A Shelly needs three things to join your Wi-Fi: a 2.4 GHz network, a strong
enough signal where it's installed, and router settings it can work with. Most
failed setups come down to one of those, or to the setup window closing before
the app found the device.
Gen4 devices only offer Bluetooth and their own hotspot for 15 minutes after
they power up. Once they've joined your network, the hotspot switches off.
Before you start
Every fix here is done in the Shelly app, a browser or your router's settings. Don't open the wall plate. If the device is warm, buzzing or clicking on its own, turn it off at the switchboard and call a licensed electrician.
Quick checks first
Run these checks before moving on to the fixes.
Checklist0 of 3 checked
Power it off and on again
The device only offers Bluetooth and its own hotspot for 15 minutes after it powers up. If it's been on longer, turn it off at the switchboard or the plug, wait a few seconds and start setup straight away.
Read the LED
It shows red on the back, just below the warning triangle. One second on, one second off means it's waiting for setup. One second on, three off means it has your Wi-Fi details but can't join. Solid means it's connected.
Stand near it with Bluetooth on
Adding a device over Bluetooth needs Bluetooth switched on and permission for the Shelly app. Keep your phone close to the device.
Fixes, most likely first
Work down the list and stop when it's fixed.
1
Most likely for you
The setup window has closed
How to tell. The app doesn't list the device and there's no Shelly hotspot in your phone's Wi-Fi list, even though the device has power.
Reopen setup with the button
Press and hold the round button on the back of the device, the side with the printed label, for 5 seconds. That turns its hotspot and Bluetooth back on so the app can find it. Don't hold it for 10, which is a factory reset.
Or power-cycle it
Turn the circuit off and on. The hotspot and Bluetooth stay up for 15 minutes from power-on, so have the app open and ready first.
Did this fix it?
2
Most likely for you
Your Wi-Fi is 5 GHz, or the router steers it there
How to tell. Setup gets as far as joining your network and fails, or it joins and drops in a loop. Common on mesh systems and routers that put both bands under one network name.
Give it a 2.4 GHz network
Every Gen2 and newer Shelly runs on 2.4 GHz only. If your router offers a separate 2.4 GHz network, pick that one during setup.
Split the bands, or turn off band steering
If there's one name for both bands, add a 2.4 GHz-only network in the router settings, or switch off band steering. Shelly says band steering causes reconnection loops.
Did this fix it?
3
Most likely for you
Wrong password, or the signal is too weak
How to tell. Setup fails at the join step, and the device's own page says it couldn't connect. It may work in one room and not another.
Check the password
Join the Shelly's own hotspot, open 192.168.33.1 in a browser and go to Settings, then Wi-Fi. Check the network name, re-enter the password and click Save. Passwords are case-sensitive.
Check the signal where the device is
Once it's connected, open the device's web page and go to Settings, then Wi-Fi. The Status line shows the signal as RSSI. Shelly aims for -67 dBm or better. A metal wall box can cost 10 to 20 dB, so a relay behind a switch plate often sees far less than your phone does in the same spot.
Move the router or add an access point
Get a mesh node or access point closer to the device, then check the RSSI again.
Did this fix it?
4
Most likely for you
A router security setting is blocking it
How to tell. The password is right and the signal is strong, but it still won't join.
Use WPA2 security on its network
Shelly recommends WPA2-PSK (AES). WPA3 transition mode with 802.11w (protected management frames) set to Required can block Shelly devices.
Turn off fast roaming
Switch off 802.11r (often called fast roaming or fast transition) on the network the device uses.
Use a standard channel
Shelly recommends 20 MHz channel width on channel 1, 6 or 11.
Did this fix it?
5
Most likely for you
The network keeps devices apart
How to tell. The LED goes solid, so it's on your Wi-Fi, but the app can't reach it on the local network or it never shows up when you add it.
Turn off client isolation
Some routers and guest networks stop devices on the same network from talking to each other. Turn client isolation off for the network your Shelly devices use.
Check the router has addresses to give out
If the router's DHCP pool is full, a new device can't get an address. Make the pool bigger or clear out old leases.
Reserve the address in the router
If you want a fixed address, set a DHCP reservation in the router rather than a static IP on the device. A static IP inside the DHCP pool can clash with another device.
Did this fix it?
6
Most likely for you
Something in its settings is stuck
How to tell. You've worked through the rest and it still won't join, or it was set up on another network before.
Factory reset it
Press and hold the round button on the back, the side with the printed label, for 10 seconds. This clears its Wi-Fi details, users and all its settings, so you'll set it up from scratch.
Add it again
Start setup within 15 minutes of the reset, with your phone close by.
Did this fix it?
On your device
Shelly Presence Gen4The button and light work differently
Reopen setup
Holding the button for 5 seconds does a network reset. If you don't set it up within 3 minutes, it keeps its existing settings.
Read the light by colour
Slow blue is waiting for setup. Slow red is not connected to Wi-Fi. Slow yellow is on Wi-Fi but not the Shelly cloud. Slow green is fully connected.
