Short answer
Away arms everything, including motion detectors, for when the house is empty. Stay arms doors and windows but ignores interior motion, so you can move around inside. Instant (or Night on some systems) is Stay with no entry delay, so any opened door alarms immediately. On Honeywell VISTA: code + 2 Away, code + 3 Stay, code + 7 Instant.
On this page
The modes
| Mode | Doors & windows | Interior motion | Entry delay | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away | Armed | Armed | Yes | Nobody is home |
| Stay | Armed | Off | Yes | People are home and moving around |
| Instant / Night | Armed | Off (Night may arm some) | No | Everyone is in for the night |
| Max | Armed | Armed | No | Away for a long time, nobody will come in |
Exact behavior depends on how your installer set up each zone. "Night" on some systems also arms selected motion detectors, such as a downstairs hallway.
Honeywell VISTA keys
Enter your code, then the mode key:
- 1 OFF (disarm)
- 2 AWAY
- 3 STAY
- 4 MAX
- 7 INSTANT
DSC PowerSeries keys
- Stay and Away function keys, if your keypad has them (hold for 2 seconds).
- Entering your code with no function key arms Away by default. If nobody leaves through an entry/exit door, many panels automatically switch to Stay.
- * 9 + code arms with no entry delay (the DSC version of Instant).
- * 1 while armed in Stay re-activates the interior (Stay/Away) zones so motion detectors arm.
Touchscreen and app systems
2GIG, Qolsys, Lyric, and app-based systems show the modes as buttons, sometimes called "Arm Stay" and "Arm Away", or "Home" and "Away". Many also offer an option for no entry delay and for silent exit beeps.
Common mistakes
- Arming Away with people or pets inside triggers motion alarms. See false alarms.
- Arming Instant and then opening the front door to let the dog out triggers an immediate alarm.
- Max mode gives no entry delay even on the front door, so you must disarm with a key fob or app before opening it.