Nanoleaf has redefined the home decor scene with its innovative Smart lighting solutions, and things did seem quite bright until my Nanoleaf Lines started disconnecting at random.
I have had quite a repertoire of Nanoleaf products, ranging from their Shapes lineup all the way up to the Line series. And all of them did give my premise a quaint ambiance, at least up until recently.
A few days back, my Nanoleaf Lines started becoming unresponsive to my commands from the Nanoleaf app. At first, I assumed it was an isolated incident. But then, to my ire, it happened again.
Nanoleaf keeps disconnecting from the app due to issues with the network. To fix this, check and ensure the proper functioning of your network. A reboot or a hard reset can negate any problems with the device itself. Hardware issues can also trigger abrupt disconnects.
Here is a comprehensive guide comprising the many troubleshooting steps to fix a Nanoleaf that keeps disconnecting.
Refresh Your Nanoleaf Device

First, let's set the basics right. Even the slightest deviation from normalcy can alter the device's digital landscape and affect its working.
And one way things could go wrong on your device is through bugs and errors.
Whether from long hours of running or through network-related issues, bugs and errors can make their way into your device.
Static charges that tend to pile up over time on your system can also cause the device to undergo random disconnects.
The easiest yet effective way to get rid of such temporal inconsistencies is to refresh your device.
A Power cycle test is one of, if not the best, methods of refreshing your system to side with in dire situations like the one at hand.
Aside from refreshing your device, a power cycle test will also deplete any pent-up charges on your device, effectively improving the device's efficiency in due process.
Here's how it goes:

Unplug the PSU (Power Supply Unit) from the Nanoleaf Controller and leave it idle for a few seconds.
Press and hold the Power button for a couple of seconds. Release the button and perform this step a few times. Doing so will bleed the device off any static charges.
Plug back in the power supply and power on the Controller and the lights.
Check for the issue after doing so.
If you have issues with the Essential Bulb lineup, unscrew the bulb off the socket and reinstall it after a few seconds.
Check the Status of your Network

One of the most probable reasons for your Nanoleaf to disconnect frequently is issues with the network.
Shoddy signal strength and slow speeds are all contributing factors to this issue. Moreover, messing up the network can cause the app to not find Nanoleaf accessories.
In times of adversity, such as the one at hand, better check the status of your network to get a more definite answer for your issues.
A speed test would suffice.
Download a network speed testing app or run the test on your smartphone browser to know the status of your network.
Once you complete the speed test, you will get to know the speed of your network, signal strength to the device connected, and latency, among other things.
If any of these parameters seems unsteady, consider refreshing your Router/Modem.
The same power cycle test from before would suffice here too.
Unplug the Router/Modem from power and plug it back in after a few seconds.
Run the speed test once more and check the status. If the results are satisfactory, proceed to pair your Nanoleaf once again.
If the parameters do not seem stable enough, try these tips instead.
A couple of things to keep in mind regarding the network on Nanoleaf:
- Nanoleaf products are incompatible with 5 GHz band networks.
- Both, your host device and Nanoleaf, need to be connected to the same network.
Reset WiFi on Nanoleaf
Network setting may very well be the reason for the abrupt disconnects on your Nanoleaf. And what better way to resolve such issues than with a network refresh?
Although the setting up part, or the configuring part, as a matter of fact, lies solely with the Nanoleaf app on your phone, you can reset your WiFi connection through the Nanoleaf Controller.
A network refresh will enable you to reconnect your device to the WiFi once again and let go of the many issues troubling the connection.
Follow these steps to do so:
1. Connect your Nanoleaf Product to a power source.

2. Press the Power and the Brighten button on the Controller alternatively five times each (ten times in total).
3. Upon doing it right, the status/Power button LED will turn solid White, indicating that the device is ready to be connected to the network once again.
Check and Change the Network Channel

