One common issue with the iHome smart plug is the failure to connect to WiFi. This problem is attributed to incorrect WiFi information in the smart plug or the wrong configuration of the device. The distance between your home’s router and the device could also cause this problem.
This guide looks into the reasons why your iHome smart plug is not connecting to WiFi and possible solutions to this problem.
Why is My iHome Smart Plug Not Connecting to WiFi?
1. Low BandWidth
IHome smart appliances work with a bandwidth of 2.4GHz connectivity. The devices use the bandwidth for sending and receiving control commands and status updates. However, you should know that the main concern lies in a stable WiFi connection, not high bandwidth.
As you may already know, the 2.4GHz band has a low bandwidth and can be affected by interference of trees or other physical elements with a high EM field. The amount of obstruction will determine how weak or strong the WiFi signal will be. It also has much less distance in range than the 5GHz band, which risks the connection, resulting in frequent disconnections in the network.
Fix – Use the Right Network Bandwidth
That said, you should ensure that your WiFi network is at least 2.4GH. This is what is needed by your iHome smart Plug. Some routers come with 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, and it’s up to you to check and connect to the one with a 2.4GHz band. Remember, the 2.4GHz gives you a better range compared to 5GHz.
2. Weak WiFi Signal Strength
When you have a weak WiFi signal, your iHome smart Plug will have trouble maintaining a stable connection to the network.
This means you will experience intermittent connectivity with frequent connections and disconnects, leading to poor remote control. Moreover, weak signals lead to slow response of the appliances, which can frustrate you in controlling the appliances on the other side of the wall.
Fix – Correct Positioning of the Router and Using WiFi Extender
One reason why your iHome smart plug receives weak WiFi connectivity lies in your router’s position.
If your router’s location is far from your device, it will emit weaker signals. You should consider placing it near your devices if this is the case. Alternatively, you can use a WiFi extender to enhance signal strength.
An outdated router can also emit weak signals. Ensure you have a modern router with more power, better range, and can improve connectivity for your iHome smart plug.
On the other hand, if you have fewer appliances connected to one WiFi network, they can weaken the signal. You should keep your WiFi network connected to a few essential appliances. Get rid of metal objects and electrical devices that cut your WiFi signal.
3. Hardware Problems
If your iHome smart plug hardware is faulty, it cannot connect to your WiFi. For example, when the internal antenna is damaged or disconnected, it fails to establish a WiFi connection. On the other hand, it could also fail due to poor LED indicators that do not show the status of your device.
Fix – Replace
To fix the LED issue, return your device to the manufacturer if you still have a warrant. The company technicians will fix the issue or replace the faulty one with a new one. This will help you regain control over your iHome smart Plug when the hardware fails to connect to your WiFi network.
4. WiFi Connectivity
One of the first things you should check when your iHome smart plug doesn’t connect to your WiFi is its connectivity to WiFi. Most importantly, the same WiFi as your other devices.
Fix – Plug Your Device and Connect it to Your Home’s Network
First off, confirm that your router is ON and is working. Next, ensure that you have plugged your device into an electrical socket and that the outlet works. If not, contact a professional electrician to fix your socket or electrical issues.
5. Wrong WiFi Configuration
Sometimes, your iHome smart Plug may not connect to the WiFi because you must configure it with the correct WiFi information. Some of the data include the SSID of your WiFi network and the passkey.
Fix – Reset and Configure Your iHome Smart Plug
In such a scenario, you should reset your device and let it clear the information stored in the Plug. To reset the Plug:
- Press the power button on your iHome Plug.
- Wait until the device indicates a successful reset.
- Revisit the configuration and ensure it has reset.
- Feed with a new pass key similar to your WiFi and a compatible SSID.
At this point, your iHome smart Plug should connect to your WiFi. You can call a professional repairer to reset it if it doesn’t.
6. Power Cycle Router
When your router experiences issues, it results in intermittent or total loss of WiFi connectivity. This means that it maintains irregular WiFi strength and reliability. As a result, your iHome smartphone begins struggling to keep a consistent connection.
In worst-case scenarios, the router power cycle may cause a complete WiFi loss. Consequently, your iHome smart Plug will become inaccessible. That means it cannot send you notifications, updates, and even remote control.
Fix – Unplug and Plug Back Your Router
First, you must confirm that your router’s main issue is the power cycle. Look for unusual behavior like frequent restarts, blinking lights, or a lack of power. If these symptoms are present, it’s likely a power cycle problem.
Immediately unplug your router from its power source and wait a few seconds before plugging it back. Once you plug it in, give it time to fully restart and check if the glitches have cleared up and running normally.
If this does not work, try updating the router firmware to eliminate its possibility of affecting the iHome smart plug connectivity. Go to the router settings and change the WiFi channel to one with less interference.
If the power cycle router problem persists, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for further assistance.
7. Network Security
Your network may have a security problem from misconfigurations, unauthorized access attempts, or malicious attacks. If so, your iHome smart Plug cannot connect to your WiFi.
Network security problems such as authentication failures in WPA/WPA2 encryption settings lead to insecure connections. This makes it impossible for your smart Plug to connect to the WiFi.
Moreover, your router might have an intrusion detection and prevention system that detects suspicious activities and blocks some devices, such as your iHome smartphones, from WiFi. This mostly happens when your smartphone’s MAC address is mistakenly flagged as a potential threat.
Malware and malicious activities can also hinder your iHome smart plug from connecting to the WiFi. If malware attacks your network, it disrupts all your device’s connectivity.
Besides malware and malicious activities, network congestion, such as excessive traffic and attacks, can hinder your iHome smart plug connectivity.
Fix – Resetting and Reconfiguring the Router
Counter-check your WiFi encryption settings on the router. Also, ensure the encryption has a secure entry on your iHome smartphone. If the problem persists, consider resetting and reconfiguring the router with proper encryption settings.
For intrusion detection, try and access your router settings and check for any devices that are inhibiting efficient performance. If the iHome smartphone’s MAC address is listed, remove it from the blocklist. Review the router’s security settings and adjust it accordingly.
For malware, try running security scans on all devices connected to the network to identify and remove malware. Strengthen network security by changing router passwords, enabling strong encryption, and updating router firmware to the latest version.
Monitor your network traffic for unusual patterns and consider deploying security measures like intrusion detection systems and traffic analysis tools to mitigate congestion. You can also implement Quality of Service (quality of service) settings on the router to prioritize essential traffic.
8. Compatibility Issues
Have you ever considered compatibility issues that may hinder your iHome smart plug device from connecting to WiFi? Well, as explained earlier, your device’s hardware or software may need to be fully compatible, mainly when your WiFi uses different standards/ frequency bands. For example, if your smart plug has 2.4GHz connectivity, then you should connect it to a WiFi of the same frequency.
Note that different iHome smart plugs require different WiFi strengths. Therefore, before installing one, ensure that it will be compatible with your WiFi speed and strength.
Fix – Adjust Your Router’s Settings
Check your iHome device’s specifications and ensure it supports the same WiFi standard and frequency band as your router. If not, you may need to adjust your router’s settings to provide a compatible frequency band.
My Final Thoughts
The iHome smart plug is necessary in modern homes. These smart plugs allow you to create an interactive system that lets you receive notifications, adjust temperatures, and remotely control lights.
This intelligent gadget depends on your router’s WiFi settings for wireless connectivity for effective communication with it.
Yet, sometimes, you may experience connectivity issues. The fixes explained above will help you get to the bottom of the common problems you might experience with the iHome smart plug.