This article explains the steps to configure your new CE Smart Home Devices to your Wi-Fi network via the CE Smart App.
- There are two configuration methods, EZ Mode and AP Mode (Access Point Mode). Both configuration methods for each CE Smart Home device type are covered in this article.
- Default Configuration Method is EZ Mode
- If EZ Mode connection fails, please try connecting in AP mode.
Prior to configuring your Smart Devices, please note that CE Smart Home Devices require connection to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band and are not compatible with 5GHz bands.
- If you are unsure of your router’s output signal strength, please try connecting via AP mode or contact your internet service provider to confirm.
If you have a dual band router, please reference the below:
- If you have both a 2.4GHz band and a 5GHz band in one SSID (network name), connect via AP mode for stable connection.
- If you have both a 2.4GHz band and a 5GHz band with separate SSIDs (network names) and initial connection fails, please ensure you are connected to the 2.4GHz band only and try again. If connection fails again, try connecting in AP mode.
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Outlets/Plugs - EZ Mode:
(Smart Plug, Smart Outlet, Smart Power Strip, Smart Stake)
The blue LED indicator should be rapidly flashing (2x per second) when initializing connection in EZ Mode.
First, check to ensure your phone/tablet being used to connect smart devices is connected to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Follow the step below per your device:
Smart Power Strip: Plug the Power Strip into a standard wall outlet and turn 'on' the master power switch (located on the side body of the power strip)
Smart Outlet: Wire the outlet into a standard wall outlet using all 3 wires.
Smart Plug: Plug the Smart Plug into a standard wall outlet
- In the CE Smart App, Tap “Add Device” or the “+” in the upper right corner
- Select “Outlets/Plugs”
- Enter or confirm your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and password (case sensitive) and tap next
- Next, follow the below steps to initialize a quick flashing blue LED light (~2x per second)
- Press and hold the Wi-Fi Control Button for 10 seconds until blue LED indicator starts rapidly flashing (2x per second), then release.
- If the LED turns steady upon release, press and release once more and the LED should begin quickly flashing again.
- Press and hold the Wi-Fi Control Button for 10 seconds until blue LED indicator starts rapidly flashing (2x per second), then release.
- Confirm the LED indicator is rapidly flashing in the app, then tap Next
- If connecting multiple devices at the same time, ensure all devices' LED indicators are now rapidly flashing.
- Device Connection Process will begin and connect device.
- While connecting, it is normal for the LED indicator to stop flashing.
- If connection fails, please follow the steps below to connect via AP mode.
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Outlets/Plugs - AP Mode:
(Smart Plug, Smart Outlet, Smart Power Strip, Smart Stake)
In AP mode, or Access Point Mode, the Smart Device broadcasts a hotspot to connect to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.
The blue LED indicator should be slowly flashing (1x every 2-3 seconds) when initializing connection in AP mode.
First, check to ensure your phone/tablet being used to connect smart devices is connected to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Then, follow the step below per your device:
Smart Power Strip: Plug the Power Strip into a standard wall outlet and turn 'on' the master power switch (located on the side body of the power strip)
Smart Outlet: Wire the outlet into a standard wall outlet using all 3 wires.
Smart Plug: Plug the Smart Plug into a standard wall outlet
- In the CE Smart App, Tap “Add Device” or “+” in the upper right corner
- Select “Outlets/Plugs"
- Enter or confirm your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and password (case sensitive) and tap next
- In the top right corner of the next page, click on 'EZ Mode' then select 'AP Mode'.
- Follow the steps below to initialize a slow flashing (1x every 2-3 seconds) LED light.
- Press and hold the Wi-Fi Control Button for 10 seconds until blue LED indicator starts rapidly flashing (2x per second), then release.
- If the LED turns steady upon release, press and release once more and the LED should begin quickly flashing again.
While the LED indicator is quickly flashing, press and hold the Wi-Fi Control Button again until the indicator light begins slowly flashing (1x every 2-3 seconds), then release.
- If the LED turns steady upon release, press and release once more and the LED should begin slowly flashing again.
- Press and hold the Wi-Fi Control Button for 10 seconds until blue LED indicator starts rapidly flashing (2x per second), then release.
- Confirm the indicator is slowly blinking in the app, and click next.
- The next page will be a message about connecting to the device hotspot, click 'go to connect' or 'connect now'.
- You will be brought to your phone's settings, open Wi-Fi Networks and search for "SmartLife-xxxx" or "CE Smart-xxxx" and select.
