Your one stop shop for sorting out connectivity woes in your SmartThings smart home
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
If you find that you are facing connectivity or communication problems with your Zigbee devices on your SmartThings network, then it can be a bit of a pain to get things sorted as there are a number of things that could be causing issues.
Zigbee operates on a mesh network, and that means there are a variety of factors can disrupt its smooth functioning.
Guide: Everything you need to know about Zigbee
But don’t worry because there’s usually an easy way to fix Zigbee problems with SmartThings.
It could just be a drained battery causing drops in connectivity, a repeater not firing and bringing the whole network down, bandwidth congestion or maybe even a fault with your SmartThiings hub.
Whatever the problem, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve these issues.
Have a look through this guide to help you identify potential causes and implement solutions to get your SmartThings Zigbee devices back online.
1. Check your hub and router connection
This is probably an obvious one, and hopefully a consideration you’ve already checked but you’ll obviously need your SmartThings hub and your router working on all cylinders for a seamless smart home experience.
If you haven’t already, here are a few things to check:
Hub Status:
- In the SmartThings app, check that your hub status is Connected. If it’s not, disconnect both the power and Ethernet cables for 30 seconds, then reconnect them.
Rebooting can resolve a lot of issues, so – even if the hub says it’s connected, a reboot won’t hurt and could sort things out.
The process varies by hub model:
- SmartThings Wifi and Connect Home
- Navigate to the SmartThings app, select the hub’s location, and choose the Reboot option from the menu.
- Aeotec Smart Home Hub, SmartThings Hub (2018) or Hub v2 (2015)
- Press the reset button on the back of the hub for a few seconds until the LED turns off, then release.
- SmartThings Hub v1 (2013)
- Perform a hard reboot by unplugging both the power and Ethernet cables for at least 30 seconds.
Ethernet and Power Cables:
- Make sure that both are securely connected and replace any damaged cables.
Check for Network Issues:
- If your hub’s status is offline, are all of your other connected devices working? If they aren’t, it could be an ISP issue, rather than a Zigbee or SmartThings fault.
2. Update software and firmware
Sometimes outdated, or even newly launched, software or firmware can cause issues on both sides so it’s best to make sure you haven’t got a corruption issue…
Check for App Updates:
- Check your SmartThings app is up to date. Open the app and navigate to the settings menu to check for updates, or check via the App Store or Google Play.
Device Firmware:
- Some devices may require updates through their native apps. Make sure you’re running the latest version.
It’s often a good idea to enable automatic updates for both the hub and connected devices, as this can help to prevent future issues.
3. Optimize Zigbee and Wi-Fi channels
Zigbee devices communicate with your SmartThings hub over a wireless mesh network, which can be affected by interference from other electronics, particularly Wi-Fi devices that can disrupt Zigbee’s performance, as both operate on the same 2.4GHz frequency.
Here’s a couple of things you can try and do to avoid this…
Avoid Channel Overlap:
- Wi-Fi routers often interfere with Zigbee devices if both use the same or overlapping channels. Access your router settings and set the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi channel to 1, 6, or 11.
- Then, using the SmartThings IDE (the web-based portal), change your Zigbee channel to avoid interference with the Wi-Fi channel. For example, Wi-Fi Channel 11 works best with Zigbee Channel 14. If you are doing this though, be aware that you could potentially mess up your Thread networks, so use this as a last resort – it’s much safer to change channels on the Wi-Fi side.
4. Check everything has power
Zigbee devices rely on consistent power, either from batteries or direct electrical connections.
If a Zigbee device is playing up, it could just be a case that its battery is low or it’s not powered-up. So it’s worth doing a bit of investigating:
- Battery-Powered Devices:
- Remove the battery and check for any debris on the contacts. Clean if necessary and reinsert the battery.
- If the battery is low, replace it.
- Outlet-Powered Devices:
- Unplug the device for two minutes, then plug it into a different outlet. Ensure the connection is secure.
- Device’s Power Indicator:
- If your device has an LED indicator, make sure it’s not orange or red. This normally indicates a power or connection issue.
