Can Someone Else Monitor My ADT System? What Homeowners Need to Know

If you’ve ever wondered if you could let someone else—whether it’s a friend, roommate, or even another company—keep an eye on your ADT home security system, you’re not alone. Lots of people share homes, travel often, or want backup in case of emergencies. But not everyone knows exactly how the monitoring side of ADT works, or if it’s possible to open things up to others.

ADT’s setup is designed to give you peace of mind at home, but it also works with strict rules about who’s allowed to monitor your system and how alerts get handled. There are options for adding people in your family or close circle to your account. Some folks try to bring in another monitoring company or outside help. But here’s where it gets tricky: ADT keeps a tight grip over their monitoring network for safety and reliability reasons, so switching to or adding another company isn’t as simple as plugging in new gear.

Still want to share access or delegate monitoring duties? There are workarounds and official ways to pull this off, but they come with their own steps and considerations. Knowing what ADT allows—and what it doesn’t—is the first step to staying secure and making the most out of your system.

• How the ADT Monitoring Works
• Can Family or Roommates Monitor Your ADT System?
• What About Third-Party Monitoring Services?
• Risks and Things to Watch For
• How to Share Access Safely and Smartly

How the ADT Monitoring Works

ADT is one of the most recognized names in home security, running a massive network of monitoring centers across North America. Most people using ADT rely on the company’s professional monitoring service to keep an eye on alarms 24/7. Once your system is installed, it links up with ADT’s secure cloud, so alerts from your sensors—like door contacts, motion detectors, and smoke alarms—zip directly to a monitoring center.

When a sensor trips, here’s what happens: ADT’s system sends the alert to their team, who checks what triggered it. If it looks serious (say, a break-in or fire), they’ll contact you right away. If you don’t answer or confirm the emergency, ADT automatically contacts local responders—police, firefighters, or ambulance.

• Monitoring centers operate year-round, non-stop—so alerts get checked even in the middle of the night or during bad weather.
• Multiple centers mean that even if one loses power, another picks up the signal. This redundancy helps cut out downtime.
• You can check the system status, get notifications, and control some features using the ADT Control app, but the real muscle comes from those professional watch teams.

Want numbers? ADT’s setup covers over 6 million homes across the U.S. They report an average response time of about 15 seconds from alarm to a live agent call, depending on the type of alert and where you live. The whole thing works in the background so you can go about your day without stressing about monitoring the house yourself.

Here’s something important: the ADT network is closed. Only ADT-approved staff can directly connect to the main monitoring framework. So, while users can get real-time alerts and info through the app, the big stuff—like dispatching first responders—comes straight from ADT’s control rooms, not from outside helpers.

Can Family or Roommates Monitor Your ADT System?

If you live with a partner, kids, or a couple of roommates, you might want everyone to have access to the ADT system for convenience and quick response in emergencies. Good news: ADT actually makes it pretty easy to add extra people so they can monitor, get alerts, and even control the system if something looks off.

Here’s how it usually works. ADT lets you add multiple users to your account. You decide how much control each person has:

• Primary user (usually the homeowner) can add or remove users anytime.
• Secondary users can arm/disarm the system and receive alerts.
• Some systems let you set up custom codes for temporary guests or cleaners, so you don’t have to give out your main code.

You can manage these permissions right in the ADT app or online portal. Just add a name, phone, and email for each person. For roommates who are moving in or out, you can update or delete their access in seconds.

Whenever a sensor is tripped or an alarm goes off, everyone set up for notifications will get alerts, either by app push notification, text, or email, depending on your settings. This means your kids can get a heads-up if the garage door opens, or your roommate can double-check if the front door gets left ajar.

One thing to watch: only official account users will be able to interact with customer support or make big changes. Make sure everyone you add is trustworthy. Always change or remove codes if someone moves out or loses their phone. This cuts down on the risk of someone having access when they shouldn’t.

Quick tip—if you want to keep things more private (like if you’re subletting to someone you don’t totally know), you don’t have to add them as a user. You can just set up a guest code that can be activated or deactivated anytime. That way, your security stays tight, but you’re not sharing too much control.

What About Third-Party Monitoring Services?

