
Recently you got yourself a Kasa smart plug.
It’s super easy to use as long as everything is connected.
The only thing is…the Kasa smart plug is NOT connected and it drives you crazy.
Before you go crazier, or worse, stop using it…
Continue reading to find out:
- 7 easy fixes to make your Kasa smart plug connect.
- How a soft reset can fix the Kasa smart plug connection issue.
- How the distance from the router can be the issue and how to solve it simply.
- What WPA and WP2 mean and how this could be the reason the Kasa plug won’t connect.
- And a lot more…
Why won’t my Kasa smart plug connect to WiFi?
Your Kasa smart plug won’t connect because there is a problem with the wifi. It’s also possible it has outdated firmware, needs to be reset, or the Kasa app doesn’t perform well.
Kasa smart plug won’t connect: 4 reasons & 7 fixes
#1: Check your wifi settings
The first thing you should check is the wifi settings.
Bandwidth
We start with bandwidth.
In general, there are 2 different bandwidth networks in the wifi: 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz.
The 5.0 GHz has higher speeds but the range is lower. Also, some Kasa smart plugs don’t recognize the 5.0 GHz bandwidth.
That’s why it’s advisable to use 2.4 GHz. All the plugs are compatible with this.
’’But the speed is lower, doesn’t this have an impact?’
You hardly notice any difference, 2.4 GHz is fast enough. Plus, the range is also longer with 2.4 GHz.
‘’Alright, how can I see on which bandwidth I’m on?’’
To check which bandwidth you are on, you should see the wifi settings on your smartphone.
Here’s how to do this on an Android phone:
- Go to Settings.
- Go to Network Properties (tap on the gear icon).
Depending on your Android version you can try this:
- See for Frequency Setting if it shows 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz.
If you can’t find the Frequency Setting you can:
- Check the network speed. If this is above 400 Mbps, you are on the 5 GHz bandwidth.
And here’s how to do it on an iPhone:
- Download and install a wifi analyzer app.
- Depending on which wifi analyzer app you installed search for the data that shows you which frequency you are on.
- If it’s not immediately clear on which frequency you’re on, consult your Internet Service Provider. Or check the manual from the router.
If you are connected to a 5.0 GHz network, disconnect from it and select a 2.4 GHz network.
WPA/WPA2
WPA stands for Wifi Protected Acces and is a security measure to protect your wireless network.
It collects the information you send online and makes it more secure by encrypting it.
All wifi routers have encryption in them with certain encryption levels.
WPA is one of them. The successor is WPA2 which is more secure but also takes more processing power.
You can try to switch between them. For some users, this seems to work.
Here’s how you can switch between WPA and WPA2:
- Log into the settings from the router.
- Search for the wifi configuration on the wireless network page.
- Choose WPA or WPA2.
- Select Save and Apply.
Reset the router after you’re done.
Note: WPA2 is more secure so it’s advised to use WPA2.
Additional to mention is that Kasa smart plugs only work with a secured network. With unsecured networks, they can’t make a connection.
Read next: Smart Plug Won’t Connect: 7 Causes & Instant Fixes
#2: Update to the latest firmware

If the firmware is outdated from the Kasa Smart plug it might also not make a connection with the wifi or the app.
Then it’s time for an update.
You can do this easily via your smartphone or tablet within the Kasa app.
Here’s how:
- Open the Kasa app.
- Open the Menu (3 horizontal stripes, upper left corner).
- Select Settings.
- Select Firmware Update.
It will show you if there are any updates available. If yes, update your Kasa Smart device.
Try again and see if everything works smoothly.
#3: Reset or factory reset
If things are not working now as they should, we should step it up a bit.
Soft Reset
The next fix will be a reset, a so-called soft reset.
The cool thing about a soft reset is that the configuration settings will be saved. In this way, you don’t need to set up the plug from scratch.
Here’s how to do it:
Press and hold for at least 5 seconds the control or reset button (hold it until the LED blinks green and amber).
This will activate the app-configuration process.
Note: if you have an HS105 the LED should blink blue and amber.
Factory reset
With a factory reset, the smart plug goes back to its default settings.
This means it goes back to like it was just fresh out of the factory.
Note: After a factory reset, the configuration settings will be deleted.
A factory reset goes like this:
Step 1: Press and hold the reset button for at least 10 seconds (until the LED blinks amber rapidly).
Step 2: Then let it go and it will slowly restart itself from square 1.
For some visual guidance, you can use this clip:
Step 3: After it’s done, set up the plug again via the Kasa app and see if it works better.
#4: Delete and reinstall the Kasa app
It’s possible that the Kasa app itself is not doing the job as it should. If it loads slowly or the cache memory is full, the best thing is to delete and reinstall.
This will let you start with a clean sheet.
Note: After you reinstalled the Kasa app you need to log in again.
Here’s how to delete the Kasa app from an Android device:
- Go to the Google Play Store App.
- Click on the Profile Icon (upper right corner).
- Go to Manage Apps and Devices.
- Select Manage.
- Select and delete the Kasa app.
After that, reinstall the app again. Take the same steps but this time instead of deleting the app, you choose to install.
And here’s how to do it on an Apple device (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch):
- Tap and hold the icon of the app.
- Select Remove app.
- Choose Delete app.
- Confirm Delete.
And to reinstall:
- Go to the Apple App Store.
- Search for the Kasa app.
- Select Get.
- Choose Install.
That’s should do the trick.
If not, read on for the next fix.
#5: Deactivate your VPN
You may have an active VPN (Virtual Private Network).
You can install a VPN on your phone, tablet, and computer.
Even some wifi-routers have a built-in VPN.
This can mess up your connection with the Kasa smart plug.
The best thing is to deactivate the VPN and restart the devices.
Then try again and see if the smart plug is working normally.
If not, see the next fix.
#6: Try a different device or socket
If you’re already trying for hours with the same device and still have no luck, then switch to another device.
’’Right! I’m using this smartphone for all my smart devices and it’s working fine. Only not with this one!’’
I know, it’s a bit far-fetched but it’s worth the try. Maybe the phone is outdated or isn’t compatible with the latest firmware.
Try it than with another tablet or a phone. Perhaps you could ask a friend or family member.
The same goes for the socket, try a different socket. Just to see if it’s working better.
And if it still not working then, and you have a second Kasa smart plug, try the second one. Your current smart plug may be faulty.
#7: Place it close enough to the router
The smart plug connects via Wifi on the 2.4 GHz bandwidth.
As said before, the 2.4 GHz has the best range and is compatible with all the smart plugs.
But, no lunch is for free.
Keep in mind, that the smart plugs should be within the range of the wifi signal.
If the wifi signal is obstructed by thick walls or a large distance then it can’t make a stable connection. This creates a bad-performing smart plug.
To check if the connection is good, stand close to the Kasa plug and see on your phone how many bars you have on your wifi.
If you see 1,2, or worse: no bars on your phone, this means that your phone doesn’t have a good connection with the router. The same goes for the smart plug then.
If that’s the case, move the plug closer to the router, buy a better router or a wifi-repeater to extend the wifi signal.
Check out next: Kasa Device Unreachable: 5 Ways To Fix It ASAP