1
Hardware
Power the device
Power the device. It should appear in the app by itself. If it does not, tap + and choose Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
- Home
- Getting started
- Add a device
Getting started
Add a device to your account
Get a new Shelly onto Wi-Fi and into your account.
Updated July 2026
Which method to use
Both methods end in the same place: a device on your Wi-Fi, claimed to your account, with cloud access enabled.
This guide covers two ways to add a device. Start with method 1, the app — it is what most installs need. Method 2, the web interface, is the one to use when method 1 fails: you set each parameter yourself, so you can see which step went wrong.
Before you start
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Shelly Wi-Fi devices do not join 5 GHz networks. If your router publishes both bands under one name, read Wi-Fi and router setup first.
- The exact SSID and password. Both are case-sensitive.
- A Shelly account. Create it in Shelly Smart Control first — a device cannot be claimed without one.
- An unpaired device. A used device must be factory reset, and released by its previous owner if it was claimed.
Method 1 — using the app
The app finds the device’s own access point, passes your credentials across, claims the device, disables the access point and enables cloud access — all without asking.
2
App setting
Start the search
In Shelly Smart Control, tap Add device. Allow location and local network permissions when prompted — on both iOS and Android the app cannot see nearby devices without them.
3
Network
Select the network
Pick the device from the list, then choose your 2.4 GHz network and enter the password. The device reboots onto your network.
4
Test
Name it and place it
Give it a name that describes the load, not the device — “Kitchen ceiling”, not “Shelly 3”. Assign it to a room. Both are easier now, while you still know which relay feeds what.
Method 2 — using the device web interface
You see exactly what the device is doing, you can update firmware before it ever reaches the cloud, and when something fails you know which step failed.
1
Network
Join the device access point
An unconfigured Shelly opens its own access point within about 30 seconds, named after the model and its ID — for example ShellyPlus1PM-A8032AB12C34.
On a phone or laptop, connect to the Shelly… network the device is broadcasting. Ignore the “no internet” warning — that is expected.
2
Configuration
Enter your Wi-Fi credentials
Browse to http://192.168.33.1, then go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi 1, enable it, enter the SSID and password, and save. The device joins your network and its access point stays up for now.
3
Firmware
Update before anything else
Reconnect to the normal network, find the device’s new IP address in your router, and open it. Under Settings → Firmware, install any update. See update device firmware.
4
Test
Enable cloud, then claim
Under Settings → Cloud, enable cloud access. Open the app and add the device — it is on your network now, so the app finds it directly. Finally, disable the access point under Settings → Access Point, which this method leaves to you.
Tips & best practices
- Reserve the IP address in your router if you intend to use webhooks, scripts or Home Assistant. Local integrations break when addresses move.
- Set a device password under Settings → Authentication, particularly on anything reachable from the rest of the network.
- Check signal strength in the app before you close the wall. Anything weaker than about −70 dBm will cause dropouts later.
- Joins, then goes offline? Usually band steering, a captive portal, or client isolation on a guest network.
- “Device owned by another user” means it is still claimed by a previous account — see that guide.
Video tutorial
Adding a device three ways: a Wi-Fi device through the app, the same device through the web interface, and a Bluetooth device.
Loads YouTube when you press play. Watch on YouTube
By ShellyGuide on YouTube