Network channels determine the speed and the signal strength of the Network Band.
Even if there exists a number of channels for a network band, most of the channels are affected by interference-based issues resulting from adjacent channels.
Since Nanoleaf products only support the 2.4 GHz band, let's concentrate on this band for the time being.
Nanoleaf recommends channels 1, 6, or 11 for getting the most out of the network.
The disconnecting issue on Nanoleaf may have arisen from using an inferior channel to the ones mentioned above.
Nonetheless, you can modify the network channels quite easily.
Connect your Router to a PC via an Ethernet cable (or USB), and then follow these instructions:
1. Open a browser on your PC and enter the IP address of your Router into the search field. (You can find the Router IP address underneath the device)
2. Enter the Login credentials and enter the Router Portal.
3. Go to the Settings menu and look for the Wireless Channel option. (Sometimes found under Advanced Settings)
4. For the 2.4 GHz band, select the 1st, 6th, or 11th channel.
5. Save your selection and exit the portal.
Restart the Router and check the parameters once more.
The 1st, 6th, and 11th channels for the 2.4 GHz band are the least susceptible channels to adjacent channel interference. Hence, making them more desirable over all the others.
Remove and Re-add the Device on the Nanoleaf App
Next, try and remove your Nanoleaf device from the Nanoleaf app. Think of it as a refresh.
At times, the Nanoleaf app does exhibit issues with connectivity. A refresh may well be what it needs to return to its former glory.
The process is quite simple and quick to execute without much ado.
Also, this fix is one of the best resolves for obviating the 'Nanaoleaf already added' error message on iOS devices.
Follow these steps on the Nanoleaf App to remove the device:
On Android:
1. Open the app and tap open the Menu option from the top left.
2. Swipe left or tap and hold your Nanoleaf Device tile to open a pop-up menu.
3. Select Delete to confirm the selection.
On iOS:

1. Open the app and click on the More option.

2. Select My devices and tap on your Nanoleaf device.

3. Tap on the Settings (Cogwheel) icon and select Remove.
Once you remove the device from the App, perform a soft reset and relink the device to the Nanoleaf App once more.
To re-add your Nanoleaf device back to the app, follow these steps:
On Android:
1. From the left side menu on the App, select the Devices option.

2. Tap on the "+" icon.

3. Select your Product and click on Start Pairing.
4. Choose your preferred mode of pairing: QR code/NFC tap/Manual entry.
On iOS:
1. Open the More menu and select My devices.
2. Tap on the "+" icon and choose your Nanoleaf product.
3. Click on Start Pairing.
4. The app will automatically open the camera for scanning the QR code. You could also select other modes of pairing from the previous screen.
To Soft reset your Nanoleaf, follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the Power and the Brighten buttons (Dim button on Canvas Series) together on the Controller for about 15 seconds.
2. Release the buttons once the status LEDs start flashing.
3. Wait for the LED to turn stable and solid.
Now you have successfully soft reset your Nanoleaf.
Hard Reset Your Nanoleaf
The ultimate fix for most issues on Nanoleaf is to hard reset it.
A Hard reset will wipe out all of the preferences, including WiFi settings, scene management, and your personal preferences, stored in the device.
In other words, a Hard reset will reset every facet of the Nanoleaf susceptible to issues.
The process is quite simple but is a bit time-consuming.
Follow these steps to Hard reset your Nanoleaf:
1. First, unplug the PSU from power.

2. Then, while pressing and holding the Power and the Brighten (Dim in case of Canvas lineup) Buttons on the Controller, plug back in the PSU and power ON the device without releasing the buttons.
3. Continue to hold down the buttons until the button LEDs come ON.

4. Release the buttons once the LEDs come ON. The LEDs will start to flash to indicate the initiation of the Reset.
5. After about 2 minutes or so, your device starts flowing through different colors, indicating the completion of the Reset.
Pair back the device with the app and check for the issue.
In the case of the Nanoleaf Lines series, press the Reset button instead of the power and the brighten buttons to reset the device.
And for the Shapes lineup, press and hold the Power and the Toggle buttons instead.
Final Thoughts
Apart from the fixes mentioned above, you may also want to consider the chances of physical damage for the said issue to become explicit.
Controllers usually can go wayward and host issues with connection. Check if your Nanoleaf Controller did undergo physical damage in recent times.
If so, consider replacing the old one with a new Controller.
If none of these tips were helpful, contact the customer services of Nanoleaf for a more definite solution.
Damaged panels can also host issues with connection. If that's the case, connect the Controller to another panel instead.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I fix Nanoleaf unreachable?
Essentially sharing the same troubleshooting tips as the issue discussed here, try power cycling the device and resetting the WiFi connection on your device as possible fixes.
How do I update Nanoleaf firmware?
To update your Nanoleaf firmware, open the app and click on the Settings menu. Go to Firmware Updates and choose Update (if available).
Does Nanoleaf work with 5GHz WiFi?
None of the Nanoleaf products support the 5 GHz WiFi band as of yet. This may be due to several broadcast issues commonly associated with the 5GHz band.
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