Nanoleaf Not Connecting To HomeKit: How To Fix [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated July 04, 2023

Nanoleaf straight up makes some of the most aesthetically pleasing gadgets right now. But recently, some Nanoleaf users reported issues with HomeKit connectivity.

Up until recently, things were going just fine with my Nanoleaf and HomeKit. It was only after I replaced my old router with a new one a few days back that things started getting off-hand.

Was it because of the excess number of devices paired to my HomeKit, or was it the abrupt change of network configurations?

Nanoleaf fails to connect with HomeKit due to issues with the network.

If your Nanoleaf is not connecting to Homekit, refresh your Nanoleaf device and check your network status. You could also try updating the Home app to its most recent version. If none of these work, reboot/reset the Nanoleaf device too.

I have also mentioned a couple of other troubleshooting tips in this article to fix connectivity issues with Nanoleaf and Homekit.

Refresh Your Nanoleaf Device

One obvious culprit behind connectivity-based issues on your devices is bugs and errors.

Generated through long hours of continuous working or making their way through a recent update (or lack of it), these bugs and stale files can ruin your whole Nanoleaf experience.

They hinder the working of your device, cause hindrance to pairing, and ultimately slow down or even break your device.

Even if there are a few nifty ways with which you can clear them out and restore the device, a simple system refresh might do the trick.

A Power cycle test may just be what you're looking for.

Why? Because, a power cycle test, apart from refreshing the system internals, also drains out any static charges that may have accumulated on your device over time.

Clearing the charges will make the device more efficient and faster than before. Here's how to do so:

Start the process by unplugging the Nanoleaf Controller and the panels from the power supply.
Leave them idle for a few seconds. Then, press and hold the various buttons on the Controller for a few seconds. Doing so will take care of the charge depletion part.
Plug back in the power supply and turn ON the device.

Try pairing the device with the Home app now.

You may also refresh the Home app and the HomeKit hub (if you have any) while you're at it.

Switch your host device (iPhone/iPad) OFF and turn it back ON after a few seconds.

To refresh your HomeKit hub device (HomePod Mini), you might as well employ the Power cycle test as before.

Check Your Network Status

A faulty network will bar the device from establishing a proper connection with HomeKit.

Dipping network speeds, blooming latency, and subpar signal strengths are all contributing factors to a bad network connection.

Without a stable network, you don't stand chance against the many network-related issues like incomplete pairing and abrupt Nanoleaf disconnects.

In dire times such as the one at hand, better evaluate the status of your network to get a more definite idea of the network characteristics.

A Network speed test should suffice.

You can execute the speed test through various speed testing applications available in the app store or run it directly through a browser on the host device.

Once you complete the speed test, you get an accurate status of the various network parameters like speed, latency, signal strength, etc.

If you find a noticeable discrepancy in values in any of these parameters, consider refreshing your network.

Doing so may revert your network parameters to become stable.

Execute the same power cycle test as before on your Router/Modem to refresh the network.

Unplug the device from the power source and plug it back in after a few seconds.

Power ON the device and run the speed test once more on your network.

If the characteristics seem stable enough, connect your Nanoleaf device back to the network and try pairing it once more on the Home app.

If you still can't establish a connection, keep reading:

Reset Network on Nanoleaf

Usually, with network issues on your device, you'll have to factory reset it to get the network settings refreshed.

But, with Nanoleaf, you can reset the network settings independently without going through a hard reset.

And it works like a charm in times of network instability.

Once you reset the network configuration on your Nanoleaf, you can connect the device to a new network without retaining the preferences from the previous connection.

Here's how to reset the network on your Nanoleaf:

1. Power ON your Nanoleaf.

2. Press the Power and the Brighten buttons alternatively, one after the other, five times each (ten total presses).

3. Wait for the LEDs to turn Solid White.

You can now connect the device to a new network or the old one.

When connecting Nanoleaf to a network, connect it to the 2.4 GHz band since Nanoleaf devices do not support the 5 GHz band.

Disable Network Filters and VPNs

One other reason for shoddy connections are the Network filters and VPNs.

Common signs of such issues include straggling network speeds and throttling latency.

While in the process of pairing devices, it is recommended to turn off any such network filters and VPNs since they inhibit the network's potential.

Most VPNs are software-enabled and are disabled through their associated app.

Filters, though, come in various mediums like software, ISP-enabled, or through inbuilt hardware.

Most MAC filters and IP-based filters can be disabled through the Router portal. But others may require ISP supervision to be disabled.

After turning all of these filters, refresh your Router and host the network again. Check for the issue now.

