Aqara Zigbee Sensors Dropping Off or Showing Unavailable

Easy 15-30 minutes

If your Aqara Zigbee sensors keep disconnecting, showing "unavailable" in Home Assistant, or dropping off your network, this guide covers the most common causes and solutions from the community.

This Is a Known Issue

Aqara sensor disconnections are one of the most discussed issues in the Home Assistant community. Users report:

  • "After using sensors for over a year, my Aqara sensors keep losing connection. I've tried multiple battery swaps and removing/re-adding them in ZHA."
  • "My Aqara door sensor keeps going to 'unavailable' about 4 hours after pairing. Triggering it doesn't help—I have to re-pair."
  • "One Aqara temperature sensor leaves the network every few days with no reason, even with a new battery."

Why Aqara Sensors Drop Off

Aqara sensors use a non-standard Zigbee implementation that can cause compatibility issues with certain coordinators and routers. Key factors:

  • Aqara devices prefer to connect through Aqara/Xiaomi routers
  • Some third-party Zigbee routers don't maintain connections with Aqara devices properly
  • Battery-powered devices rely on the mesh network—weak mesh = dropoffs
  • Certain coordinator firmware versions handle Aqara better than others

Use Compatible Routers

This is the most effective fix. Aqara sensors work best when connected through Aqara-compatible router devices.

Known compatible routers:

  • Aqara smart plugs – Best compatibility (same manufacturer)
  • IKEA Tradfri outlets/repeaters – Generally work well with Aqara
  • Some Xiaomi plugs – Good compatibility

Known problematic routers:

  • Sengled bulbs – Poor routers in general, especially for Aqara
  • Some older Zigbee bulbs – May not properly maintain Aqara connections
  • Third Reality plugs – Mixed reports (some users have issues)

One user on the Home Assistant Community reported: "Despite having 8 Third Reality smart plugs as routers spread throughout the house, I continue to get dropouts with my Aqara sensors."

Solution:

Add 2-3 Aqara smart plugs throughout your home. Place them between your coordinator and the problem sensors.

Check Your Coordinator

Some Zigbee coordinators handle Aqara devices better than others.

Generally good with Aqara:

  • Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 Plus (with updated firmware)
  • ConBee II/III
  • Aqara hubs (native support)

May have issues:

  • SkyConnect (some users report range/dropout issues)
  • Older CC2531-based coordinators

One user reported: "I switched from a SkyConnect to a Sonoff coordinator due to range and disconnect issues."

Zigbee Channel Selection

Aqara devices are sensitive to Zigbee channel selection and WiFi interference.

Recommended Zigbee channels:

  • Channel 15 – Between WiFi channels 1 and 6
  • Channel 20 – Between WiFi channels 6 and 11
  • Channel 25 – Above WiFi channel 11

Avoid:

  • Channel 11 (overlaps with WiFi channel 1)
  • Channel 26 (some devices don't support it)

Note: Changing Zigbee channels requires re-pairing all devices. Plan carefully before changing.

Keep Coordinator Away from Interference

  • Place the coordinator at least 3 feet from your WiFi router
  • Keep away from USB 3.0 devices and hubs (major interference source)
  • Use a USB extension cable to move the coordinator away from the computer/hub
  • Don't place in metal enclosures or behind furniture

Check Battery and Connection

Battery issues:

  • Use quality CR2032 batteries (Energizer, Panasonic, Duracell)
  • Cheap batteries can cause erratic behavior
  • Cold temperatures significantly reduce battery voltage
  • Replace batteries proactively, even if voltage looks okay

Re-pair closer to coordinator:

  1. Remove the sensor from your Zigbee network
  2. Bring it within 6 feet of your coordinator
  3. Put it in pairing mode and add it
  4. Wait 24 hours for it to settle into the mesh
  5. Then move it to its final location

ZHA vs Zigbee2MQTT

Some users report better Aqara stability with one integration over the other.

  • ZHA: Simpler setup, but some report more Aqara issues
  • Zigbee2MQTT: More complex, but often better Aqara handling

If you're having persistent issues with ZHA, consider trying Zigbee2MQTT (or vice versa). This requires re-pairing all devices.

Let the Mesh Settle

After adding or moving Zigbee devices, the mesh network needs time to optimize. Don't judge stability for at least 24-48 hours after changes.

  • Avoid making multiple changes at once
  • Add router devices first, let them settle, then add sensors
  • If a sensor drops, wait a few hours before re-pairing—it may reconnect on its own

Firmware Updates

Keep your coordinator firmware updated. Newer versions often include Aqara-specific fixes.

  • Sonoff: Check for firmware updates via zigbee2mqtt or ZHA
  • ConBee: Update via deCONZ software
  • SkyConnect: Updates via Home Assistant

When Sensors Still Drop

If you've tried everything and sensors still drop:

  1. Document the pattern – Does it happen at certain times? After certain events?
  2. Check Home Assistant logs – Look for Zigbee errors around the time of dropout
  3. Consider an Aqara hub – Using Aqara's native hub with Home Assistant integration may be more reliable than direct Zigbee
  4. Try Thread/Matter sensors – Newer Aqara Thread sensors may be more stable

Community Discussions