Sonoff Zigbee Device Not Pairing or Failing to Connect

Easy 10-20 minutes

If your Sonoff Zigbee device (ZBMINI, SNZB sensor, or smart plug) won't pair with your hub, is stuck in pairing mode, or keeps failing to connect, this guide covers the most common causes and fixes from the community.

Understanding Pairing Mode

Sonoff devices have different pairing modes. Make sure you're entering the correct one:

Quick Pairing Mode:

  • Press and hold the pairing button for 5 seconds
  • The LED will start flashing rapidly
  • This mode works with most Zigbee coordinators

Compatible Pairing Mode (if Quick mode fails):

  • Long press for 5 seconds to enter Quick Pairing Mode first
  • Then press for another 5 seconds
  • This mode provides broader compatibility with different hubs

One user noted: "The instructions in the Sonoff Zigbee app say to press the button for 8 seconds until the LED flashes, while the Sonoff manual says 5 seconds." Try both timings if one doesn't work.

LED Blink Patterns

Understanding what the LED is telling you can help diagnose issues:

  • Rapid green flashing: Device is in pairing mode, searching for coordinator
  • Slow green flashing: Device is connected and working normally
  • Solid green: Device is powered but not in pairing mode
  • No LED: Device has no power or LED is disabled

Remove Previous Pairing Attempts

Failed pairing attempts can leave ghost entries in your hub:

In Home Assistant (ZHA):

  1. Go to Settings → Devices & Services → ZHA
  2. Look for incomplete or failed device entries
  3. Remove any entries from previous pairing attempts
  4. Try pairing again with a clean slate

In Zigbee2MQTT:

  1. Check the web interface for any partial entries
  2. Force remove any failed devices
  3. Clear the coordinator's device list if needed

Community advice: "Make sure to force remove any entry in the web interface from previous failed attempts before retrying."

Coordinator Compatibility

Some older Zigbee coordinators have compatibility issues:

One user found: "Once I switched to a CC2652 coordinator, the devices paired on the first attempt. This suggests there may be incompatibility with zStack 1.x firmware."

If using an older coordinator (CC2531):

  • Make sure the coordinator firmware is up to date
  • Try pairing the device very close to the coordinator
  • Consider upgrading to a CC2652 or similar modern coordinator

Distance and Interference

Pairing requires a strong signal:

  • Place the device within 3 feet of your Zigbee coordinator during pairing
  • Move away from WiFi routers and other 2.4GHz devices
  • After successful pairing, you can move the device to its final location

Battery-Powered Devices (SNZB Sensors)

For Sonoff sensors with batteries:

  1. Insert a fresh battery (CR2450 or CR2032 depending on model)
  2. The LED should flash when you insert the battery
  3. If not, press the reset button to enter pairing mode

If pairing gets stuck during the interview process: "Removing and reinserting the battery may help it continue."

ZBMINI Switch Specific Issues

The ZBMINI in-wall switch has some quirks:

  • The pairing button is the main physical switch button on the device
  • Press and hold for more than 5 seconds to enter pairing mode
  • The LED will briefly stop, then resume flashing when in pairing mode
  • Some users report inconsistent behavior between units from the same batch

One user reported: "I bought several Sonoff ZBMINI switches and some paired using the HA Zigbee integration without any issues, while some devices wouldn't pair."

Factory Reset the Device

If the device was previously paired to another hub:

For ZBMINI:

  1. Press and hold the button for 10+ seconds
  2. The LED should flash rapidly, then blink a pattern indicating reset
  3. Try pairing again

For SNZB sensors:

  1. Press and hold the reset button (small pinhole) for 5-10 seconds
  2. Alternatively, remove the battery, hold the button, then reinsert the battery

Hub-Specific Tips

SmartThings:

Start device discovery in the app first, then put the device in pairing mode. Some users need to select "Scan nearby" rather than a specific brand.

Hubitat:

Go to Devices → Add Device → Zigbee. Make sure you're in the correct pairing mode before starting the scan.

Home Assistant (ZHA):

Use the "Add Device" button in the ZHA integration. Keep the add device dialog open while putting the Sonoff device in pairing mode.

When Pairing Interview Fails

Sometimes the device pairs but the interview (capability discovery) fails:

  • Wait a few minutes—the interview may complete on its own
  • Try removing and re-pairing the device
  • Check your coordinator's logs for error messages
  • Move the device closer to the coordinator or a Zigbee router device

Community Discussions