A beeping ADT keypad is almost always a low battery warning, shown on the display as BAT, LOW BATT, or SYSTEM LO BAT. You can silence the beeping with a quick keypad sequence, but the sound will come back until the battery is recharged or replaced. If you are not sure which system you have, log into MyADT and check the Alarm System tab, which shows your system's name and a picture of it.
ADT publishes a keypad sequence for each of its systems. Here are the most common ones:
If your system is not listed here, check your user manual. Silencing buys you quiet, it does not fix the battery.
A low battery warning is most often displayed as BAT, LOW BATT, or SYSTEM LO BAT. Many systems also beep or chirp to get your attention. If the message stays on the display after you silence the beeping, that is normal. It remains there as a reminder that your battery must be recharged or replaced.
The beeping often starts after a power outage or a loose plug. Confirm that your home's power is on, and check that the panel's transformer is firmly plugged into its outlet. If your power is out, the system runs on its backup battery until power returns, so give it time before assuming the battery is dead.
For systems where the battery sits inside a panel box (Command Hybrid, Safewatch Pro 3000, Ademco Vista, Concord 4, Concord Express, or DSC 1555, 1616, 1864), ADT says most people can replace the battery themselves. These take a 12 volt, 7Ah sealed lead acid battery.
First, put your system in Test Mode through MyADT: click the Alarm System tab and select System Test, which prevents false alarms while you work. Then unplug the control panel's transformer from the outlet and open the panel box.
Quickly inspect the old battery. If it looks swollen, has a split case, is leaking, or has corroded terminals, stop, close the box, and contact ADT for a service call. Otherwise, gently pull the black wire connector off the black terminal first, then the red connector. Tape over the old battery's terminals so no metal can touch them, set the new battery in place, and push the red connector on first, then the black.
Plug the transformer back in, close and secure the panel box, and check the keypad. One note: the low battery message can take 24 to 48 hours to clear after a new battery goes in, so do not panic if it is still there the same evening.
The keypad tells you the trouble category, so do not ignore the details. A communication failure points at your internet or phone line connection. An open sensor points at a specific door or window. A system trouble message may need ADT support's help to diagnose. Work the message you actually see rather than the one you assume.
This is usually a user-fixable problem: the beeping started after a power outage and stopped when power returned, or the display cleared after you replaced the battery and gave it a day or two to charge. In those cases the hardware is fine.
Call ADT about a service visit if the BAT message stays after a new battery and 48 hours of charging, if the keypad stays dead or unresponsive even with confirmed power, or if the panel box shows damage. Persistent beeping with no display message at all can also mean a failing sensor battery elsewhere in the system, which support can help you track down.
If your system is old enough that the panel itself is failing, or you are tired of the monthly bill that comes with it, it may be time to look at newer options. See our picks for cameras with local storage and the best security cameras with no subscription, or read our guide to replacing your security system after you cancel. Start at securitycompasshq.com if you want the full picture.
Sources: ADT's official help articles "Silence Low Battery Beeping" and "Battery Replacement Instructions for Systems with Panel Boxes," accessed 2026-10-07.