Somfy Support & FAQ: Motors, Remotes and Troubleshooting

Look at the shape and the label on the back. The common RTS handhelds are the Situo (rounded, 1 or 5 channels), the Telis (1, 4 or 16 channels, plus the Chronis timer) and the Telis Patio models for outdoor products. Ysia remotes are Zigbee and only run Zigbee motors.

Part numbers we see most: Situo 1 RTS 1870571, Situo 5 RTS 1870575, Telis 16 RTS 1811081, Ysia 1 Zigbee 1871153 and Ysia 5 Zigbee 1871154.

Type the number from your remote into the chat above and it will show the exact part and what it works with.

You need a remote that already controls the shade. The working remote opens the motor's memory, and the new one joins it.

1. On the working remote, select the shade's channel if it has more than one.
2. Press and hold the small program (PROG) button on the back until the shade jogs (a short up-and-down move). A paperclip helps.
3. On the new remote, select the channel you want to use.
4. Press and hold its program button until the shade jogs again. The new remote now works.

Need a second remote? The Situo 1 RTS and Situo 5 RTS pair with any RTS motor.

Without a working remote, the motor has to be opened with its own button or with a power reset.

• Many interior motors have a small program button or pinhole on the motor head. Press it with a paperclip until the shade jogs once, then hold the program button on your new remote until it jogs again.
• Motors without a button need a factory reset by double power cut. See How do I factory reset a Somfy RTS motor? below. A reset erases the limits too, so plan to set them again.

Only do this when you can reach the motor head without taking the shade off its brackets, or power it from a plug you can pull.

You can only remove a remote if another remote still controls that shade. Removing the last one locks you out and forces a factory reset.

1. Select the channel on the remote you are keeping. Hold its program button until the shade jogs.
2. Select the channel on the remote you are removing. Hold its program button until the shade jogs again.
3. Test: the removed remote no longer moves the shade.

Put the shades on their own channels first, then copy each one onto a shared group channel. Example: shades on channels 1, 2 and 3, group on channel 5.

1. Select channel 1 and hold the program button until shade 1 jogs.
2. Select channel 5 and hold the program button until shade 1 jogs again. Shade 1 now answers to channel 5.
3. Repeat for each shade you want in the group.

Five or more shades? A Situo 5 or Telis 16 gives you room for individual and group channels.

A channel is one slot on the remote that controls a shade or a group of shades. Single-channel remotes have one LED; multichannel remotes light a different LED for each channel you select. A 5-channel remote can run five shades on their own, or four shades plus an all-shades group.

A typical RTS motor stores up to 12 controls: remotes, wall switches, timers and some sensors. Each channel of a multichannel remote counts as one. Any mix of Somfy RTS controls can run the same shade, so a handheld, a wall switch and a timer can all share it.

Wall switches: the Smoove 1 RTS and the DecoFlex range pair the same way as handheld remotes.

Situo 1 and Situo 5 RTS remotes take one CR2032 coin cell. Smoove 1 and Smoove 4 RTS wall switches take one CR2430. If the remote's LED stays dark when you press a button, start with a fresh battery. Holding MY for about 8 seconds is a quick test: the LED should blink the whole time.

No. Somfy does not make a handheld that runs both. RTS remotes (Situo, Telis, DecoFlex) only talk to RTS motors, and Ysia Zigbee remotes only talk to Zigbee motors. To run both from one place, use the TaHoma Switch app, which controls RTS and Zigbee devices side by side.

For a shade that already works from its remote:

1. Run the shade to the limit you want to change (all the way down for the bottom limit).
2. Hold UP and DOWN together until the shade jogs. Motors with an LED show slow orange.
3. Use UP and DOWN to move to the new position.
4. Hold MY until the shade jogs to save it.

Repeat at the other end if needed. Many limit changes in a row can trip the motor's heat protection; if it stops responding, let it cool 15 minutes.

