Why your smart lights and plugs keep dropping off Wi-Fi

If smart lights or plugs keep disappearing from your apps, the gadgets may not be the problem. Engadget says the cause is often the home network: an older router that runs out of room, cheap devices that only use one kind of signal, or weak range. Some fixes cost nothing. Others mean new hardware.

An older router can run out of room

A Wi-Fi 5 router can handle about 10 to 25 devices at once, maybe 30 with luck. That is plenty in a home without smart gear. Once accessories fill those slots, trouble starts. The router begins kicking some devices off to make room, and your phone and laptop will probably win out over a lamp. Engadget's advice for anyone still on Wi-Fi 5 is to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 or 7.

Signal bands, mesh and range

Many cheaper accessories only work on the 2.4GHz band, one of the radio channels Wi-Fi uses. Mesh systems, which use several units to cover a home, often give every band the same network name and steer devices automatically. Your phone may land on the 5 or 6GHz band, and then some apps cannot find the new gadget. Even after setup, later detection failures can happen.

Range matters too. A device at the edge of your coverage will drop out when conditions get worse. Try moving the device or the router. With a standalone router, you can set up separate 2.4 and 5GHz network names and put all smart home gear on the longer-range 2.4GHz one.

Apple Home has its own quirks

Apple's HomeKit platform can show "No Response" errors in homes where Amazon Alexa and Google Home work fine. Apple has tried to smooth this out with an overhauled framework. For a steadier setup, Engadget suggests two or more Apple home hubs as backups. HomePods, HomeViews and Apple TV 4Ks can all serve as hubs.

Moving off Wi-Fi where you can

Engadget calls the best long-term fix switching devices to Thread, Zigbee or Z-Wave. These are other wireless standards built for smart home gear. They need a hub, or for Thread a "border router," which connects them to your network. In return they ease the load on Wi-Fi, tend to be faster and more reliable, and stretch their reach by passing signals between devices.

• Hub-based gear, such as Philips Hue Zigbee lights, can run some automations when the internet is down.
• Thread is probably the best bet. Some routers, speakers, displays and Nanoleaf light panels act as border routers.
• Thread is low-power, so it cannot handle audio, video or vacuuming. It suits bulbs, locks, plugs and sensors.

Some reliance on Wi-Fi is unavoidable. Engadget's closing advice is to find the right mix and keep fallbacks ready for internet outages.