To log in to your Router portal, follow these steps:

1. Connect the Router to your PC through Ethernet or USB.

2. Open a Browser and type in the IP address of the Router onto the search field. (IP address can be found underneath the Router)

3. Enter the login credentials to open the Router portal. (Credential, too, can be found beneath the device)

You can find the MAC filter option under the Settings/Advanced Settings menus.

Update the Home app

Your Nanoleaf device is not the only platform susceptible to bugs and errors. The Home app to which you're trying to link your device, too, can host errors due to bugs and stale files.

These bugs may have originated from hosting quite too many Smart devices or due to a lack of updates.

Irrespective of how they made their way into your app, the most potent fix for such issues on your Home app is to update it.

An update essentially strengthens the app against the many bugs waiting to cause issues on your device. It also refreshes the app and makes it a tad bit more efficient.

Updating your devices and apps to their most current versions is a good thing, at least most of the time!

Doing so will also help you resolve other severe Nanoleaf-HomeKit issues like the Nanoleaf accessory already added error messages popping up at random.

Follow these steps to update the Home app on your iOS device:

1. Open the AppStore and tap open the Account icon towards the top right.

2. Scroll to the Available Updates section and look for the Home app.

3. Click on the Update option (if available).

Complete the update and open the app. Check for the issue now.

Updates are crucial for your Nanoleaf device as well.

But, with Nanoleaf, you don't have the provision to update them manually.

Ensure a stable network connection, and the device shall automatically execute the updates when one is made available to it.

Factory Reset Nanoleaf

Next, let's step right into the most efficient and the ultimate fix for most issues on Nanoleaf, a hard reset.

While most fixes mentioned in this article are proven to be helpful, none of them share the same efficacy as a hard reset.

When you execute a Factory reset, the device straight up reverts the system configs to the factory defaults.

Gone are all your personal preferences, custom scenes, and the many bugs and errors troubling your device.

In effect, you get a clean slate to start over once again.

The process is a bit time-consuming, and you have to enforce a tad bit of diligence to get your device reset.

Follow these steps to reset your Nanoleaf device:

1. Unplug the device from the power source.

2. Plug back in the power cable while holding down the Reset(Lines series) or Power and the Brighten buttons on your Nanoleaf Controller.

3. Continue to hold down the buttons until the LEDs start flashing white.

4. Release the buttons once the LEDs start flashing.

Wait for the LEDs to turn stable and solid white. Now you can reconfigure the device and try connecting to the Home app.

With the Canvas series, you will have to press down the Power + Dim buttons to initiate the reset.

Press the Toggle/Select instead of the Brighten button on the Shapes series.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Home App

Finally, let's move on to the penultimate fix for issues with an app - uninstalling it.

Like factory resetting your device, uninstalling an app will irrevocably cause all the associated files and preferences to be erased from the host system.

Uninstalling will also cleanse the system of any bugs, errors, and stale files that tend to stick around even after a preliminary refresh.

When in doubt, try uninstalling the associated app as a fix.

Follow these steps on your iOS device to delete the Home app:

1. Navigate to the Home app icon on your Apple device's home screen.

2. Press and hold the icon to open up a popup menu.

3. Select the Remove app option.

4. Confirm your selection by selecting Delete App.

Refresh the device and continue to reinstall the app from the App Store.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, a comprehensive guide on how to fix the Nanoleaf connectivity issue on HomeKit.

Do yourself a favor and go through with every single fix mentioned here so as to not take any chances with the device.

Hardware issues with the Controller or panels can also screw up the connection. If you have a broken Controller, best replace it with a new one immediately.

Contact the customer services of Apple and Nanoleaf for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I add Nanoleaf to HomeKit?

To add your Nanoleaf device to the Home app, follow these steps on your iOS device:

1. Open the app and click on the + icon towards the top left.

2. Scan the QR code on the device.

3. Confirm your Nanoleaf device and select Allow if asked to Add Accessory to Network.

Name your device and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.

How do you put Nanoleaf panels in pairing mode?

You can put your Nanoleaf device into pairing mode by performing a soft reset. Follow these steps to soft reset your device:

1. While connected to the power supply and turned ON, press the Reset/Power+Brighten buttons on the Nanoleaf Controller for about 15 seconds or until the LEDs start flashing.

2. Wait for the LEDs to turn solid white upon which you have successfully soft reset your Nanoleaf device.

The device is now ready to be paired once again.

Is Nanoleaf a HomeKit?

Yes, Nanoleaf devices are certified HomeKit devices capable of connecting and interacting with the Apple Home app and the Home ecosystem.

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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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