iHome Smart Plug Not Working With Alexa? Easy Fix Guide!

When an iHome smart plug not working with Alexa you should first inspect the essential requirements for the connection and later focus on troubleshooting.

Like other smart devices, the iHome, and your Alexa device use respective applications and an internet connection to function in the first place. 

When hooking them up to each other you would need to have all requirements met for the connection to work.

When the iHome smart plug does not work with Alexa you should first check whether the SmartPlug skill in the Alexa app is enabled. Then you should make sure that you’re running the latest possible OS firmware version on both devices.

Does iHome Smart Plug Work With Alexa?

The iHome smart plug is a device that really comes in handy for smart home configurations.

If connected to a voice assistant, such as Alexa, you can run/block the power to the smart plug via voice commands, which will essentially control the device connected to the plug.

If you’re pondering whether Alexa is compatible with the iHome smart plug, the short and quick answer is yes, the iHome smart plug is compatible with Alexa.

The connectivity, however, is enabled through skill and by essentially linking your account to your Amazon.

Tip: Install both devices’ respective applications before you proceed with the fix guide.

iHome Smart Plug Not Working With Alexa – Solutions

Assuming that you’ve already attempted to discover the smart plug with your Amazon Alexa home app, but the process failed, keep in mind that the connection is approved by a skill.

Alexa works via skills rather than a direct connection, that enables the speaker to discover certain devices.

Let’s first determine whether you’ve enabled the appropriate skill:

Solution #1 Enable The “SmartPlug” Skill

As we’ve already clarified, Alexa connects with all devices via skills.

The same thing applies to your iHome smart plug and there is a skill that must be enabled for the device to make the Alexa speaker compatible with the unit.

Here’s how to enable the SmartPlug skill within your Amazon Alexa home app:

1. On the device you’ve set up Alexa with, open the Amazon app.
2. Log in with your Amazon account credentials if you’re signed out.
3. Head to the options section.
4. Locate the “Skills” tab.
5. Scroll down or use the search field to find the “iHome SmartPlug” skill.
6. Next to the icon of the skill, tap “Install”.
7. Log in with your iHome account credentials.
8. Wait for the skill to be applied to your Alexa.
9. Test the connection with the smart plug.

Alert: If you’ve just enabled the skill, you will have to re-discover the smart plug, by telling your Alexa “Discover my devices”.

Solution #2 Use The Same Network

For Alexa to discover your iHome smart plug, both of the devices must be connected to the same WiFi network.

If for instance, you’re using cellular data for the smart plug or the Alexa speaker, both units won’t be able to discover each other.

How To Reconnect Alexa To The Internet?

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app.
2. Go to Device Settings.
3. Select your speaker and choose “Change” next to the WiFi button.
4. Once networks are discovered, select your own household network.
5. Log in using your WiFi.
6. Tap “Connect”.

How To Reconnect iHome Smart Plug To Internet?

1. Open the iHome Control app.
2. Choose Settings.
3. Select your own iHome smart plug.
4. Tap on Wi-Fi Network.
5. Scroll all the way down and tap “iHOME SMARTPLUG”.
6. Tap your own household’s WiFi network.
7. Choose “Next”.
8. Select “Done”.

Tip: Position the devices in close proximity to each other and to the network router for the rest of the guide.

Solution #3 Power Cycle Alexa & Smart Plug

Perhaps the problem you’re looking at is due to either of your devices not running properly/not receiving enough power.

A quick solution for such cases is the power cycle process, which essentially discharges the device and reboots the operating system.

Let’s begin with power cycling your Alexa device first:

How To Power Cycle Alexa Device?

1. Unplug Alexa from the power.
2. Wait for 5 minutes for the device to completely discharge.
3. Re-attach Alexa’s power adapter to the source.
4. Test the connection.

How To Power Cycle iHome Smart Plug?

1. Go over to the outlet where the smart plug is plugged.
2. Disconnect the smart plug.
3. Wait for 5 minutes with the smart plug unplugged.
4. Reconnect the smart plug.
5. Test the connection with the Alexa-running speaker.

Note: Leave your devices unplugged for at least 5 minutes or the power cycle won’t be complete.

Solution #4 Update iHome/Alexa App

If you’re using an older version of the iHome or the Alexa app, no wonder the connection for the devices isn’t working for you.

Our next solution is to validate the version of both applications and ensure that they are up to date.

Here’s a shared guide for updating both the iHome and the Amazon Alexa applications:

1. On the device having both apps installed, head to the Google Play/App Store.
2. Go to “Installed applications”.
3. First, search for “Amazon Alexa” and tap the first result.
4. Press the “Update” button.
5. Wait for the Alexa app to finish updating.
6. Next, tap the search field again and input “iHome”.
7. Press the first result once again.
8. Select the “Update” button for the iHome application.
9. Test the connection between your iHome smart plug and the Alexa speaker.

Alert: If updating the applications didn’t solve the problem, reinstall them to make sure that they have the latest version.

Solution #5 Reset iHome/Alexa Speaker

If nothing worked so far and iHome/Alexa doesn’t seem to be connecting at all, you should reset both of the devices.

That will refresh their software, all settings, and custom configurations made so far.

Tip: Reset one device > Test > Reset the other.

How To Reset iHome Smart Plug?

To reset the smart plug, press and hold the power button, located on the top right of the device for 15 seconds. 

The reset may take a minute or two, but once the LED stops blinking, your smart plug is successfully reset.

How To Reset Amazon Alexa Device?

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your device.
2. Go to “Echo & Alexa” at the top.
3. Choose the speaker you wish to reset.
4. Scroll all the way down and tap on Factory Reset.
5. Confirm the reset.
6. Wait for the reset to be completed.

Alert: Resetting Alexa means that you will have to re-enable the iHome skill before testing the plug’s connection out.

Quick Recap:

When the iHome smart plug is not working with Alexa you should enable the SmartPlug Skill and connect both devices to the same WiFi. Then you should check for available updates on both devices and if necessary, reset them to factory defaults.

Read Next: iHome Clock Display Not Working?

Bottom Line:

Now that you know why the iHome smart plug not working with Alexa and what the solution includes, it’s time to solve the problem.

However, if our solutions didn’t help, it would be good to contact one of the instances, iHome support, or Amazon customer service.

In case you’ve identified a factory problem with your device, now would be a good time to put your warranty into use and receive a replacement. We hope that our post was helpful and for more similar guides, feel free to check our blog.