What Does CA Mean on My Keypad?

What Does CA Mean on My Keypad?

What Does CA Mean?

On a Honeywell Vista panel, CA (or, on alpha keypads, “Alarm Canceled”) indicates an Exit Alarm was triggered but then canceled before the entry delay timer expired 

 How This Happens:

  1. Exit Delay: After arming (Stay/Away), you're given time to leave before the system fully arms.

  2. Exit Fault: If a door or interior zone remains open when the exit delay ends, the system starts sounding an alarm and initiates an entry delay 

  3. Canceling the Alarm: If you disarm the system during the entry delay, the alarm stops and the display shows CA—but importantly, no alarm signal is sent to the central station 


How to Clear “CA” and Reset the System

To clear this message and restore normal operation:

  1. Close any open zones: Make sure all doors and interior zones are securely closed (or bypassed if intentional).

  2. Acknowledge the screen:

    • Enter your 4-digit security code, then press OFF (or the [1] key on fixed-word keypads) once. The alarm beeps will stop.

    • If CA remains, re-enter your code + OFF again to fully clear the display.

  3. Re-arm as usual: Once cleared, you can arm the panel (AWAY, STAY, INSTANT, etc.) normally.


Tips to Avoid Seeing “CA” in the Future

  • Ensure exit zones are closed before arming: Don’t arm if an entry/exit door or interior zone used during exit is open.

  • Allow full exit delay time: Let the panel complete its countdown before using that zone.

  • Bypass zones if needed: If you need to leave a door open, bypass it (Code + 6 + zone number) before arming.

  • Confirm with READY: Press * to review open zones before arming—when READY is displayed, it’s safe to arm.


If you continue to see CA even after all zones are closed and clearing with your code, or if you experience repeated exit/alarm issues, it may signal a sensor or wiring fault. In that case, contact your installer or alarm service provider for further diagnosis.

    • Related Articles

    • 🚨 Common Alarm System Issues & How to Report Them

      Your alarm system is designed to protect your home or business, but like any technology, occasional issues may occur. Below are some of the most common alarm system problems, what they typically mean, and how you can report them for prompt ...
    • How to Find the IMEI Number on an Alarm.com Enhanced Module

      If you're using an Alarm.com ADC-SEM300 for your home or business security system, you might find yourself in need of locating its IMEI number. This unique number is crucial for identifying your device on a cellular network. In this blog post, we'll ...
    • How to add or remove Emergency Contacts

      This article is going to show you how to add and remove emergency contacts from the Alarm.com Web Browser and Alarm.com app Web Browser From the homes screen you will go to Setting on the left tab Scroll down to Monitoring Station , and then ...
    • How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication

      To protect your Alarm.com account from intruders, use Two-Factor Authentication. It’s easy to set up, and makes it harder for an intruder to access your account—even if they know your password. Here's a quick video on how to set up Two-Factor ...
    • Combine 2 or more locations on the alarm.com App

      You can setup multi-system account access in Alarm.com by enabling it from a web browser. Follow these steps. 1) Login Decide which of your account credentials you want to use moving forward. From now on, this will be the Login and Password you ...