Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.

Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.

Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2022-06-11 22:58:36 - last edited 2022-06-14 00:05:02
Tags: #Network
Model: HS200  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version:

I don't know why I couldn't find this information, or why this isn't more formally wrapped up in a Kasa app feature.

 

I changed the name of my WiFi network and had to connect my switches to the new one. After reading the docs, sites and watching a few videos, they all imply you have to set them up again. There were a few clues but nothing obvious. In fact, this official doc implies it is impossible: https://www.tp-link.com/ca/support/faq/2631 (bold is theirs):

 

Currently there is no setting on Kasa APP allowing us to switch to a different wireless network directly ... But if you want to connect to a different wireless network, you may change the wireless network by resetting your kasa device, and then follow the regular setup process.

 

 

Well this is how to do it...

 

I connected over 20 switches doing this. It takes around 1-2 minutes per device since you only have to enter the passord the first time.

 

First, ensure you are connected to your new wifi network before doing anything else or you may have to start over. I was using an iPhone but it should be the same (right?)

 

These two steps do not need to be done in any order:
 

1. Open the Kasa app. Also

 

2. Hold the left little button under the switch down until it first flashes green and amber. This takes about 5 seconds. Do not hold it down again for 10 seconds or you really will have to set it up from scratch as this does a full factory reset. If you do just the 5 seconds, the device will be ready to update (this is, not obvious at all when you see the next steps in the app, but this is what is going on...)

 

Now, in order:

 

3. In Kasa, tap the + button and choose to add a new device. Again, don't worry, you aren't actually adding a new device. This is just how you get going. Make sure you pick the right switch! If you don't it simply won't connect! It will seem like you have some sort of connection issue, but you do not. It is just not obvious that you picked the wrong switch type (e.g. if you pick a regular switch when you are working with a 3-way switch.

 

4. Follow the directions, telling the app that the device installed and then flashing green and amber, then connect to the device's temporary wifi network when asked. If you did #3 right, this will work just fine. Switch back to the app and let it think things through.

 

5. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. You will be asked if you want to reset the device. You want the less obvious button that does NOT reset the device. You will then be able to pick your wifi network and enter your new name and password and connect the device. 

 

6. YOU ARE NOW DONE! if you were to continue, the app would ask you to confirm the device name, etc, etc, etc, but ignore all that and simply close the app. You can then open it again and move on to the next device. That is right. As soon as your device connects, you are done. Nothing will change in the setup, or name or anything. The device will simply be functioning again, as before, but on your new network.

 

 

Note: do each device one at a time or it can get confusing trying to figure out which switch belongs to which temporary direct wifi network when you have to pick.

 

 

To TP-Link: Please just add a utility to update the wifi network for all devices. Other smart vendors have this feature. It should be trivial to tap, connect, pick the network and connect. Unfortunatly I figured this out on my second attempt. I accidentally did a factory reset on my first 3-way switch and now it stopped working unless the other side is ON (using a single 3-way switch for the setup). I'll start a new thread to ask for help on that one.

  77      
  77      
#1
Options
9 Reply
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2022-06-14 00:15:10

  @Sacks,

Thanks for putting all the effort into creating this guide. The reason that this is bolded in the guide, is that most users are looking to be able to update all the devices to their new network without touching the physical plug, meaning they don't want to do a soft reset. Other manufacturers achieve this by including Bluetooth modules in their devices so that your phone can communicate directly with the device over BT instead of WiFi. I have just now started to create articles detailing the two different methods of resetting devices to try and make this clear. 

 

Because of how well-written your post was and how thorough it was, I will be creating a Knowledge Base Article with this information so that future users can find the info both here and in our support articles. I appreciate your work on this, if there are any other useful setup processes that you cannot find documentation for, or find unclear, please feel free to message me and recommend the topic to me.

 

When it comes to adding the feature to our application for WiFi switching or making the process clear, we would appreciate your posting in the feature request section of the forum so that we can keep track of any user requests. It is too easy for useful recommendations such as this to get lost in the discussions, so we recommend always putting requests and feedback in their designated modules on the forum. This will also allow other users to chime in and express their support for a feature.

  4  
  4  
#2
Options
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2022-09-29 11:54:37

  @Sacks  I have done all this. My switches were all hooked up and our router went bad. The new technician renamed the new connection and I'm trying to re-set-up... I have followed this to a T. I have successfully reconnected 7 of our 9 switches so I know how to do it but 2 will not cooperate. 
 

so what to do??

  8  
  8  
#3
Options
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2023-03-09 16:59:25

  @Sacks The details you provided made the process so simple. Thank you for the information! 

  0  
  0  
#4
Options
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2023-07-24 10:56:37 - last edited 2023-07-24 11:02:31

  @Sacks  Thank you sooo much for posting this solution!!!  I got a new Google Nest Wifi Point, and it created a new network using 192.168.86.x instead of my old router's address at 192.168.10.x, and your solution worked great.  I will just add that the little reset button is really hard to see, at least on my Kasa switches.  It was right at the bottom of the switch, and looks like part of the framing around the button to manually turn on the switch.  I had to use my fingernail to press it. 

 

And your mention of the 5-second vs. 10-second reset was super helpful to avoid a "full" reset of the device so that all other settings remained.

 

Also, my first try didn't appear to work, but once I disabled my Google One VPN on my phone for the Kasa App, the process worked smoothly.

  1  
  1  
#5
Options
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2023-10-14 23:16:25

  @Sacks This was helpful. So odd that you can't find such simple and straightforward solutions in their FAQs and troubleshooting guides. This saved me a lot of time.

  0  
  0  
#6
Options
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2023-10-17 01:45:59

  @Sacks thanks for taking the time to do this. But Kasa has dropped the ball on this. Might just return my plugs and get a brand where I can change my Wi-Fi easily. I change it every 6 months so this will be a pain for 20 some plugs.

  1  
  1  
#7
Options
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2023-11-06 01:21:43

  @Sacks You can't believe how much time you just saved me. My install wouldn't let me set the SSID the first time even -- this took care of it. THANK YOU!

  1  
  1  
#8
Options
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2023-11-23 13:33:01

  @Sacks THANK YOU!!!

Worked like a charm on my smart switch/dimmers!

 

I spent a lot of tiene resetting a plug last night from scratch.. it must be a similar easy process.
 

I wish I found your post before that :-)

 

 

  1  
  1  
#9
Options
Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how.
2024-01-09 22:44:19

  @Riley_S 

 

Hi

 

In your reply to someone else in June 2022 re:  Re:Kasa Smart Switches: How to set up WiFi networks after changing the name or password...this is how (the article and your reply to them is: HERE 

 

........... you said you would "be creating a Knowledge Base Article".   Can you tell me please where this article is, please  ??

 

Thanks!

 

John

  0  
  0  
#10
Options

Information

Helpful: 77

Views: 45845

Replies: 9

Tags

Network
Related Articles