New motors ship with no limits and no remotes. Power only the motor you are programming; every powered motor in factory mode listens at once.

1. Hold UP and DOWN together until the shade jogs.
2. Hold DOWN. If the shade goes up, hold MY until it jogs to swap direction.
3. Run the shade up to the top position you want.
4. Hold MY and DOWN together, let go once it moves, and press MY at the bottom position. Fine-tune with UP and DOWN.
5. Hold MY and UP together, let go once it moves; it returns to the top.
6. Hold MY until the shade jogs to save both limits.
7. Briefly press the program button on the back of the remote. The shade jogs and is ready to use.

Setup mode times out after about 2.5 minutes of inactivity; start again if the shade jogs on its own.

If UP sends the shade down after the limits are set:

1. Run the shade to about halfway and stop it with MY.
2. Hold UP and DOWN together until it jogs.
3. Right away, hold MY until it jogs again.
4. Test UP and DOWN.

If the limits are not set yet, swap direction during programming instead (step 2 in the question above).

MY is both the stop button and a saved favorite spot, such as half open.

• Set it: move the shade to the spot, stop it with MY, then hold MY until it jogs.
• Use it: press MY once while the shade is stopped. If it is moving, press MY twice.
• Delete it: press MY to go to the saved spot, then hold MY about 5 seconds until it jogs.

On Somfy drapery motors with adjustable speed:

1. Move the drapes off their open and closed limits.
2. Hold MY and UP together until the drapes start moving back and forth on their own.
3. Press DOWN to slow it or UP to speed it up.
4. Hold MY until the drapes jog to save.

The Glydea ULTRA drapery motors offer several speed settings plus a silent mode.

A jog is a short back-and-forth move. It is the motor's only way to say it accepted a command.

In setup mode the shade moves only while you hold a button, so you can stop it exactly where you want a limit. In user mode, after programming, one short press runs the shade all the way to its limit.

If your shade only moves while you hold the button, it is still in setup mode. Hold UP and DOWN together until it jogs, then hold the remote's program button until it jogs again to finish programming.

RTS commands are broadcast. Every powered motor still in factory mode hears the same command and pairs to the same channel, so you lose individual control. Power one motor, program it, then move on to the next. If several motors share one breaker, an electrician can separate them.

1. Remote: press a button and watch the LED. No light means a new battery (CR2032 for Situo).
2. Battery shades: check that the wand or pack is plugged into the motor and fully charged, and that the cells touch their springs.
3. Plug-in or hardwired: check the outlet and breaker, or try another outlet. Unplug the motor for a few seconds and plug it back in.
4. Heat: after many runs in a row the motor shuts off to cool. Wait 15 minutes.
5. Programming: press UP and DOWN together. If the shade jogs, the motor works and only needs its remote re-paired.

Still nothing? Type your motor part number in the chat above. It can match a replacement motor that fits your shade.

A reset erases every remote and both limits. You will need to program the motor from scratch afterward.

• Motors with a button on the head: hold it about 12 seconds until the shade jogs three times. Then hold the program button on a remote about 15 seconds until it jogs twice.
• Motors without a button: cut power for 2 seconds, restore for 10, cut for 2, then restore. The shade jogs or runs briefly. Then hold the program button on a remote about 15 seconds until it jogs twice.

Count the power-cut seconds carefully; if the shade does not move, start the sequence again. Have an electrician handle any line-voltage wiring.

The motor has power but lost its pairing or never finished programming. Press UP and DOWN together on the remote. If the shade jogs, hold the program button on the back until it jogs again, then test.

Probably not. AC motors and some battery motors have thermal protection that cuts power after many runs in a row. Motors with an LED blink red continuously while cooling. Leave it at least 15 minutes and try again.

The motor is getting power and commands but cannot turn the tube. Check that the fabric is not caught and the tube spins freely. If it does and the motor still only hums, the motor's gearbox has likely failed and it needs replacing.

