# Swap Your Alarm System's Leader Panel

**Leader Swap** allows you to replace or upgrade your alarm panel without losing your existing configuration. Each site can have only one alarm panel. When a new panel is commissioned into an existing site, Verkada can automatically transfer supported settings from the current panel to the new device. This includes device names, site configuration, and other panel-level settings, ensuring a seamless hardware transition with minimal downtime.

{% hint style="warning" %}

* Leader Swap is a software-level process. All devices need to be physically connected to the new leader for the configuration transfer to complete successfully.
* Leader Swap supports both replacing a panel with the same model and swapping between different panel models, such as upgrading from a BP32 to a BP52.
  {% endhint %}

***

## Configuration

{% hint style="danger" %}
Disconnect the old panel before you add the new one to Command.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
[**Add**](/command/organization-settings/add-a-device-to-your-command-organization.md) **and set up the new alarm panel in your Command organization.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select the site containing the panel you need to replace.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**The system will detect the existing panel. On the model, select Confirm Replace.**

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/30pO7n4zz9mWlXf60NtM" alt="" width="423"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select the new alarm panel under Alarm site > Devices.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the top right, select** ![](/files/RSXvFV6Vqte2sIDtw4mw) **> Assign as leader.**

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/5feTfAfFHB1lHCHYOsQn" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
Once confirmed, the configuration migration begins and typically completes within 1–2 minutes. During this process, devices will disconnect from the current panel and automatically reconnect to the new panel in Command.
{% endhint %}

### Post swap checklist

* [ ] Wireless sensors may take up to 30 minutes to reconnect to the new leader. You can accelerate this process by manually triggering each sensor (for example, opening a door).
* [ ] If needed, you can revert to the original leader *before* removing it from the site on the **Alarm Site > Devices** page.

{% hint style="info" %}
Verkada uses a conservative migration approach. Existing settings are never deleted during a leader swap, even if a hardware mismatch occurs.
{% endhint %}

* [ ] After the new panel is online and verified, remove the old panel:
  * Navigate to **Alarm Site > Devices**
  * Delete the old panel from the site

{% hint style="danger" %}

* Ensure you only delete the specific device, not the entire Alarm site.
  {% endhint %}


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