- Once connected to the SmartLife-xxxx or CE Smart-xxxx Wi-Fi network, please wait 10 seconds in your phone's Wi-Fi settings page (please note: if it says "no internet connection", this is normal).
- After 10 seconds/after seeing the no internet connection message, go back to the CE Smart App and connection should begin. If connection does not automatically begin, click the small text at the bottom of the page stating "confirm hotspot connection, next". Device connection will begin and connect device.
- While connecting, it is normal for the LED indicator to briefly stop flashing before turning solid.
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If you’re experiencing connection failure in EZ Mode and AP Mode, you may need to modify a router setting.
Please reference the below article for troubleshooting a failed connection and recommended router settings:
Device Connection Failure, Recommended Router Settings
If you continue to experience issues connecting devices, please contact us and include:
- Smart device type you’re unable to connect
- Make/model of your phone/tablet that you are attempting to install the devices on
- Make/model of your Router/Gateway and your Internet Service Provider
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Light Switches - EZ Mode:
(Smart Dimmer: Single Pole and 3-way)
The LED indicator light (on the bottom of the switch) should be quickly flashing (~2x per second) when initializing connection in EZ Mode.
- First, check to ensure your phone/tablet with the CE Smart App is connected to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
- Once the switch is properly installed, turn the Air-Gap Switch ON (to the right) and wait a few seconds for the LED indicator to begin quickly flashing (2x per second).
- See below* if your dimmer's LED indicator light does not begin continuously flashing automatically.
- Once the switch's LED indicator is rapidly flashing (2x per second):
- In the CE Smart App, Tap “Add Device” or “+” in the upper right corner
- Select “Light Switches"
- Enter or confirm your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and password (case sensitive) and tap next
- Confirm the LED indicator is rapidly flashing in the app, and tap Next.
- Device Connection will begin.
- While connecting, it is normal for the LED indicator to stop flashing.
- If connection fails, please see the section below to try connection in AP mode.
*If the LED indicator does not automatically begin flashing (after wiring the switch and turning the air-gap switch ON), please follow the steps below, per your switch model, to initialize the quickly flashing LED indicator (noting that the steps differ per model).
- If you are not sure which model you own, look to the left of the air-gap switch (on the bottom of your dimmer).
- If you see an engraved Wi-Fi symbol next to the indicator light, your model is the 3-way Smart Dimmer (Model CWF500D-3W)
- If there is no Wi-Fi symbol next to the indicator light, your model is the Single-Pole Smart Dimmer (Model WF500D).
3-Way Smart Dimmer (Model CWF500D-3W):
- Press and hold the top or bottom paddle button for 20 seconds until the indicator light begins to flash.
- Alternatively, there is a small pinhole reset button under the switch's face-place on the right side; pressing the pinhole button for 3 seconds will also reset the switch and put it into pairing mode.
- Once the indicator light is quickly flashing, within the CE Smart App, click add device and follow the steps above to connect.
Single-Pole Smart Dimmer (Model WF500D):
Press the top paddle quickly 6 times in a row (the 6th press is held)
On the 6th press, hold the paddle down for 5-8 seconds. Release once the LED indicator quickly flickers/flashes (this is very subtle and can be seen best if at eye level with the LED indicator).
Once released, wait 5 seconds, and the LED indicator should begin quickly flashing.**
- Once the indicator light is quickly flashing, within the CE Smart App, click add device and follow the steps above to connect.
**See below tips if you are having trouble getting the LED indicator flashing on the Single-Pole Smart Dimmer:
- The LED will begin quickly flashing ~3-5 seconds after releasing the 6th press' hold. Ensure you are giving it time to begin flashing.
- The flicker you are looking for (which signals you to release your hold) is very subtle; do not hold the paddle down longer than 10 seconds.
- Try counting out loud to ‘6-1000’—Press top paddle 5 times quickly, on sixth press and hold while counting 1-1000, 2-1000, 3-1000, 4-1000, 5-1000, 6-1000. Release and wait 5 seconds for LED to begin flashing.
- If attempting the process more than once, keep the air-gap switch on in between attempts.
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Light Switches - AP Mode:
(Smart Dimmer: Single Pole and 3-Way)
In AP mode, or Access Point Mode, the Smart Device broadcasts a hotspot to connect to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.
