Nanoleaf Lights Not Responding: How To Fix

I have been using Nanoleaf lights around my work desk. They are easy to set up, provide unique color transitions, and most importantly, take up less space. 

And that's why when my Nanoleaf lights stopped responding, I was quick on my feet to find a solution.

If your Nanoleaf lights are not responding, first, check whether your lights are getting adequate power. Also, check for any network issues and refresh the Bluetooth connection. Next, power cycle your Nanoleaf lights. Finally, if these don't work, factory reset your Nanoleaf lights.

Here's a brief account of why Nanoleaf fails to respond:

ScenariosCauses and Fixes
Nanoleaf Lights not lighting upIssue with the power supply; check the power supply and the cables, and power cycle the device
Nanoleaf Lights stuck on a loopIssue with the controller or the Network; Reset the Controller and check for issues with the network
Nanoleaf Lights not responding to app commandsFaulty Connections; Refresh the Bluetooth sync with the device and ensure to update the devices
Other scenariosFactory Reset nanoleaf setup; contact customer support
Why Nanoleaf Lights stops responding

Check the Power Supply

Nanoleaf Power supply

If your Nanoleaf lights are not functioning properly, the first thing to check is the power supply.

A failing power supply will result in the lights to not receive adequate power, causing them to malfunction or stop responding. 

To check the power supply:

  1. Ensure that the power supply is properly plugged into the wall socket. Make sure that the supply is inserted properly and does not hang loose. 
  2. Verify the power supply is working properly by looking at the led indicator on it. If the led indicator is not lit or is blinking then the power supply is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced.
  3. Make sure that the cable connecting the power supply to the Nanoleaf panels is connected properly. Make sure that the cable is in proper working condition and is not bent or torn in any manner. 
  4. Limit the number of light panels connected to one power supply. If you connect way too many lights to one power supply, it may not be able to deliver the right amount of power to all the panels. 

If there is any visible damage to the power supply or the power cable, we suggest you use newer cables to connect your Nanoleaf lights.

The Nanoleaf Essentials light panels come with a 42W power supply, which can support up to 30 light panels.

However, the Nanoleaf Shapes and Canvas light panels require a 60W power supply and can support up to 25 light panels.

We suggest you refer to the manufacturer's guidelines to determine the number of lights to connect to one power supply. 

Power Cycle Nanoleaf Lights and Controller

Nanoleaf Unplugged

Power cycling your Nanoleaf lights and controller might as well be the easiest step to help resolve the issue. Power cycling in simple terms means restarting your device.

Doing so will help the Lights reload their firmware, refresh their connection, and clear out any bugs or glitches in the system.

Also, doing this step could help you countervail several issues, such as Nanoleaf not connecting or when read-write operations fail on Nanoleaf.

To power cycle your Nanoleaf lights:

Nanoleaf Shapes Plugged in
  1. Unplug the lights from the power supply 
  2. Wait for 30 seconds
  3. Plug the lights back in

To power cycle the Nanoleaf controller:

  1. Find the power supply connected to the Nanoleaf controller 
  2. Unplug the power supply from the wall socket 
  3. Wait for 30 seconds 
  4. Plug the power supply back into the wall socket 

Both your Nanoleaf lights and controller should restart now. Check and see if the issue is resolved.

Check for Network Issues

Router

A proper internet connection is necessary for your Nanoleaf lights to function properly. Make sure you have a strong internet connection so as to use the different functionalities of the light. 

Generally, Nanoleaf lights require relatively low network speeds.

But if you use advanced features such as voice control, remote access, and cloud-based integrations, you might require a higher internet speed.

And an unstable/slow network speed can lead to several other issues as well like the Nanoleaf controller not working.

An internet speed of at least 10 Mbps will suffice for the proper working of the lights even with the advanced features turned on. 

Make sure that the lights and the device you use to control the lights are connected to the same wifi network. Make sure both of them are within range of the router.

Also, ensure there are no hindrances or interferences between the lights and the router. 