Use the chat above to match a replacement by part number, or browse Somfy motors.

• Battery wand: a 12V tube holding 8 AA lithium cells, mounted behind the shade. No wiring.
• Rechargeable (Li-ion): a battery inside the motor or in an external pack, recharged with a Somfy charger.
• Solar: a small panel in the window keeps a WireFree battery topped up.
• Plug-in or hardwired: 120V power from an outlet or in-wall wiring. No batteries to maintain; hardwiring usually needs an electrician.

Compare them in WireFree battery motors and 120V interior motors.

A battery wand with 8 AA lithium cells lasts about a year on a 6 ft by 6 ft shade that goes up and down once a day. Bigger shades and more cycles drain it faster. Rechargeable Somfy Li-ion motors typically need a charge every several months, depending on use.

Refills: 8 AA lithium battery pack and the reloadable 12V battery wand.

• Battery wand: 8 AA cells. Use lithium; alkaline drains fast in cold and heavy use.
• Built-in Li-ion motors: recharge with the matching Somfy charger. The V1 and V2 chargers use different connectors and do not swap.
• External Li-ion packs: use Somfy packs only. Off-the-shelf batteries do not fit these systems.
• Solar pack kit: uses 10 NiMH cells.

Never mix old and new cells or different types, and never try to recharge lithium or alkaline AAs.

A full charge usually takes 4 to 6 hours. The charger light turns from red to green when it is done.

Chargers: Sonesse WireFree plug-in charger 9025166 and the USB-C Li-ion fast charger. Not sure which fits? Type your motor part number in the chat.

A few red blinks on a WireFree motor (RTS or Zigbee) means the battery is low. Charge it soon. A red light that blinks without stopping means the motor is cooling after heavy use; wait 15 minutes.

Most window directions work. North-facing windows usually don't get enough sun, and heavy tree shade or tinted glass cuts charging. Plan on one panel per motor.

See the Somfy solar panel 2-pack for WireFree motors.

RTS (Radio Technology Somfy) is Somfy's one-way radio for shades, blinds, awnings, shutters and screens. It runs at 433.42 MHz with a rolling code (16 million combinations), so neighbors' remotes cannot run your shades. Signals pass through walls, and you don't need to aim the remote.

Read the full comparison: Somfy RTS vs Zigbee.

Plan on 25 to 35 feet indoors for reliable control. Somfy rates open-air range much higher, but metal studs, concrete, foil insulation and crowded radio bands cut it down. Keep the remote or hub in the same room or the next room over. For big jobs, an RTS Repeater extends coverage.

Zigbee is an open 2.4 GHz standard. Unlike RTS, it is two-way: the shade reports its position back. Mains-powered Zigbee devices (Sonesse 40 Zigbee, Glydea ULTRA Zigbee, the Zigbee Smart Plug) repeat the signal to build a self-healing mesh; battery Zigbee motors do not repeat.

Shop Somfy Zigbee or compare Somfy RTS.

No. They cannot share a TaHoma group, and no handheld runs both. You can still run both systems side by side in the TaHoma app on a TaHoma Switch.

Zigbee remotes and schedules saved before the outage keep working when the system includes a Somfy Zigbee Smart Plug. App and voice control stop until the internet returns.

RTS shades need a TaHoma Switch hub. Add the shades in the TaHoma by Somfy app, then link the TaHoma by Somfy service in the Alexa or Google Home app and discover devices. Zigbee motors also work with Alexa through the same cloud link.

No. RTS is one-way, so the app confirms the command was sent, not that the shade arrived. Moves made with a handheld remote don't show in the app. Zigbee shades do report their real position.

Plan on up to 40 RTS channels per hub, with every shade inside radio range of it. Larger homes can link multiple hubs in one system. Set limits with a remote before adding RTS motors; Zigbee limits can be set in the app.

