How To Clear Memory On DSC Alarm? – Complete Steps!

If you don’t know how to clear memory on DSC alarm, then you’ve found the right guide!

The DSC alarms are rather smart systems designed to keep you in touch with what happens even when you are not home.

The memory of the DSC alarms includes any triggers that occur when the alarm is armed in each of the zones that you have.

To clear the memory of your DSC alarm you should open the panel to reveal the activation button. Then you would only need to arm and disarm the alarm, which will erase all data saved in the memory.

You don’t need to wait to erase the memory when you’re about to leave your house. In fact, you can do it anytime you want to relieve the device from unneeded information.

How To Clear Memory On DSC Alarm?

You’re probably aware that the keypad has a LED light that indicates that something is in the memory.

Sometimes this light can remain ON and many users have found themselves in a situation where they can’t turn the light off.

Our steps are designed in a way to clear the memory and turn off the LED light.

This is why it's essential not to skip any of the steps and to follow them in the listed order.

Step #1 Turn ON The DSC Alarm

Before you begin, it’s important to make sure that your device is actually turned on.

If the screen on your keypad is blank you would need to press the Exit button and the hashtag (#) button respectively and quickly enter the Home Menu.

You should see “System is ready to arm” on your keypad screen.

If you’re seeing this message then you’re ready to enter the memory and find out whether something is there. Then you’ll learn how to erase it.

Note: Be aware that some DSC keypads have LEDs on the right side of the screen, while others do not. Ignore references in case you’ve got a non-LED unit.

Step #2 Locate The Memory

Any events that happened to your alarm when the device is activated, can be viewed in the settings from the keypad.

To locate where the memory is stored follow the steps below:

1. Open the keypad protective cover.
2. Make sure that you’re on the home screen.
3. Press the star button (*) on the bottom left of the number pad.
4. Then press “3” immediately after.
5. You should see “Scroll to view alarm memory”.
6. Use the left and right arrow buttons on the top left to view memory.

Controlling left or right, you will be able to see any events on your alarm on all of the zones that you’ve got installed.

Note: In case you’re seeing events there, that means the memory is still not erased.

Step #3 Activate DSC Alarm

In case you’ve just got home and saw the memory LED on your device lit up, it’s time to learn how to clear the memory on your DSC alarm.

You have to activate the alarm first and then disarm it, so the memory can be erased.

Here is how to arm your DSC alarm:

1. Open the keypad protective cover.
2. Locate the “Stay” button on the top right.
3. Press and hold the “Stay” button for at least 5 seconds.
4. You should hear a beep.
5. That means your keypad is not activated.

By activating the alarm, a new recording session has started and all of the old data has been erased.

This is enough to clear the memory but you would need to check and be sure that it worked.

Note: If you didn’t hear a beep, repeat the steps over until you’re confident that your DSC alarm is activated.

Step #4 Disarm The DSC Alarm

Before any events occur, you need to disarm your alarm and check in the memory whether there is something now or not.

In case the memory is deleted, you will only see the name of your zones but nothing underneath, representing an event.

To disarm your alarm follow the steps below:

1. Open the protective keypad plastic cover.
2. Press the Away button.
3. Wait for the red LED to turn on.
4. Enter your 4-digit Master Code (by default: 1234)..
5. You should hear multiple beeps.
6. The DSC alarm should be disarmed.

You have 45 seconds to enter your master code or your alarm will be triggered and you will see that in the memory.

That was the DSC alarm panel clear memory operation and it is now done, so you can freely operate through its menus.

That was everything needed to clear the memory and at this point, you should be ready!

Tip: Jump back to step #1, to inspect if now there would be any memory.

The DSC Alarm Memory Is Still There…

In case the DSC alarm memory remains there, that would mean only one thing. You’re not able to arm/disarm the device since something is keeping it in the alarm mode.

Check the LEDs on the right side of the screen for ongoing alarms such as smoke detection, radar, and motion.

Whenever something is actively triggering your alarm, it can’t be disarmed until the event ends. 

This is why you should inspect ALL of your zones and prevent anything that triggers the alarm for the time being. Then come back to this guide and re-attempt to clear the memory.

How To Reset DSC Alarm Memory?

For situations where you’re unable to arm/disarm the alarm to clear the memory, you can instead, reset the entire device to clear software issues.

Be aware that such a reset will erase any settings and erase all data, irreversibly.

Here is how to reset your DSC alarm:

1. Open the protective keypad cover.
2. Press the Exit button and the hashtag (#) button to land on the home screen.
3. From there, hold the Reset button for 3 seconds.
4. Enter *72 on the keypad.
5. Wait for a minute.
6. Your DSC alarm is reset.

This is how to clear alarm memory on DSC keypad. Feel free to use step #1 and check if now there is any memory.

If there is, attempt to reset the device again. It’s important also to check whether you can now arm and disarm the alarm which essentially is the better way to erase memory.

Tip: In case of any further issues, feel free to contact DSC customer service for more information and help in regard to the problem.

Thus, to clear the memory on a DSC alarm you should activate the alarm by holding the “STAY” button for 5 seconds and waiting for the beep. Once activated, you should disarm the alarm by entering your master code and hearing several consecutive beeps.

Read Next: How to Reset ADT Alarm after Power Outage?

Last Thoughts:

Now that you know how to clear memory on DSC alarm the LED lights will no longer bother you if you do it regularly.

However, even if you never clear the memory a new recording session will automatically start upon activating the device and the old data will be erased anyway.

It’s always good to know that something happened while you were gone so make sure to check what’s inside the memory of your DSC alarm before deleting it.