The Wemo Smart Plug is a popular smart home device that allows you to control lamps, fans, and other electronics using your voice with Alexa. However, sometimes issues arise where Alexa cannot discover or control the Wemo Smart Plug. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help get your Wemo Smart Plug working properly with Alexa again.
#1 Ensure the Smart Plug is Properly Set Up
The first step is to ensure your Wemo Smart Plug is properly set up on both the Device and the Wemo app.
- Verify the Smart Plug is plugged in, the light on the plug is on, and it’s connected to your wifi network. You can check this in the Wemo app under “My Devices.”
- Ensure the Smart Plug firmware is up to date by checking for updates in the Wemo app. Older firmware can cause connectivity issues.
- Delete the Device from the Wemo app and repeat the setup process, following all steps. This will force a fresh connection.
- As part of the setup, you’ll need to enable the Skill in your Alexa app and link your Wemo account. Double-check this is enabled in the Alexa Skills menu.
- If you have multiple smart home hubs like SmartThings or Wink, remove any connections to Wemo devices first. Alexa needs clarification if trying to access the plug through multiple hubs.
- When adding the Smart Plug in the Wemo app, allow access for the Wemo skill in Alexa. Check permissions are enabled.
Following this setup process closely is crucial to establish a clear connection between the Wemo plug, the Wemo app, and Alexa.
#2 Rediscover Devices in the Alexa App
If your Wemo Smart Plug shows as set up properly in the Wemo app, but Alexa is still having issues, try rediscovering devices in the Alexa app:
- Open the Alexa app and go to Devices > + > Add Device
- Select the Wemo skill when prompted
- Alexa will search and pair any compatible Wemo devices it finds on your network, including the Smart Plug.
Sometimes, rediscovering tricks Alexa into repairing the connection. Be sure to allow Alexa time to fully search for and connect to any devices it finds.
- If rediscovery doesn’t work the first time, try uninstalling the Wemo skill completely and re-enable it from scratch. Then rediscover.
- You can also try rediscovering from the Wemo app directly. This forces the app to push your device info back into Alexa.
- In the Alexa app, be sure to specify the exact room the Wemo plug is located in. This helps Alexa ID the Device correctly.
Carefully re-linking the Wemo Smart Plug often resolves elusive connectivity glitches.
#3 Power Cycle the Smart Plug
Power cycling the Smart Plug forces it to reconnect from scratch, which can resolve software glitches:
- Unplug the Wemo Smart Plug from power completely.
- Wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
- Give it a few minutes to reboot and reconnect to wifi.
- Then try having Alexa rediscover devices again.
This reboot flushes any erroneous settings or connections and starts fresh. Don’t just quickly power the plug off and on – completely remove power to clear all memory.
- If the plug is hardwired, you may need to flip the circuit breaker to reboot it fully.
- Consider unplugging other nearby Wemo devices too, in case of interference.
Be thorough when power cycling to eliminate any lingering connection issues.
#4 Reboot Your Router
It’s also a good idea to reboot your router in case connectivity issues are occurring there:
- Unplug your router and modem from power.
- Wait 30 seconds for a full reset.
- Plug the modem back in first and let it boot up.
- Once the modem is back online, plug your router back in.
Once your network is back online, try having Alexa rediscover devices. A router reboot can clear up network conflicts.
- Check for any firmware updates for your router while you have it rebooting. Keeping the router software up-to-date helps prevent problems.
- If you have other smart devices, power cycle their hubs as well after rebooting the router. This ensures a clean slate.
- Consider upgrading to a mesh network router system if your home has consistent dead spots. This improves overall network reliability.
Reviving your entire wifi network should help the Wemo plug reconnect trouble-free.
#5 Check Your Alexa Device Location
Be sure the Alexa device you want to control the Wemo Smart Plug with is within range:
- Alexa devices must be on the same wifi network as the Smart Plug to communicate.
- Ensure the Alexa device is placed within a reasonable distance from the router. It’s too far away, and the connection can be spotty.
- Avoid placing Alexa devices near potential sources of radio interference like microwaves, cordless phones, or metal surfaces.
- Move the Alexa device closer to your router for a stronger wifi signal if necessary. Or move the plug closer to your Echo.
- When giving voice commands, speak up loudly and clearly. Being too far from the Alexa device can lead to better communication.
Proximity is important for maintaining a strong control connection. Adjust the location of devices to optimize connectivity.
#6 Enable Home & Away Routines Selectively
If location-based routines are enabled in the Alexa app, this can sometimes interfere with Smart Plug connectivity when arriving or leaving your home.
Try selectively disabling these Home & Away routines and see if manually controlling the Smart Plug starts working:
- Open Alexa app > Settings > Account Settings > Amazon Sidewalk > Disable
- Open Alexa app > More > Settings > Location > Disable
Location-based routines can toggle device states in a way that disrupts connectivity. See if disabling the routines related to the problem plug resolves it.
- Alternatively, if needed, you can change the Smart Plug’s room assignment to outside the Home & Away routine. This prevents automatic state changes.
Be very selective when disabling Home & Away to pinpoint specific disruption causes.
#7 Contact Wemo Support
If you still can’t get your Wemo Smart Plug connecting properly after trying all the troubleshooting steps, it may be time to contact Wemo support:
- In the Wemo app, go to Settings > Support to find help contact options.
- Check for an updated version of the Wemo app itself – an outdated version can cause issues.
- Search for documentation related to your specific Wemo Smart Plug model on their support site for additional troubleshooting tips.
- Call their support line if needed and ask about any known Alexa connectivity problems with your Smart Plug. They may have specialized insight.
Wemo’s technical support team can provide detailed troubleshooting advice tailored to your Device.
Conclusion.
Getting your Wemo Smart Plug connected and cooperating fully with Alexa can sometimes be frustrating. However, by taking a systematic approach to troubleshooting and carefully going through setup steps again, you should be able to determine the specific issue preventing connectivity. Verify proper app setup, reboot devices, adjust locations, disable problematic routines, and contact Wemo support if needed. With patience and focus on isolating the root cause, you’ll likely be able to resolve the problems and get voice commands working again. Don’t give up; smart home technology can require some debugging, but the convenience is worth it.
