> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.verkada.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.verkada.com/new-alarms/configuration/configure-an-alarm-response/external-response-contacts-for-new-alarms.md).

# External Response Contacts for New Alarms

External response contacts are helpful when you have users that need to respond to alarms via text or phone call but these users shouldn’t have access to Verkada Command.

{% hint style="danger" %}
External response contacts **cannot** log into Verkada Command unless their permissions are changed from the Admin > Users page.
{% endhint %}

External response contacts can:

* Receive SMS notifications when an alarm is raised
* Access the pre-authenticated incident link within the SMS
* Receive an agent call during an alarm event
* Resolve the alarm and disarm the site

***

## Create an external response contact

{% hint style="danger" %}
You need Site Admin permissions to create external response contacts.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > New Alarms.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select your Alarm site.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the left navigation, click Response  > your** **Alarm Response.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click** **Contacts will be notified.** 

1. In the top right, click <i class="fa-plus">:plus:</i>.&#x20;
2. Enter the external contact’s name.&#x20;
3. (Optional) If the contact is not already added or is not a Command user, click **Create new external contact** and enter the following information:
   * **First Name**
   * **Last Name**
   * **Phone Number**
4. Under **Contact via,** choose how each contact will be notified:
   * SMS (required and enabled by default)
   * Email (optional)
5. Click **Add**.
   {% endstep %}
   {% endstepper %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
New contacts can be added as a response contact for other alarm sites.
{% endhint %}

***

## Edit an external response contact

#### Response page

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select your Alarm site.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the left navigation, click Response  > your** **Alarm Response.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click Contacts will be notified. From here you can:**

* **Edit:**&#x20;
  1. Hover over a contact and click <i class="fa-pencil-line">:pencil-line:</i>.
  2. Edit the contact as needed.
  3. Click **Save.**
* **Reorder:** Click and drag a contact to the desired position.
* **Remove:** Hover over a contact, then click <i class="fa-x">:x:</i>.
  {% endstep %}
  {% endstepper %}

#### Admin page

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to Admin > Users & Permissions.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select Users > the user profile to edit.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**At the top, select Profile.**

Edit the information as needed. The changes are automatically saved.&#x20;
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
To delete an external contact from Command, ensure they are not a response contact of any alarm site. Then, delete the user from the [Admin > Users](/command/users-and-permissions/manage-users-in-your-organization.md) page.
{% endhint %}


---

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