Power surges or fluctuations in voltage (for outlet-powered devices) can also cause temporary Zigbee drops, so take that into consideration too.
5. Check the Device Range
If the distance between your SmartThings hub and a Zigbee device is too far, or there are physical barriers (like walls), the connection may weaken, causing problems.
Zigbee devices should be within range of the SmartThings hub or a repeater, or they’ll either not connect at all, or drop off occasionally.
- Move the Device Closer:
- If the device is too far from the hub, it may not stay connected. Try moving it within 10 feet of the hub for better signal strength.
- Use Zigbee Repeaters:
- Zigbee repeaters can extend the range of your Zigbee network, helping devices further from the hub maintain a connection.
6. Check or add Zigbee repeaters
Since Zigbee forms a mesh network, adding repeaters can strengthen your overall signal. Zigbee repeaters are usually naturally part of devices that are plugged in, such as smart plugs or bulbs.
They extend the Zigbee range and let devices that are further from the hub maintain a strong connection.
If you haven’t got one already, it’s worth chucking a couple into the mix. Smart plugs are the easiest, and are often super cheap.
If you already have Zigbee bulbs or repeaters in your setup, they can sometimes interfere with device communication.
In some cases, performing a reset on Zigbee repeaters and the SmartThings hub can resolve persistent connection issues.
- Reset Zigbee Repeaters:
- Power off all Zigbee repeaters for 15 minutes, including smart bulbs or outlets.
- Unplug the hub for 15 minutes, then plug it back in.
- Once the hub has rebooted (LED turns solid green), power the Zigbee repeaters back on.
7. Reset and reconnect devices
If you’ve added any new Zigbee devices recently, they may be causing disruptions on the network.
If a new or existing Zigbee device looks like being the culprit then try resetting it.
- Delete the Device:
- Remove the device from the SmartThings app. Navigate to the device’s location, tap the three dots for more options, and tap to delete the device.
- Reset the Device:
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for resetting the device to factory settings. Once reset, add the device back to the SmartThings app by following the on-screen instructions.
Before deleting a Zigbee device, be sure to backup any custom settings, or you might mess up routines and automation rules.
8. Turn off unused Zigbee devices
Sometimes, inactive or malfunctioning Zigbee devices can cause congestion on the network, affecting other devices.
Temporarily turning off unused devices may improve performance.
Troubleshooting tips
If you’ve tried everything above and you’re still having issues then you may have a faulty Zigbee device or smart home hub.
Before you start chucking stuff in the trash though, it’s worth having a look through this lot too…
- SmartThings IDE: We mentioned the IDE for Zigbee channel changes, but you can also use the IDE to check device health, logs, and network topology for more in-depth troubleshooting. It can be found at: https://my.smartthings.com/advanced/hubs
- Zigbee diagnostics: Some Zigbee devices have built-in diagnostic tools or apps that can help identify specific issues, such as battery level, signal strength, or device firmware. Have a look in the device’s native app for these.
- Third-party tools: There are third-party tools or apps that can provide additional insights into Zigbee network performance and help with troubleshooting.
FAQs
Battery life for Zigbee devices varies depending on factors such as device type, usage frequency, and battery quality. As a general guideline, you should expect to replace batteries every six months to a year. If you notice a significant decrease in device responsiveness or battery level indicators are low, it’s time to replace the battery.
No, Zigbee repeaters cannot be used as Wi-Fi extenders. They are specifically designed to extend the range of your Zigbee network and cannot be used for Wi-Fi purposes.
Yes, you can use SmartThings to control your Zigbee devices remotely as long as your SmartThings hub is connected to the internet and your devices are within range of the hub or a repeater. You can access and control your devices using the SmartThings app.
Zigbee devices may disconnect due to interference from Wi-Fi networks, being too far from the hub, or low battery levels in battery-powered devices. You can improve connectivity by moving devices closer to the hub, using Zigbee repeaters, or adjusting your Wi-Fi channels to reduce interference.
