Somfy RTS programming and 4-wire limit help for exterior screens, shades, and awnings.

Power only the motor you are programming

RTS programming signals can affect any powered motor in range that is ready to learn. If multiple exterior screens, shades, or awnings are on the same circuit, isolate the one you want before programming.

Tip: use a blank or intentionally unassigned remote/channel when setting up a new motor. Programming from a channel that already runs other shades can make it easier to confuse channels or accidentally affect products that are already programmed.

Enter programming mode and confirm the jog

Use the appropriate Somfy RTS programming sequence for the motor and transmitter. A short jog confirms the motor accepted the programming command.

Button note: the usual new-motor setup starts by pressing UP and DOWN at the same time until the product jogs. If the motor has been factory reset or is waiting for a transmitter, the final assignment is usually done by briefly pressing the programming button on the back of the handheld remote, or the small programming pinhole on the lower-left area of many wall switches.

Check retract and extend direction

Verify that the retract command retracts the screen, shade, or awning and the extend command sends it out or down. Correct direction before setting limits.

Button note: tap or hold the direction buttons only long enough to verify movement. For many RTS motors, holding MY/STOP until the product jogs reverses direction during setup. On awnings, DOWN commonly extends out and UP retracts in; confirm the actual product movement before continuing.

Set the retract limit carefully

Bring the product to a safe retracted position without driving hard into the cassette, housing, brackets, or awning closure. Leave room for fabric thickness and normal movement.

Button note: move to the retracted or inner limit with UP/RETRACT, then use the MY/STOP plus the opposite direction button to send the product toward the next limit. Stop early if the load bar nears the cassette, the awning arms compress, or the fabric starts to roll incorrectly.

Set the extend limit carefully

Move the product to the desired extended position while watching fabric tension, load bar alignment, awning arm extension, and side-track behavior.

Button note: use MY/STOP to stop near the desired outer or lower limit, then bump UP or DOWN for fine adjustment. For screens and shades, watch the load bar and side tracks. For awnings, stop before the arms are overextended or the fabric loses healthy tension.

Confirm limits and program the remote

Test both directions more than once. Once travel is correct, store the control and add sensors, hubs, or smart-home accessories only after the base motor behavior is reliable.

Button note: after both limits are where you want them, holding MY/STOP until the product jogs commonly validates the limits. Then briefly press the programming button on the control to put the motor into user mode. The product should jog again to confirm the remote or wall switch is stored. If there is no jog, the motor may still be in programming mode and not fully set up.

(A shade can reset itself after about 15 minutes if this final step is not completed, even if programming feels finished.)

Start from the limit you want to change

Use the already-programmed remote or wall switch to run the screen, shade, or awning to the current limit that needs adjustment.

Button note: for a lower or outer limit, run the product down/out until it stops on its current limit. For an upper or inner limit, run it up/in until it stops. Do not start limit adjustment from the middle of travel unless the exact motor instructions call for it.

Enter limit adjustment for that limit

Once the product is sitting on the limit you want to change, enter adjustment mode and wait for the jog before moving anything.

Button note: the common RTS pattern is to press and hold UP and DOWN together until the product jogs. That jog tells you the motor is ready to adjust the limit it is currently sitting on.

Move to the new safe position

Use small movements to shift the limit to the new retracted, extended, upper, lower, inner, or outer position.

Button note: use UP/RETRACT and DOWN/EXTEND to nudge the product. On screens and shades, watch the load bar and fabric tension. On awnings, watch arm extension, cassette closure, and fabric roll direction.

Save the adjusted limit

When the product is exactly where you want that limit, save the new position and wait for the jog confirmation.

Button note: the common RTS save step is to press and hold MY/STOP until the product jogs. If there is no jog, do not assume the limit saved.

Cycle the product and verify both ends

Run the product fully in both directions and confirm the adjusted limit did not create a problem at the opposite end.

Tip: test more than once before adding sensors, schedules, or smart-home commands back into the mix. If the product creeps, binds, or stops inconsistently, stop and troubleshoot before more adjustments.

Select the channel that already works

On the existing remote or wall switch, select the channel that currently controls the screen, shade, or awning you want to copy.