Red means the hub has no internet. Restart the router and the hub. If it stays red, the network may block the ports TaHoma uses for outgoing traffic: 53 (DNS), 80, 443, 123 (time) and 18888 UDP. No port forwarding is needed.

Yes. RTS motors connect to systems like Control4, Savant, Crestron and others through a TaHoma Switch or the Universal RTS Interface (URTSI II). Somfy also offers interfaces for Lutron lighting systems; check with your integrator for the exact driver.

Yes, but a Somfy professional has to add them with the TaHoma Pro app; the homeowner app can't do it for an existing RTS installation. Once added, both run side by side in the app.

It is on the label on the motor head, the end that sits in the bracket. Somfy part numbers are usually 7 digits, like 1001809. Type it into the chat above to see the part, plus the remotes, crowns, drives and brackets that fit it.

Crowns and drives depend on two things: the motor family (Sonesse 30, Sonesse 40, Sonesse 50 or LT50, LT60) and the tube's diameter and profile. The motor's part number is the fastest way to an exact match.

Read Somfy crowns, drives and brackets explained or shop crowns, drives and adapters.

In names like 506S2 or 550R2, the digits after the family number give the torque in newton-meters: 506S2 is 6 Nm, 510S2 is 10 Nm, 525A2 is 25 Nm and 550R2 is 50 Nm. More torque lifts heavier or wider shades.

See Somfy motor model codes explained.

Tube size and torque. LT50 motors need a tube with at least a 1.85 in inside diameter and reach 50 Nm in the Altus RTS line. LT60 motors need at least 2.37 in and reach 100 Nm for large exterior shades. Compare LT50 motors and LT60 motors.

Often, yes. Roller shades usually take a tubular motor with the right crown and drive for the tube. Drapes can move to a motorized track. Cellular and Roman shades need a motor that fits their headrail. Tell the chat what you have, or start with Somfy motors and our drapery track builder.

Check the IP rating. Exterior motors such as the LT and CMO families are typically IP44. Interior motors like the Sonesse 30 (IP30) and WireFree battery motors (IP20) are for indoor use only. Shop awning and exterior motors.

Most retractable awnings can take a Somfy motor. Where there is no power at the awning, battery and solar options exist. Shop awning and exterior motors and a Telis Patio remote made for outdoor use.

• The Eolis 3D WireFree RTS wind sensor retracts the awning in strong wind, even when nobody is home.
• The Ondeis WireFree RTS rain and sun sensor is solar powered and reacts to rain and sun.
• The Sunis WireFree RTS sun sensor extends or retracts with the sun.

If a wind sensor is paired, check it first.

• Retracts about once an hour: the sensor may be loose in its mount (reseat it with the arrow up), out of radio range of the motor, or failing.
• Retracts about every 30 minutes with its light on: the sensor batteries are low. Replace them with the same type.

Mount the sensor on the same side as the motor for the best signal. A dead sensor can be replaced with a new Eolis 3D WireFree RTS.

1. Cut power for 2 seconds, restore for 10, cut for 2, then restore.
2. The motor jogs or runs for about 5 seconds.
3. Hold the program button on any RTS remote or switch until the motor jogs twice. On DecoFlex switches the button is on the front.
4. Press the program button again: the shutter should not respond. If it moves, start over.

Lost your remote? The power cut alone clears the old remotes. Right after it, hold the program button on your new remote until the motor jogs to pair it.

Wired 4-wire motors use buttons on the motor head instead of a remote.

1. Remove the cap over the limit buttons and push both in until they lock.
2. Run the shutter toward the first limit with a test switch. At the right spot, release that direction's button.
3. Repeat for the other direction, then run it both ways to confirm it stops.
4. Refit the cap and wire it to a Somfy switch.

Which button is up depends on the motor's side and roll direction. Use a double-pole switch when two or more motors share a switch, never a standard light switch, and have a licensed electrician handle the line-voltage wiring. Shop wall switches.