Setup Ecosystems
How to add a Shelly device to the Shelly app
Add a Shelly relay or dimmer to the Shelly Smart Control app over Bluetooth, step by step, with fixes for when the app can't find it.
Shelly relays and dimmers from the Plus, Gen3 and Gen4 ranges all set up the same way, over Bluetooth in the Shelly Smart Control app. It takes a few minutes per device. Battery-powered BLU sensors add differently: see how to add a Shelly BLU sensor.
Get the Shelly app
Install Shelly Smart Control and create an account before you start. It's free.
Before you start
- Your Shelly fitted and powered on.
- Bluetooth on, with your phone in the same room as the device.
- Your Wi-Fi name and password, for a 2.4 GHz network. Shelly devices don't connect to 5 GHz.
Add your Shelly over Bluetooth
- Tap the plus sign
Open Shelly Smart Control and tap the plus sign in the lower-right corner.
- Choose Add via Bluetooth
The app scans for Shelly devices nearby that haven't been added yet. If yours isn't listed, see the fixes below.
- Pick your device and tap Next
Each device shows its model, with the last part of its ID underneath. Select yours and tap Next.
- Enter your Wi-Fi details
Type your 2.4 GHz network name, or tap Scan for Wi-Fi networks to pick it, then enter the password. Tick Save password if you have more Shellys to add. Tap + Add device.
- Wait while it connects
The app shows each stage as the device joins your Wi-Fi, then a tick. This can take a few minutes.
- Name it and pick a picture
Name it after the room and what it controls, such as Kitchen downlights, so you can tell your devices apart later. Tap Next.
- Put it in a room and tap Save
Pick a room, or add a new one. The app links the device to your Shelly account and it appears in that room.
From here it works anywhere the app does. If a wall switch is wired to it, set how the switch behaves next: our guide to Shelly switch modes walks through each one.
If the app can't find it
- Reopen the setup window. A Shelly only accepts setup for 15 minutes after it powers on. Hold its button for 5 seconds for another 15 minutes. On Plus and Gen4 models the LED flashes slowly, half a second on and off.
- Move closer. Gen4 Bluetooth reaches about 10 metres indoors, and metal around the switch can weaken it.
- Check the permission. In your phone's settings, make sure Shelly Smart Control is allowed to use Bluetooth.
- Check it isn't in Zigbee mode. Five quick presses on a Gen4 switch it to Zigbee, which takes it off Wi-Fi. Zigbee or Wi-Fi on Shelly explains how to switch back.
If it pairs over Bluetooth but fails at the Wi-Fi step, check the network is 2.4 GHz and the password is right. WPA2 (AES) is the safe security setting, as some WPA3 settings block Shelly devices. If your router moves devices between bands under one network name, Shelly recommends a separate 2.4 GHz network.
If it still won't connect, hold the button for 10 seconds to factory reset it, then start again from the plus sign.
Once a device is added, the app turns its Bluetooth and access point off as a security measure. You can turn them back on in the device's settings.
Adding it to Apple Home or Google Home
A Gen4 also speaks Matter, so you can scan the QR code on its label in Apple Home, Google Home or SmartThings instead, and skip the Shelly account. That route needs a Matter hub on the same network, such as an Apple TV 4K, a Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), an Amazon Echo (4th gen or later) or a SmartThings hub. You can do both: the Shelly app for schedules and firmware updates, and your home app for everyday control. Our guide to Shelly and Matter covers the setup and what each side can do.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a device to the Shelly app?
Open Shelly Smart Control, tap the plus sign, choose Add via Bluetooth, pick the device and tap Next. Enter your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi details, wait for it to connect, then name the device, put it in a room and tap Save.
Why can't the Shelly app find my device?
Usually because its 15-minute setup window has closed. Hold the button on the device for 5 seconds to reopen it, stand within about 10 metres, and check the app has permission to use Bluetooth.
Does Shelly work on 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
No. Shelly devices only connect to 2.4 GHz. If your router mixes both bands under one network name and moves devices between them, Shelly recommends a separate 2.4 GHz network for them.
How do I factory reset a Shelly?
On Plus, Gen3 and Gen4 relays and dimmers, hold the button on the device for 10 seconds. The device then needs adding to the app again.
Do I need a Shelly account?
Yes, to add a device in the Shelly app. You create one in the app. A Gen4 can also go straight into Apple Home or Google Home over Matter, which doesn't need one but does need a Matter hub.
How do I add a Shelly device to Home Assistant?
Get it onto your Wi-Fi first, with the Shelly app or its own web page. Then add the Shelly integration in Home Assistant and enter the device's IP address, which your router lists.
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