Tip: test the channel first with a brief UP, DOWN, or MY/STOP command so you know exactly which product or group is about to be copied.

Open the motor memory from the working channel

Use the programming button on the working control to place the controlled product or group into RTS programming mode.

Button note: briefly press and hold the programming button on the back of the remote, or the programming pinhole on many wall switches, until the product jogs. If more products jog than expected, stop. Wait about 2 minutes and they will usually time out of programming mode so you can avoid unwanted copying.

Select the destination channel

On the same multi-channel control or on a second RTS control, select the channel where you want the product copied.

Tip: keep the destination simple. Copy one product or one known group at a time, then test before building larger group channels.

Store the product on the new channel

Use the programming button on the destination control/channel to add the product to that channel.

Button note: briefly press the programming button for the destination channel until the product jogs. The jog confirms the copy was accepted.

Test both channels

Confirm the original channel still works and the new channel now operates the intended product or group.

Tip: test from a safe position where an unexpected retract or extend movement will not damage the screen, shade, or awning.

Select the channel you want to remove from

Choose the remote or wall switch channel that currently operates the product or group you want removed.

Tip: test the channel first. If it controls multiple products, decide whether you are deleting one product from that channel or removing the whole group.

Open memory from a different working control when possible

The standard RTS add/delete routine usually needs one control to open the motor memory and another control or channel to be deleted.

Important: shades can usually not be deleted from their own only channel with the standard routine. If a product must be removed from every remote, hub, sensor, and interface, it generally needs a factory reset and full reprogramming.

Jog only the intended product or group

Press the programming button on the control that still should have access, then watch which products jog.

Button note: if more screens, shades, or awnings jog than anticipated, do not press another programming button. Wait about 2 minutes for programming mode to time out so you do not accidentally delete the wrong products from a channel.

Press the programming button on the channel being removed

Once only the intended product is in programming mode, press the programming button for the channel or control you want removed.

Button note: the product should jog to confirm the delete action. The same add/delete rhythm is why it is so important to know which control opened memory and which channel is being removed.

Confirm what still works

Test the removed channel, the remaining channel, any group channels, and any hub or sensor behavior that matters.

Tip: if the product still responds where it should not, or no longer responds where it should, stop before repeating the routine. Repeating add/delete steps blindly can make the channel map harder to untangle.

Program reliable motor limits first

Add sensors only after the screen, shade, or awning retracts and extends correctly from its normal control.

Tip: a wind sensor protecting a bad limit can repeat the same bad movement every time wind is detected. Fix travel first, automate second.

Add the product to the sensor

Put the motor into programming mode from the working remote, then use the sensor programming button to add it.

Button note: the common RTS pattern is working remote PROG until jog, then sensor PROG until jog. Sensor models vary, so verify the exact programming button and indicator behavior before installing the cover.

Use demo or test mode before relying on it

Many Somfy wind/sun sensors have a demo or test behavior that lets you confirm the product reacts before waiting for real weather.

Tip: on many wind sensors, demo mode can be activated by turning the wind sensitivity dial all the way up. Connected products will jog, and they should run up or retract if the propeller spins with any kind of gusto for more than a second. Return the sensor to a real operating sensitivity after testing.

Test from a safe partially extended position

Extend the product enough to see movement, then trigger the sensor test and confirm it retracts or responds as expected.

Tip: never run the first sensor test with an awning fully extended over furniture or with a patio shade near an obstruction. Give the product room to protect itself.

Protect the investment with the right sensitivity

Wind and sun sensors are especially valuable for products in open areas like patios, outdoor kitchens, pool decks, restaurants, and storefronts.

Tip: wind sensitivity is usually lower-numbered or lower-position settings for more sensitive response because you are setting the activation wind speed. Sun sensitivity is similar in concept: set it so the shade responds to the amount of sun you actually want blocked. The most common sun/wind setting is roughly 3, but activation can be affected by poor sensor placement. Open patios see fast gusts and shifting sun, so a properly installed sensor can reduce risk by retracting an awning or shade before fabric, arms, tracks, fasteners, or brackets take the full load.