LIFX Bulb Not Connecting to WiFi During Setup

Easy 10-20 minutes

If your LIFX smart bulb won't connect to WiFi during setup or keeps failing to join your network, this guide covers the most common causes and fixes from the community.

WiFi Requirements

LIFX bulbs have specific network requirements that must be met:

  • 2.4GHz only: LIFX bulbs do not support 5GHz WiFi networks
  • Channels 1-11 only: Channels 12, 13, and 14 are not supported
  • Separate SSIDs: If your router broadcasts both 2.4GHz and 5GHz on the same network name, create separate SSIDs for each

Enable Location Services

The LIFX app requires location access to find and connect to your WiFi network:

On iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Location Services
  2. Find the LIFX app
  3. Set to "While Using the App"

On Android:

  1. Go to Settings → Apps → LIFX
  2. Tap Permissions
  3. Enable Location access

One user noted: "The Wi-Fi connection failure was caused by location services not being turned on. The LIFX app needs access to your location to connect to your home Wi-Fi."

Disable VPN and Cellular Data

During setup, make sure to:

  • Turn off any VPN on your phone
  • Disable cellular/mobile data
  • Connect your phone to the same 2.4GHz network you want the bulb to join

Check Router Settings

AP Isolation (Client Isolation):

This setting prevents devices on your network from communicating with each other. If enabled, LIFX bulbs won't connect properly.

  • Log into your router admin panel
  • Look for "AP Isolation," "Client Isolation," or "Guest Isolation"
  • Make sure it's disabled for your IoT network

WiFi Channel:

  1. Access your router settings
  2. Find the 2.4GHz wireless settings
  3. Manually set the channel to 1, 6, or 11
  4. Avoid "Auto" if you're having connectivity issues

Use Hidden Network Setup

If your network doesn't appear during LIFX setup, try the hidden network option:

  1. In the LIFX app, start the setup process
  2. When prompted to select a network, look for "Hidden Network" or "Other"
  3. Manually enter your network name (SSID) and password
  4. This often works even if your network isn't actually hidden

Reset the LIFX Bulb

If the bulb was previously connected to another network, reset it:

  1. Turn the bulb off for 1 second, then on
  2. Repeat this off/on cycle 5 times quickly
  3. The bulb should flash to indicate it's in setup mode
  4. Different LIFX models may have slightly different reset procedures—check the manual

HomeKit Setup Timeout

If you're setting up a HomeKit-enabled LIFX bulb on iOS:

One user reported: "Every time I started the process, the app required waiting 15 minutes for HomeKit pairing to time out before trying LIFX setup."

To avoid this:

  • Try the "LIFX Setup" option instead of HomeKit during initial setup
  • You can add the bulb to HomeKit later after it's connected to WiFi

Update the LIFX App

Outdated app versions can cause connection failures:

  1. Check your app store for LIFX app updates
  2. If an update is available, install it
  3. Clear the app cache (on Android: Settings → Apps → LIFX → Storage → Clear Cache)
  4. Try setup again

Try From a Different Device

If setup keeps failing:

  • Try setting up from a different phone or tablet
  • Some users have better luck with Android vs iOS or vice versa
  • Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone (some setup flows use it)

Power Cycle Fix

A SmartThings user reported: "I had a LIFX bulb that worked for many years, but occasionally it would stop working. The fix was simply to cycle the power and the bulb would start working again."

Community Discussions