display or touch-input problem.
Do not press excessively hard on the screen.
Contact CommTech Systems.
If the display is visible but frozen:
If the panel freezes again, contact CommTech Systems.
If the Qolsys panel remains on its startup screen for an unusually long time, do not repeatedly remove power.
Contact CommTech Systems.
If the panel repeatedly:
there may be a power, battery, or equipment problem.
Do not repeatedly reboot it.
Contact CommTech Systems.
If the screen problem began after a power outage:
If the display remains black or the panel repeatedly restarts, contact CommTech Systems.
If Alarm.com or the panel previously reported Panel Low Battery, the backup battery may have become depleted during a power outage.
After normal AC power is restored, the battery may require time to recharge.
Contact CommTech Systems if the panel continues having power or battery trouble.
If the problem began while cleaning the panel:
If liquid may have entered the panel, stop using it and contact CommTech Systems.
If the panel was:
do not attempt to open or repair it.
Contact CommTech Systems.
If the system is currently armed and the touchscreen is unusable, avoid creating an alarm while troubleshooting.
If you have authorized Alarm.com access and the system is communicating normally, you may be able to view the system status remotely.
If you cannot safely operate the armed system, contact CommTech Systems for assistance.
If an alarm is active and there may be an actual emergency, prioritize personal safety.
For a possible:
move to a safe location and contact emergency services as appropriate.
Do not remain in a potentially dangerous property trying to repair the panel.
Do not unplug the Qolsys panel simply because the display is malfunctioning or the panel is making trouble sounds.
Removing AC power can cause the system to operate from its backup battery and may create additional trouble conditions.
Do not open the panel and disconnect its battery to force it to restart.
If a normal customer-accessible reboot is not possible, contact CommTech Systems.
Do not factory reset the Qolsys panel because the screen is dark, frozen, or unresponsive.
A factory reset is not an appropriate first troubleshooting step and can create additional problems.
Contact CommTech Systems if:
When requesting assistance, provide:
For your security, do not provide alarm codes, passwords, or other private account credentials through the support chatbot.