# Contact sensor change status from On/Off to Open/closed **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Tags:** homey-pro\ **Created:** [August 1, 2022, 10:26am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/contact-sensor-change-status-from-on-off-to-open-closed/66769 "2022-08-01T10:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PaulDc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@PaulDc](https://community.homey.app/u/PaulDc)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 10:26am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/contact-sensor-change-status-from-on-off-to-open-closed/66769/1 "2022-08-01T10:26:18Z")
Hi all, Migrating systems over to homey Pro and was trying to see if there’s a way for my contact door sensors to instead of showing status on/off could show open/closed to more follow what the door is doing? I as of yet have not found a easy way to do this but I might be missing a trick somewhere maybe? ---
**Author:** ![RonnyW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/ronnyw/32/10879_2.png) [@RonnyW](https://community.homey.app/u/RonnyW)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 10:59am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/contact-sensor-change-status-from-on-off-to-open-closed/66769/2 "2022-08-01T10:59:17Z")
The sensors have the capability “alarm\_contact”. So it’s not to see as “Window is on”, but as “Contact alarm is on”. The exclamation mark on the device tile is showing the existence of an alarm. Such sensors can be used for many other things beside windows als doors. And for some brands you can switch the alarm trigger that alarm is on if window is closed. That’s why there is a more generic “alarm on/off” state. ---
**Author:** ![PaulDc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@PaulDc](https://community.homey.app/u/PaulDc)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 11:21am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/contact-sensor-change-status-from-on-off-to-open-closed/66769/3 "2022-08-01T11:21:14Z")
That I understand in simple form its just showing “Alarm\_contact” which can show 2 states. I was just wondering if there’s a way for me to mask to the state to more suite with what its being used for? Old system I had modded the contact switch to recognise when a door was locked so I changed switch type to door lock even though it was just a normal contact sensor. ![Screenshot 2022-08-01 at 13.18.46](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/2/e/2ebfacfbb429807d97ce016fd320ae807d2235dd.png) ---
**Author:** ![Adrian\_Rockall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/adrian_rockall/32/13209_2.png) [@Adrian\_Rockall](https://community.homey.app/u/Adrian_Rockall)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 12:36pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/contact-sensor-change-status-from-on-off-to-open-closed/66769/4 "2022-08-01T12:36:33Z")
The short answer is no. You would need to contact Athom to have an option added but I wouldn’t count on it. ---
**Author:** ![SteveA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/stevea/32/121047_2.png) [@SteveA](https://community.homey.app/u/SteveA)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/contact-sensor-change-status-from-on-off-to-open-closed/66769/5 "2025-03-30T10:59:55Z")
Does anyone know whether this On/Off versus Open/Closed issue has been fixed by Homey? Even in Apple Home, you can easily change the setting of these sensors from a Contact Sensor to a Window or Door so it displays an Open/Closed instead of On/Off. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/contact-sensor-change-status-from-on-off-to-open-closed/66769/6 "2025-03-30T12:12:34Z")
No (not yet). Indeed, in Home Assistant this is easily changeable as well. > ![1000045674](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/3/a/3a7eaca828c9e0753dc01e53f039bcd7df8a506d.jpeg) With Homey, it’s “alarm” state is just true or false, like all alarm sensor types: ![1000045662](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/d/3/d3c827be60f069a65269e1eaa115131c167fb165.jpeg) ![1000045666](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/d/2/d2cf5115cf2432b66b9137f0cbd02e66634a2b97.jpeg) ![1000045669](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/5/2/528e6cb368a83a681a027352446907563fb09f06.jpeg) > **[Tutorial: Device Capabilities - Homey Apps SDK v3](https://apps-sdk-v3.developer.homey.app/tutorial-device-capabilities.html)**