If you are using 5 GHz wifi, we recommend you switch to 2.4 GHz. Even though 5 GHz offers greater speed, 2.4 GHz is more reliable and has a longer range.

Make sure your router is properly connected.

Ensure that the cable connecting to the router is in proper working condition. If the cable is bent or torn in any manner, we suggest you use a newer cable. 

Power Cycle the Router/Modem

Router unplugged

Restarting your devices occasionally will help clear any bugs or glitches in the device. 

If your router hasn’t been power cycled in a while we suggest you restart it. It will help it refresh its connection and ensure a stronger, more stable, and faster network.

To power cycle your router or modem:

  1. Unplug the power cord from the router 
  2. Wait for a couple of minutes 
  3. Plug the power cord back in 
  4. Wait for the router to restart and re-establish its internet connection.

After restarting your router, connect to it again and see if the issue is resolved.

Note: Power cycling your router will disrupt the internet connection to the devices that are currently connected to it. 

Reset Network Settings on Nanoleaf

Resetting the network settings on your Nanoleaf is a rather straightforward process that will help resolve any issues related to Nanoleaf lights not connecting to the network or unresponsive lights.

You will need the Nanoleaf app to reset the network settings. Also, doing so could also come in handy when you are met with Homekit connectivity issues on Nanoleaf.

Resetting your network settings will not reset any other settings or configurations of your panels such as color or brightness.

To reset the network settings on the Nanoleaf:

Nanoleaf Device settings
  1. Navigate to the Nanoleaf App on your mobile device.
  2. Tap on the Nanoleaf light panel you want to reset the network settings for.
  3. Navigate to panel settings, and tap on the Advanced option.
  4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap on the Reset Network Settings option.
  5. You will be prompted to confirm that you want to reset the network settings. Tap Yes to proceed.
  6. The Nanoleaf light panel will reset its network settings and restart.

Once the network settings are reset, the lights will restart. Now, you will have to set up your lights again and connect it to the network. 

Follow the instructions in the app to set up your lights and configure your settings.

Note: Resetting your network settings will erase any stored wifi information from your panels and you will have to set up and connect to your network again. 

Check and Update Nanoleaf Lights and the App

An application error or a system firmware glitch can cause your Nanoleaf lights to become unreachable or unresponsive. This can easily be solved using a firmware update. 

Newer firmware updates herald newer features and security patches. It will clear up any existing bugs or glitches in the system.

It is important that you keep both your Nanoleaf app and system firmware up-to-date to ensure smooth operation and great performance. 

To update the firmware of the lights:

1. Navigate to the Nanoleaf app 

Nanoleaf More icon

2. Click on the More icon on the bottom right corner of the screen 

Nanoleaf Firmware Updates tile

4. Scroll down and click on Firmware Update 

If an update is available, click on the Update button and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the update. 

Wait for some time for the update to be completed. 

To update the Nanoleaf app or the Google Home app:

  1. Navigate to the play store on Android or the App Store on iOS
  2. Search for the respective apps that you want to update
  3. If an update is available, an update button will show up near the app. Click on Update
  4. Wait for the update to get completed 

You can also update the Google Home app through the app itself:

  1. Navigate to the Google Home app 
  2. Tap on the Three horizontal lines on the top left corner of the screen
  3. Click on Settings 
  4. Scroll down and tap on General 
  5. If an update is available, you will see an update button near the app version. Click on the Update button
  6. Wait for the app to get updated

Check and see if the lights are responsive again.

Refresh Bluetooth on the Host Device

Refresh Bluetooth on the Host Device

If you are having trouble connecting to the Nanoleaf using Bluetooth then we suggest you try refreshing your Bluetooth on the host device.

If you are someone who leaves their Bluetooth turned on on your mobile device then refreshing it once in a while will help it reload its connections. 

To refresh the Bluetooth connection:

  1. Navigate to Settings on your mobile device
  2. Scroll down and click on Bluetooth 
  3. Turn Bluetooth off 
  4. Wait for a couple of seconds and turn the Bluetooth back on

After refreshing the Bluetooth connection, try connecting to the Nanoleaf lights. 

