There are moments when it might seem to have a mind of its own, by stubbornly refusing to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
Picture this: You’ve got a pot roast simmering in the slow cooker, your favorite playlist queued up for a cozy evening, and then, the dreaded disconnect.
Frustrating, right? But fret not. Here are some possible reasons for this, ranging from power problems, network bandwidth, and router issues to faulty TCP Apps and how to fix the problems. Let’s expound more.
Why is TCP Smart Plug Not Connecting to WiFi?
1. Power Problems
TCP Smart Plug might not connect to Wi-Fi if there are power issues. Sometimes, the power supply in your house may need to be more robust enough to support your smart plug, which requires a stable power supply for proper functioning. If this is the case, your Wi-Fi fails to power up, leading to a loss of connection between it and your TCP smart plug.
Alternatively, your smart plug might have experienced a sudden voltage drop or spike, which can disrupt its entire operation. The fluctuations cause the smart plug power to reboot or shut down, and it’s unable to reboot or stay connected to the Wi-Fi.
At times, when power voltages reduce, they lead to brownouts. This destabilizes your smart plug operations, especially when it resets to a low-power mode, making it unable to communicate with your Wi-Fi network.
Besides insufficient power supply and low voltages, you may need to remember to plug in your smart plug outlet. In this case, it will not have power and connection to your Wi-Fi.
Fix – Connect the Smart Plug To the Main Power, Reduce Devices Connected To The Power source, Invest in A Voltage Stabiliser
First, ensure that your Wi-Fi router and TCP Smart Plug are connected to the main power and that the switch is ON throughout. It should blink rapidly to indicate it’s ready to connect to a Wi-Fi network. If it does not blink blue rapidly, press and hold its power button for a few seconds and then release it when it starts blinking.
Reduce the number of high-power devices connected to the same power source as your smart plug for the low voltage. They might be the ones drawing too much power, causing voltage drops.
As for the voltage fluctuation, consider investing in a voltage stabilizer or regulator. This will help you maintain a stable voltage supply to your smart plug and router.
2. Network Bandwidth
Another possible reason why your TCP Smart Plug won’t connect to the Wi-Fi is because of the bandwidth it uses. Like all other smart plugs, the manufacturer recommends connecting your smart plug to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network bandwidth. You might have connected yours to a 5.0 GHz, especially if your router has both bandwidths.
Remember, the 2.4 GHz frequency band has a more extended range than 5 GHz. This means your smart plug can connect to your Wi-Fi network from a greater distance or through obstacles like walls and floors. It’s beneficial if your smart plug is far from your Wi-Fi router.
Fix – Configure Your Router to 2.4 GHz
If your router supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, you must log into the router’s admin interface through a web browser and change the settings. Enable the 2.4 GHz if it’s disabled.
You can set separate SSIDs for your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks if you have a modern router. Ensure they have distinct names to avoid confusion on which network you are connected. Besides setting up your router to 2.4 GHz, ensure you set up your smartphone for automatic connection.
3. Router Issues
If the problem is outside the power supply or bandwidth connection, your router could be the problem. You may have positioned your router far from your TCP Smart Plug, leading to weak signals and poor connection.
The distance between your smart plug and the router makes it more susceptible to interference from other electronic devices, walls, or neighboring Wi-Fi networks. The interference disrupts the signal and causes connection issues.
Worse, the distance can cause high latency, which may lead to delayed data transmission and, thus, delays in controlling your plug or receiving status updates.
Besides the distance, you might have an old router with outdated Wi-Fi standards, slower data transfer rates, and less reliable connections than modern ones. Your TCP Smart Plug is designed to work best with current Wi-Fi standards for a stable and compatible connection.
Again, if you recently changed your Wi-Fi password or entered it incorrectly during setup, your smart plug will not connect to your Wi-Fi.
Fix – Move router Closer, Invest In A modern Router, Key In The Correct Password
Start by moving your router closer to your smart plug, and if it’s overloaded, try to offload it by disconnecting other smart plugs to a better connection. For the old router, you should invest in a modern one that offers a fast, stable, and compatible connection. Also, try to key in the correct password for all your smart plug devices to connect to the same Wi-Fi.
4. DHCP Lease issues
Another reason why your TCP Smart Plug cannot connect to the Wi-Fi is because of DHCP lease issues. The DHCP assigns IP addresses and related network configurations to smart plugs within a local network. It plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth network operations.
Therefore, conflict occurs if the DHCP server assigns the previously leased IP address to your smart device. This leads to connectivity problems between your Wi-Fi and smart plug.
Again, once the lease expires, your smart plug loses its IP address, making it inaccessible on the network until it acquires a new one. This leads to a temporary connectivity loss.
Fix – Reboot Your Router, Update Router Firmware, Assign Static IP Address to Your Smart Plug
First, check if your Wi-Fi signal is strong and stable in the area where you have located your smart plug. Try rebooting your Wi-Fi to see if the DHCP issue will disappear, which should be after a few seconds.
Alternatively, you can update your router’s firmware. This is because the manufacturer releases updates that improve performance and stability. Also, assign a static IP address to your smart plug to always receive the same IP address from your router.
5. Defective TCP Smart Plug
Sometimes, you might have bought a defective TCP Smart Plug resulting from a manufacturer problem causing it not to connect to Wi-Fi. It might be the hardware malfunctions such as faulty chipsets and damaged antennas.
A faulty chipset cannot handle protocols correctly, leading to authentication failures or security issues. This can prevent your smart plug from connecting to the Wi-Fi. Moreover, a faulty chipset can barely be highly susceptible to noise and interference, making maintaining a stable Wi-Fi connection challenging.
You know that the antenna within your smart plug is responsible for sending and receiving signals between your Wi-Fi and router.
So, if it breaks, it cannot establish or maintain a stable connection. This reduces signal strength, making it challenging for the TCP smart plug to establish a reliable connection with the Wi-Fi network.
Fix – Return to Manufacturer
Regarding broken antennas and faulty chipsets, the best remedy is to return your TCP smart plug and router to the manufacturer.
The manufacturer should give you a new functional smart plug free of chipset issues if your warranty is still valid. The same goes for your broken router. If your contract expired before the issue, then it’s time to invest in a new router or TCP smart plug.
6. Faulty TCP App
Another reason why your TCP smart plug is also not connecting to the Wi-Fi is because of a buggy or faulty app. You know that the app plays a significant role in the authentication of your smart plug on your Wi-Fi.
A buggy app may not correctly handle the authentication process and may incorrectly configure network settings, preventing the plug from establishing a connection.
Moreover, if the app frequently crashes or contains programming bugs, it interrupts the setup process or breaks the connection. These issues may also prevent the app from saving or applying the necessary network settings.
Remember, a faulty app may be vulnerable to hackers, leading to unauthorized access to your smart plug or Wi-Fi network. The app may turn off some functions to mitigate security risks, hindering the connection’s reliability.
Fix – Uninstall and Reinstall the App
In this case, uninstall and reinstall the TCP app on your phone. Long press the app on your phone and uninstall it. Afterward, click on Google Play Store, search for the TCP smart plug app, and tap on it.
Click on Install and give it a few minutes to install. Once it has been installed, open it and connect it to your Wi-Fi and smart plug. Now, you have a new app free of bugs and should send and receive communication with the Wi-Fi and smart plug.