This article covers how to connect your smart plug to Wi-Fi using the companion app from the manufacturer, whether it should be connected to a smart home hub or not.
What to Know
- Without hub: Use the companion app to connect to the smart plug’s Wi-Fi hotspot and provide the app with your Wi-Fi password.With hub: Use a companion app but connect to the hub and provide the Wi-Fi password. Hub handles communication with all smart plugs.Not all smart plugs require a hub or even other smart home devices to work.
Preparing to Connect Your Smart Plug to Wi-Fi
Whenever you buy a new smart plug, the first step to get it working is connecting it to your Wi-Fi network.
This process can vary from one smart plug model to another, but it generally follows the same basic steps.
When you first buy a smart plug, it will usually come with the feature to connect to your Wi-Fi network, but it won’t connect until you provide it with your network ID and password.
However, it does transmit a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the smart plug with your phone and provides the smart plug with those details. To do this, you’ll need to be ready with the following:
- The app for your smart plug installed on your Android or iPhoneThe smart plug plugged into an outlet within the wireless range of your wireless routerYour smartphone connected to your home Wi-Fi.
If your smart plug came with a hub, make sure it is powered up and connected to your router with a network cable.
How to Connect a Smart Plug to Wi-Fi
The following steps will walk you through the typical process of connecting your new smart plug to your home Wi-Fi network. Make sure to connect your smartphone to your home Wi-Fi network before you begin this process.
This guide is geared toward standalone smart plugs that connect to your home wireless network directly. If it came with a hub, this guide applies, but the steps will apply to the hub rather than the smart plug.
- Visit the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store to download the companion app for your smart plug. In this example, we’re using a WeMo smart plug and its companion app.
- Check the manufacturer’s website if you aren’t sure what smartphone app works with your smart plug.
- Plug your smart plug into an outlet. With a WeMo plug, the Wi-Fi light flashes green and orange rapidly. It means the smart plug is broadcasting a Wi-Fi hotspot and is ready to set up. Your smart plug may use different indicator lights, so refer to your manual for details.
- If your smart plug uses Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi for the initial setup, this step may not be required.
- When you launch the companion app, it should start searching for new smart plugs on your network. If it doesn’t, use the app menu to initiate adding a new smart plug. The app will recognize the smart plug Wi-Fi hotspot and initiate the Wi-Fi setup process.
- The app will prompt you to select your home network from Wi-Fi networks near you. Tap your home Wi-Fi network to continue.
- The next step will be to enter the Wi-Fi network password. The app will program your smart plug to connect to your home Wi-Fi network with this password.
- Once you submit this, the app will pass the Wi-Fi login credentials to the smart plug and test the network connection.
- Once the smart plug connects to your Wi-Fi network, it’ll appear in the list of devices in the app. If this is the first time you’ve connected to the smart plug, you may see a notification that a firmware update is required. Initiate the firmware update process.
- Once the initial firmware update is complete, you can start using your smart plug. Usually, the basic control available on the home screen is turning your smart plug on and off.
- Another common smart plug control you’ll find in most smart plug apps includes scheduling when to turn the smart plug on or off.
- You might also be able to set an “away” mode where the smart plug will randomly turn on at night and off in the morning. If you plug a lamp into the smart plug, this can make it appear like someone is home while you’re on vacation.
The process below is for a smart plug that connects directly to a Wi-Fi network. Depending on the make and model, some details may be slightly different.
Visit the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store to download the companion app for your smart plug. In this example, we’re using a WeMo smart plug and its companion app.
Check the manufacturer’s website if you aren’t sure what smartphone app works with your smart plug.
Plug your smart plug into an outlet. With a WeMo plug, the Wi-Fi light flashes green and orange rapidly. It means the smart plug is broadcasting a Wi-Fi hotspot and is ready to set up. Your smart plug may use different indicator lights, so refer to your manual for details.
If your smart plug uses Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi for the initial setup, this step may not be required.
When you launch the companion app, it should start searching for new smart plugs on your network. If it doesn’t, use the app menu to initiate adding a new smart plug. The app will recognize the smart plug Wi-Fi hotspot and initiate the Wi-Fi setup process.
The app will prompt you to select your home network from Wi-Fi networks near you. Tap your home Wi-Fi network to continue.
The next step will be to enter the Wi-Fi network password. The app will program your smart plug to connect to your home Wi-Fi network with this password.
Once you submit this, the app will pass the Wi-Fi login credentials to the smart plug and test the network connection.
Once the smart plug connects to your Wi-Fi network, it’ll appear in the list of devices in the app. If this is the first time you’ve connected to the smart plug, you may see a notification that a firmware update is required. Initiate the firmware update process.
Once the initial firmware update is complete, you can start using your smart plug. Usually, the basic control available on the home screen is turning your smart plug on and off.
Another common smart plug control you’ll find in most smart plug apps includes scheduling when to turn the smart plug on or off.
You might also be able to set an “away” mode where the smart plug will randomly turn on at night and off in the morning. If you plug a lamp into the smart plug, this can make it appear like someone is home while you’re on vacation.
Steps to pairing a smart plug with Alexa will vary depending on your smart plug manufacturer and model, but the process will be similar. Plug your smart plug into an outlet, download your smart plug’s companion app to your mobile device, then follow the prompts to add and set up the smart plug using the app. Next, open the Alexa app and navigate to Skills and Games. Search for your smart plug’s skill, then tap Enable to Use and follow the prompts to complete setup. Once you’ve set it up, use Alexa voice commands to control your smart plug.
Setting up a smart plug with the Google Home Mini or any Google Assistant-enabled device is the same process as setting up any supported smart device. In the Google Home app, tap Add > Set up device > Works with Google. Select your smart plug’s manufacturer, then follow the prompts to set up the smart plugs.
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