Programming and controls · Rolling Shutter Guide
How do I factory-reset a Somfy RTS shutter motor?
Use Somfy's dual power cut on that motor only: power off about 2 seconds, on 5 to 15 seconds, off about 2 seconds, then on, and the motor jogs. Then hold the programming button on a Somfy remote until the motor jogs (twice on an Altus RTS). On an Altus RTS this erases every paired control and both limits.
Key facts
- Somfy's dual power cut is power off about 2 seconds, on for 5 to 15 seconds, off about 2 seconds, then on again; the motor answers with a brief jog.
- If the motor does not move after the last power-on, Roll-A-Shield's remote-operated install guide says to keep cycling the power until it does. Roll-A-Shield data
- On an Altus RTS, hold the programming button until the motor jogs twice. Somfy says that if you let go before the jogging is complete you must start the power cuts again from the beginning.
- On a Somfy Altus RTS motor the reset deletes all previous settings, paired controls and limits alike, so the limits have to be programmed again afterwards. Roll-A-Shield data
- Somfy RTS motors have no obstacle detection, so watch the curtain while you set the new bottom limit. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Somfy Altus RTS 120 V radio motors and Somfy RTS manual-override (CMO) radio motors, as fitted to remote-operated rolling shutters, including Roll-A-Shield's. Gaposa, SIMU and solar motors use different procedures, linked below.
When should I reset a Somfy RTS motor?
Reset a Somfy RTS motor when every working remote is lost, when the motor answers a control it should not, or when its programming is in a state you cannot explain. On an Altus RTS motor the reset deletes all previous settings, so it is the last step, not the first.
Do not reset to fix a shutter that stops at the wrong height or runs the wrong way. Those are a limit and a direction setting, and both can be changed without wiping the motor; see how to set the limits on a Somfy RTS motor. If you still have the remote you want to remove plus one that works, delete that single remote instead (see the FAQ).
Remote-operated Roll-A-Shield shutters leave the factory with the limits set and the remote paired, so a reset also undoes that factory setup.
What does the reset erase?
It depends on how the motor sets its limits.
| Motor | Erased by the reset | Not listed as erased |
|---|---|---|
| Somfy Altus RTS (limits set from the remote) | All previous settings, including every paired control and both limits | Nothing listed; program it like a new motor |
| Somfy RTS manual-override motor, reset with a paired remote | Every paired control, sensor and in-between position | The limits, which live on the white and yellow push-buttons |
| Somfy RTS manual-override motor, reset with a new remote | Every old control and sensor; the new remote is paired in the same step | In-between positions and the push-button limits |
How do I do Somfy's dual power cut?
Cut and restore power to the one motor you are resetting, in a set rhythm, then confirm with a remote.
Tools: any Somfy RTS remote with a working battery; a paperclip or pen for the programming button; the plug or breaker that feeds this motor and no other Somfy motor; a timer.
- Run the curtain to about mid-height. Somfy's override-motor guide starts here, and if the motor sits on a limit it moves briefly during the reset.
- Cut power for about 2 seconds.
- Restore power for 5 to 15 seconds.
- Cut power again for about 2 seconds.
- Restore power and leave it on. The motor moves briefly.
- When the motor stops, hold the programming button on the back of the remote. On an Altus RTS, hold it until the motor jogs twice, and keep holding until the jogging is complete; if you let go early, start again from step 2. On a Somfy manual-override motor, a remote that is already paired needs to be held only until the motor jogs once; a new remote is held until it jogs twice.
- On an Altus RTS, program the motor as a new one: direction first, then both limits, then any extra controls.
The "on" step is the one with a window: Somfy's override-motor guide accepts anything from 5 to 15 seconds, and its quick guide for the Altus RTS pictures about 10 seconds. If the motor does not move after the last power-on, Roll-A-Shield's guide says to keep disconnecting and reconnecting until it does.
Safety: Somfy says to switch off power only at the motor being reset, and its quick guide recommends powering only the motor being programmed. If the motor plugs into an outlet, unplug it. If it is hardwired on a breaker that also feeds other Somfy shutters, there is no owner method for isolating one motor in our sources: do not open the outlet or junction box, and call (480) 921-0200. Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.
Somfy also says not to use an Inis RT or Inis RTS wall control for the reset; use a handheld or wall remote with a programming button.
What do I do after the reset?
Set the motor up again from the controller, one motor at a time.
- Press UP and DOWN together until the motor jogs; it is now in programming mode and runs only while you hold a button.
- Check the direction and reverse it if needed by holding MY until the motor jogs.
- Set the upper and lower limits and store them by holding MY until the motor jogs.
- Hold the programming button on the back of the remote until the motor jogs; it now runs normally (user mode). The full sequence for Telis, Smoove and DecoFlex controllers is on the Somfy limits page.
- Add each further remote, wall switch or key fob from the first one; see adding a Somfy remote, wall switch or key fob.
Stop: Somfy RTS motors do not have obstacle detection. While the bottom limit is unset nothing stops the curtain at the sill, so keep people, pets and furniture clear and stop it early.
A Somfy motor in programming mode drops out after 2 minutes with no input, so have the remote ready before you start.
What if the reset does not take?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No movement after the last power-on | The power-cut rhythm was off | Repeat the cycle; keep cycling until the motor moves |
| Altus RTS jogged once, not twice | Programming button released too early | Start again from the first power cut |
| Motor stopped answering during set-up | Programming mode timed out after 2 minutes, or the motor's thermal protection tripped | Wait about 15 minutes and start again |
Is a Somfy reset the same as a Gaposa reset?
No. Gaposa is the standard motor on Roll-A-Shield motorized shutters and Somfy the optional one, and each brand resets its own way. A Gaposa motor resets by holding the left back button and STOP on a Gaposa remote; see how to reset a Gaposa motor. A Gaposa solar motor needs its panel disconnected first; see the solar motor hard reset. Older SIMU motors are covered on the SIMU motor page. If you are not sure which motor you have, the brand name is on the remote and on the motor head, or call (480) 921-0200.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Somfy reset erase the limits?
On an Altus RTS motor, yes: Somfy's dual power cut deletes all previous settings, and Roll-A-Shield's install guide follows the reset by programming both limits again. On a Somfy manual-override radio motor the limits are set with push-buttons on the motor head, and Somfy's reset section lists only paired controls, sensors and in-between positions as erased.
I lost my Somfy remote. Do I have to reset the motor?
If no other paired remote or wall switch still works the shutter, yes. With a new remote in hand, Somfy's override-motor instructions let you do the power cuts and then hold the new remote's programming button until the motor jogs twice, which clears the old controls and pairs the new one in a single step.
Can I delete one remote without resetting everything?
Yes, if you have both remotes. Hold the programming button on a remote that works the shutter until the motor jogs, then hold the programming button on the remote you want to remove until the motor jogs again. The same sequence adds a remote that is not yet paired.
Will this work on my Gaposa motor?
No. Gaposa motors reset by holding the left back button and STOP on a Gaposa remote, with a different timing, and a Gaposa solar motor has its own hard reset.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Replacement motors, remotes, straps, slats and hardware ship from our Tempe, Arizona factory. Phoenix-area owners can book a service visit; everywhere else, our technicians help by phone. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.