The blue LED indicator should be slowly flashing (1x every 2-3 seconds) when initializing connection in AP mode
First, check to ensure your phone/tablet being used to connect smart devices is connected to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Slide the Air-Gap Switch ON (to the right) and wait a few seconds for the LED indicator to begin quickly flashing (2x per second)
If the LED indicator does not automatically begin flashing (after wiring the switch and turning the air-gap switch ON), please follow the below steps, per switch model, to initialize the quickly flashing LED indicator (noting that the steps differ per model).
- If you are not sure which model you own, look to the left of the air-gap switch (on the bottom of your dimmer).
- If you see an engraved Wi-Fi symbol next to the indicator light, your model is the 3-way Smart Dimmer (Model CWF500D-3W)
- If there is no Wi-Fi symbol next to the indicator light, your model is the Single-Pole Smart Dimmer (Model WF500D).
- If you see an engraved Wi-Fi symbol next to the indicator light, your model is the 3-way Smart Dimmer (Model CWF500D-3W)
3-Way Smart Dimmer (Model CWF500D-3W):
- Press and hold the top or bottom paddle button for 20 seconds until the indicator light begins to quickly flash (2x per second)
Single-Pole Smart Dimmer (Model WF500D):
- Press the top paddle quickly 6 times in a row (the 6th press is held)
- On the 6th press, hold the paddle down for 5-8 seconds. Release once the LED indicator quickly flickers/flashes (this is very subtle and can be seen best if at eye level with the LED indicator).
- Once released, wait 5 seconds, and the LED indicator should begin quickly flashing.
- *See below if you are having trouble getting the LED indicator rapidly flashing on the single-pole dimmer.
Once the switch's LED indicator is quickly flashing (2x per second):
Complete the below steps, per switch model, to initialize a slow flashing LED indicator (1x per 2-3 seconds):
3-Way Smart Dimmer (Model CWF500D-3W):
- Press and hold the top or bottom paddle button for 20 seconds until the indicator light begins slowly flashing.
Single-Pole Smart Dimmer (Model WF500D):
- Press the top paddle quickly 6 times in a row (the 6th press is held)
- On the 6th press, hold the paddle down for 5-8 seconds. Release once the LED indicator quickly flickers/flashes (this is very subtle and can be seen best if at eye level with the LED indicator).
- Once released, wait 5 seconds, and the LED indicator should begin slowly flashing.
- *See below if you are having trouble getting the LED indicator rapidly flashing on the single-pole dimmer.
- In the CE Smart App, Tap “Add Device” or “+” in the upper right corner
- Select “Light Switches"
- In the top right corner of the next page, click on 'EZ Mode' then select 'AP Mode'.
- Confirm the indicator is slowly blinking in the app, and click next.
- The next page will be a message about connecting to the device hotspot, click 'go to connect' or 'connect now'.
- You will be brought to your phone's settings, open Wi-Fi Networks and search for "SmartLife-xxxx" or "CE Smart-xxxx" and select.
- Once connected to the SmartLife-xxxx or CE Smart-xxxx Wi-Fi network, please wait 10 seconds in your phone's Wi-Fi settings page (please note: if it says "no internet connection", this is normal).
- After 10 seconds/after seeing the no internet connection message, go back to the CE Smart App and connection should begin. If connection does not automatically begin, click the small text at the bottom of the page stating "confirm hotspot connection, next". Device connection will begin and connect device.
- While connecting, it is normal for the LED indicator to briefly stop flashing before turning solid.
*See below tips if you are having trouble getting the LED indicator flashing on the single-Pole Smart Dimmer:
- The LED will begin flashing ~3-5 seconds after releasing the 6th press' hold. Ensure you are giving it time to begin flashing.
- The flicker you are looking for (which signals you to release your hold) is very subtle; do not hold the paddle down longer than 10 seconds.
- Try counting out loud to ‘6-1000’—Press top paddle 5 times quickly, on sixth press and hold while counting 1-1000, 2-1000, 3-1000, 4-1000, 5-1000, 6-1000. Release and wait 5 seconds for LED to begin flashing.
- If attempting the process more than once, keep the air-gap switch on in between attempts.
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If you’re experiencing connection failure in EZ Mode and AP Mode, you may need to modify a router setting.
Please reference the below article for troubleshooting a failed connection and recommended router settings:
Device Connection Failure, Recommended Router Settings
If you continue to experience issues with device connection, please contact us and include:
- Device type you’re unable to connect
- Make/model of your phone/tablet that you are attempting to install the devices on
- Make/model of your Router/Gateway and your Internet Service Provider