So let’s say you like your ADT equipment, but you’re thinking it’d be great if another company or outside service could jump in for monitoring. Maybe it’s about price, or maybe you want a backup crew just in case. Here’s the straight answer: ADT does not support third-party monitoring with their standard systems and contracts. Their equipment and wiring are built to talk only to their own monitoring centers. This isn’t just a company policy—technically, outside companies can’t access ADT’s professional alerts or manage system signals through ADT’s servers.

There’s a real reason for this. ADT wants to guarantee fast, accurate responses and control over how alerts get handled. If some random company stepped in, confusion and delays could put your home at risk. Also, a 2023 study found that homes switching between monitoring services increased false alarms by at least 20%, since each center has different verification rules and communication setups.

If you still have your eye on alternatives, there is a workaround: Some homeowners yank out the old ADT panel and install a new system that’s open to other providers. You’re looking at an extra upfront cost, though. Also, tampering with ADT gear might break your contract and end customer support. The average cost of professional system replacement ranges from $400–$900, depending on what gear you keep or replace.

Here’s how your options stack up:

Sometimes, rogue techs or online forums claim you can hack your way into third-party monitoring with special adapters or software. Honestly, this rarely works, and doing so usually voids your warranty or even breaks the law in some areas. If you ever want to truly move to a different monitoring company, replacing the system is the only sure path.

The bottom line? ADT wants to be the only eyes on your home if you’re using their service. If you want to loop in another company, expect to start from scratch—and check your contract first to avoid surprise bills.

Risks and Things to Watch For

Letting someone else monitor your ADT system or your alerts might sound helpful, but it comes with a few big risks. Giving out access—if it’s not set up the right way—can mess with your security and your privacy.

If you hand over your ADT login or alarm codes to someone you barely know, you’re basically opening the door to your house—virtually speaking. ADT doesn’t recommend sharing codes or passwords unless it’s with someone you would trust with your life. Once a code is out, it’s tough to know who else might see it or where it might get shared.

Not everyone realizes this, but if you let someone else monitor your alerts using unofficial methods (like text message forwards or shared emails), you might miss crucial notifications. Some folks end up getting their phone numbers or emails mixed with someone else’s, so alerts never go to the right person. Even a two-minute delay in handling a real alarm can cause major problems.

Here’s what some owners overlook: your emergency contact info with ADT must be up-to-date. Every year, about 20% of false alarm responses happen because ADT can’t reach the right person. If you switch up who’s getting alerts, you’ve gotta make sure ADT knows, or emergency services might show up at your door even if it’s a minor blip.

Also, letting a techie friend or neighbor set up their own remote monitoring sounds good until you realize ADT’s contract says you’re responsible for what happens. If something goes sideways—like a burglary or fire—you might get stuck footing the bill, with little help from ADT if you broke the rules.

So, if you’re thinking of bringing someone into your home security plan, stick to the official channels. Use ADT’s guest access and custom code features instead of shortcuts. This keeps your stuff safe, keeps your privacy right where it belongs, and avoids any awkward moments if someone you trusted turns out not-so-trustworthy.

How to Share Access Safely and Smartly

Want to let someone else check your ADT system or help with emergencies? There’s a right way to do it. Giving out your main login isn’t just risky—it can mess up settings, put your privacy at risk, or even lock you out. Instead, ADT lets you add extra users the safe way.

Through the ADT Control app or the web portal, you can set up different user accounts. These can be customized, so you decide who gets what permissions. For example, you might want to give a babysitter the ability to arm and disarm your system, but not mess with your overall security settings. Here’s how to do it right:

1. Log in to your ADT Control app or website with your main admin account.
2. Go to 'Users' or 'Manage Users.'
3. Click 'Add User' and fill in their info (name, email, phone).
4. Set their access level—there are options like 'Guest' or 'Full Access.'
5. Decide if they should get system notifications, and for what events.
6. Send the invite. They’ll get an email or text with instructions.

While it’s tempting to just share your password, resist. According to a 2023 security report, over 60% of home security breaches last year started with shared credentials or weak passwords. Separate logins make it easy to remove a user if you need to, with no hassle.

Here’s a quick look at what you can control for each extra user:

If you’re away from home or need someone to pitch in, keep emergency contacts updated in your main ADT profile. That way, if the alarm goes off, ADT knows who else to call besides you. Always use strong, unique passwords for your ADT account—never reuse old ones.

Quick tip: Anytime someone no longer needs access, just remove them from your users list. It’s fast, and only takes a few taps in the app. That’s smarter and safer than rolling the dice with your main login info.