Tapo Smart Plug Not Connecting to Wi-Fi? (Solved!)
Are you wondering why your TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug won’t connect to your home Wi-Fi network? There may be several reasons behind this issue, and you can resolve the problem by trying different troubleshooting tips.
So, in the following paragraphs, I’ll walk you through the steps to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connection issues with your Tapo Smart Plug. Let’s begin!
Tapo Smart Plug Not Connecting: How to Troubleshoot
So if you’re having issues connecting your Tapo Smart Plug to your home Wi-Fi, here are some troubleshooting tips to try:
1. Force Quit the App and Launch It Back
First off, forcefully close the app and open it again.
As you probably know, ‘force quit’ means closing the app without following the normal closing processes. You should be able to do this based on your mobile device configurations.
You can also force quit the app by turning your mobile device off without closing the app. Next, turn on your device again and launch the app.
2. Unplug the Smart Plug and Plug It Back in
Unplug your Tapo Smart Plug from the wall outlet and plug it back in. The plug should turn on automatically and start blinking orange and green—showing it has received power and is in pairing mode. But if it doesn’t blink orange and green, press and hold the Power button for about 5 seconds until the LED indicator blinks orange and green.
Next, return to the app and start the set process again. If it doesn’t work, continue to the next troubleshooting step.
3. Check Wi-Fi Bandwidth
Tapo Smart Plug only supports the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network band. So if you’re still having connection issues with the plug, you want to check your router to see if it’s set to the supported Wi-Fi network band (2.4GHz).
Most routers today have dual bandwidth. That is, it can be set to run on a dual-band, 5GHz or 2.4GHz. If it’s set to run on a dual-band, the router automatically chooses the network band for you, and if it runs on the 5GHz network, your connection to the plug will be interrupted.
So, go over to your router and set it to run on only the 2.4GHz band. Refer to your user manual for instructions if you’re not sure how to do this. Next, try to connect the plug to your Wi-Fi network again to see if it works.
See the next step if the problem persists.
4. Turn on Bluetooth on Your Mobile Device
Turning on Bluetooth on your phone usually helps the plug find and connect to your Wi-Fi network quicker. So, check if your phone’s Bluetooth is off and turn it on. If it was on already, turn it off and turn it back on.
5. Ensure Your Wi-Fi Network Signal Strength is Strong
Wi-Fi network signal strength can also obstruct the connection process. So check your phone to see if the network bars are full—if not, it could mean your router is sending low signals. Try moving your router closer to the plug to improve Wi-Fi signal strength.
More so, you may consider getting a Wi-Fi extender to improve your network’s signal strength.
6. Check Your Wi-Fi Password
This is one common cause of Wi-Fi connection failure. As you can see when setting up the plug with the TP-Link Tapo app, you’ll need to enter your Wi-Fi password at some point, and your connection will fail if you don’t enter the correct password. So check your Wi-Fi password and ensure it’s correct.
If needed, reset your router and set a new password.
Also, ensure you’re not connecting too many devices to your router at the same time, as this could also cause connection issues. If you have too many devices connected, disconnect some before you try to connect your plug again.
7. Factory Reset the Plug
If you’re still unable to connect the plug to your home Wi-Fi after trying all the troubleshooting steps above, reset the plug and try again. Resetting the plug usually helps to rid any unseen bug obstructing the Wi-Fi connection.
To reset your Tapo Smart Plug, long-press the Power button (for about 5-10 seconds) until the LED indicator flashes orange and green.
Next, start the setup process again and ensure you’re using the right app. Tapo Smart Plug works with the TP-Link Tapo app and Kasa Smart app. But the Tapo app works better in my experience.
This should fix the connection issues with the plug. But if the problem persists after everything, you may consider replacing the plug or contact TP-Link for further help.
Related Questions
How do I connect my Tapo smart plug to a new Wi-Fi?
To change the Wi-Fi on your Tapo smart plug, you’ll need to perform a factory reset on the plug and then set it up again and connect to the new Wi-Fi. See how to reset your Tapo smart plug above.
Tapo smart plug offline; what to do?
If the app shows your Tapo plug is offline, it means the app can’t reach the plug. This usually happens when the plug has lost power or disconnected from Wi-Fi.
To fix this problem, start by checking the outlet where your plug is plugged in. Unplug and plug it back in and ensure that it has received power.
Next, reboot your router and try to connect it again. This should solve the problem.
Why is my Tapo plug flashing orange and green?
If your Tapo smart plug is flashing orange and green, it means it’s in pairing mode—ready to connect to a Wi-Fi network.
And if it flashes only green, it indicates the plug’s system is being upgraded, while orange flashes only show that the plug is connecting to a Wi-Fi network.
You may also like to see how to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connection issues in TCP, Gosund, and Nooie Smart Plugs.