4 Reasons Your Smart Plug Went Offline

Socket plugs are only one of the many items that seem to be impacted by smart technology. Now, smart plugs provide users more control over how they connect with their home’s various appliances through their home network. But it suddenly went offline, and there seems to be no reason why it did.

Here are 4 reasons your smart plug went offline:

The unit lost connection and needs a reset.
Too many devices are on your network.
There is wireless interference.
The connected device is configured wrong.

This post will discuss four possible causes for your smart plug being offline. I’ll also provide solutions for each cause that you can do to get it back online.

As an affiliate, I may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.

Also, check out my list of 14 Smart Uses for Smart Plugs

Why Your Smart Plug Is Offline

Some reasons your smart plug went offline might involve a poor internet connection, insufficient bandwidth, or outdated software. In most cases, you can restore connectivity to your smart plug by resetting it. Other troubleshooting involves relocating the smart plug or updating the unit.

Let’s take a closer look at why and how to fix it.

1. The Unit Lost Connection and Needs a Reset

The reason your device has gone offline is probably due to an internet connection problem. It could be that the device used to control the plug is not receiving a signal or that the unit itself is not linked to a network.

You can quickly determine if the linked device is receiving a signal by checking for the network symbol in the top right corner.

If the gadget’s signal is strong enough, try resetting your smart plug using the procedures below to reestablish connectivity:

For 12 seconds, press and hold the device’s reset button.
Once you see the red LED glow, release the button. When the reset is complete, a blue or green LED blinks.
Register your smart plug on the software that comes with it.

Once the device has been reset, you should reconnect it to a newer network to verify there is no problem with wireless interference. It is also possible that you are encountering a minor network bug.

In any instance, resetting the device should suffice.

2. Too Many Devices Are on Your Network

If the network is functioning normally on other devices, but your smart plug remains offline, there are too many devices connected to the same network. With many active devices, the available bandwidth for your smart plug’s normal functioning is reduced.

If this is the case, restart the router and power off and on the smart plug. Following that, wait two to three minutes and then connect your smart plug to the router.

Additionally, it would help if you considered expanding your home networks with a wireless extender to prevent this problem in the future.

3. There Is Wireless Interference

Smart plugs, like any other Wi-Fi device, are susceptible to disconnection due to wireless interference. Interference manifests itself in many ways, including sluggish response times and a continuous need to reconnect to the network.

Many factors contribute to your home’s interference.

The materials, thickness, and quantity of walls, and other things that wireless signals must travel through all contribute to your house Wi-Fi’s range limitation. You may minimize physical interference by establishing a straight line of sight between your modem and smart plug.

Alternatively, you can locate the modem centrally to lessen obstacles.

Interference is also a result of other wireless networks and devices, such as:

Monitors
Televisions
Infant monitors
Cordless phones
Radios and scanners
Bluetooth enabled gadgets
Cameras and motion sensors
Microwaves, which is especially true for older or poorly insulated microwaves since they create a significant electromagnetic interception in the 2.4 GHz band. Modern microwaves are well insulated and should pose no critical issues.

If you have your plug near any of the devices mentioned above, move it further away to a space with fewer electronics.

4. The Connected Device Is Configured Wrong

The most often encountered problem when connecting smart plugs to a network is with your phone or tablet. These devices include options that may restrict app functionality and cause your smart plug to become inactive.

Changing the following settings will assist in reestablishing contact with your plug:

Disable low power mode. A low power mode may interfere with the operation of your applications and prevent you from connecting to your smart outlets.
Activate Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location services. Your smart plug needs all of these functions to work correctly.
Delete any data associated with the smart plug’s app. Occasionally, the app is the source of this problem. In this case, emptying its cache may resolve the issue.

Why Did My Smart Plug Stop Working?

If none of the suggested solutions seem to work, your smart plug is likely broken or defective.

In that case, you should contact the manufacturer and explain your situation. It’s helpful to keep in mind that most representatives will need the following information to assist you:

Age of the unit
Model number
Previously used troubleshooting techniques
A record of when you previously contacted them. They may sometimes provide you with a case number.

If your smart plug still does not connect after following all of their recommendations, you should request a replacement if your warranty is still valid.