If they do not show up in the discoverable section of the Bluetooth, then try turning the lights off and then back on.

The lights should be responsive now 

Soft Reset Nanoleaf Lights

Soft resetting your Nanoleaf lights will help it reload its firmware, refresh its connection and ensure proper functioning. 

To soft reset the Nanoleaf lights:

  1. Disconnect the Nanoleaf lights from the power source 
  2. Wait for 30 seconds 
  3. Plug the Nanoleaf lights back in 

Wait for the lights to turn back on after the soft reset. Check if they are responsive again. 

Performing a soft reset on the Nanoleaf lights will not clear any saved settings such as Wifi connections, color settings, and brightness. 

Hard Reset Nanoleaf Lights

Hard Reset Nanoleaf Lights

If none of the other steps work, try hard resetting your Nanoleaf lights as the last resort. 

Hard resetting your Nanoleaf lights will erase all saved settings like wifi connections, color scenes, and brightness levels. Make sure you note down or remember the settings. 

Resetting your Nanoleaf device happens to also be an effective fix for several other issues like when Nanoleaf fails to turn ON.

Before performing a hard reset, you will have to delete the device from the Nanoleaf app. To delete the device:

  1. Navigate to the Nanoleaf app
  2. Click on the Device tab at the bottom of the screen 
  3. Find and click on the device you want to delete 
  4. Swipe left on the device, this will reveal a Delete option 
  5. Click on the Delete option and then again tap delete on the pop-up that appears
  6. Your device will now be removed from the Nanoleaf app 

You can now perform the hard reset.

To perform a hard reset on the Nanoleaf light panels:

Nanoleaf Reset
  1. Disconnect your panels from the power source 
  2. Hold down the power button and Effect select (Dim button) button together and plug the power supply back into the power 
  3. Continue holding down the buttons until the LED on the controller begins to flash rapidly 
  4. Once the flashing begins, release the buttons. The panels will now begin resetting and will restart once it's completed
  5. Wait for a couple of minutes for the lights to finish rebooting.
  6. The panels are ready to be paired again once the LED on the controller turns back on and the lights start cycling through the different colors 
Nanoleaf LEDs

You can enable Two-way sync on your Nanoleaf app. This will back up and restore the scenes you have created in the event of a hard reset.

To use Two-way sync:

  1. You should have at least the Nanoleaf App v3.4.0+ and Light Panels Firmware 3.1.0+. You can see your app and firmware version under the About section under the Support section in the app 
  2. You should have a Nanoleaf cloud account and should be logged in via the Nanoleaf app  
  3. Turn on the Cloud sync option under the settings option
  4. Turn on Device sync under Device settings

After resetting your lights, add them to your devices again in the Nanoleaf app. Follow the instructions to set up your lights.

Your lights should be responsive now.

Final Thoughts

If your lights are still unresponsive even after hard resetting them, we suggest you contact Nanoleaf customer care. 

If your lights are still under the warranty period, you will be able to get a replacement in no time.

If not, Nanoleaf customer care will be able to guide you through more technical steps to help fix your issue. 

You can also lookup queries in the Nanoleaf support forum. The forum gets updated by users from all over the world and we are sure you will be able to find a solution there.

Happy reading!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I customize the colors and patterns of my Nanoleaf lights?

Yes, you can customize the color and pattern of your Nanoleaf lights using the Nanoleaf app. You can either choose from already existing presets or create your own custom ones.

How do I reset my Nanoleaf lights?

You can perform a soft reset by unplugging the lights and plugging them back in after a couple of seconds. You can also perform a hard reset by following the steps mentioned under the Hard reset your Nanoleaf lights section of the article.

How can I control my Nanoleaf lights?

You can control your Nanoleaf lights using the Nanoleaf app or using voice commands via supported smart assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant or through physical buttons on the controller.

How many panels can I connect to a single power supply?

In general, we recommend you connect not more than 25 panels to a single power supply but the exact number will vary depending on the power consumed. Refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines to find the exact number of lights.

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About Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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