Why do my smart home devices keep disconnecting?

Start with where and when they drop

Smart devices that keep disconnecting are usually fighting a weak or crowded Wi-Fi signal, an overdue router restart or update, or a band they cannot use. The fastest way to tell which is to notice the pattern. If only the devices in the far bedroom or the garage drop, it is signal. If every device drops at the same moment, the router or the internet connection is the problem.

Check the signal where the device sits

A phone in your pocket in the living room tells you nothing about a plug behind a dresser in the basement. Stand at the device and check the signal there. When Ring explains how to place its cameras, the advice is to make sure that the location is free from obstructions and items that might cause interference.^[1] Metal shelves, appliances and mirrors are the usual culprits, and so is a router tucked into a cabinet.

If the signal is poor, the plain fix is distance: if needed, move the device closer to a wifi access point.^[1] When the device cannot move, move the router, or add coverage (below).

Construction matters too. NETGEAR's guide to choosing a mesh system asks, "Is your home built from signal-reducing dense materials like bricks?"^[3] If it is, or the house is wide or spans several floors, one router in one corner is unlikely to reach every smart device.

Restart and update the router

A router left running for months can slow down or hand out stale connections. Unplug it for about 30 seconds, plug it back in and give it a few minutes. Many disconnects end there.

Then check for updates. CISA's advice is to check your router manufacturer's website to ensure you are running the latest firmware version.^[4] Firmware updates enhance product performance, fix flaws, and address security vulnerabilities,^[4] and some routers have the option to turn on automatic updates.^[4] The same logic applies to the devices: technology providers issue software updates to "patch" security weak spots as quickly as they can,^[5] and those updates also fix bugs. Open each device's app and install what is waiting.

Match the band

Wi-Fi comes in two common bands. Single-band Wi-Fi lets you connect to a 2.4 GHz signal.^[2] Dual-band Wi-Fi lets you also connect to a 5.0 GHz signal for a faster, more stable connection.^[2] Plenty of plugs, bulbs and sensors are 2.4 GHz only.

If your router merges both bands under one network name, some devices struggle to choose. Check your router settings for a separate 2.4 GHz network, and join the stubborn device to it. Keep the router's band settings in mind whenever you add a new device, and see how to set up smart plugs and smart bulbs for the pairing steps.

Extender or mesh

If one router cannot reach the far rooms, you have two options. Extenders merely boost and repeat WiFi signals, as NETGEAR puts it;^[3] a mesh system uses several units that work as one network. For most multi-floor houses, a mesh system is the steadier choice. Read how to get good Wi-Fi in every room for placement, or whether to hire someone to set up a mesh system if you would rather not.

Re-add a device that keeps dropping

If one device is flaky and everything else is fine, remove it from its app, reset it per its manual, and add it again from the spot where it will live. Pairing from the final location avoids saving a weak connection.

Stop and call a pro if

• The plug will not stay put. A smart plug that wobbles or falls out of the outlet loses power, and the outlet is the problem. The U.S. Fire Administration's advice is to replace wall outlets if plugs do not fit snugly.^[6] Have an electrician replace the outlet rather than forcing the plug in.
• An outlet or plug feels hot, smells burnt or crackles. Unplug the device if it is safe to do so, stop using that outlet and have an electrician look at it.
• A hardwired device keeps losing power. A wall switch, hardwired thermostat or doorbell that drops out may have a wiring fault. That is also an electrician's call.
• The whole connection keeps dropping. If your phone loses the internet too, the fault may be your service, not your devices. Call your internet provider.
• The house needs more than a few devices moved. If you want cabling, access points or a whole-home plan, a pro is a sensible hire. See whether it is worth paying someone to set up a smart home and what smart home installation costs in Virginia.

Getting help in Virginia

Browse Security & Smart Home for local providers, or see more smart home answers. When you are ready, describe the job and local pros quote it.