How to set up TP-Link Smart Plug with Alexa
I recently bought an Echo Dot 3 and it came with a TP-Link smart Plug. Okay, I was getting a discount if I bought those two together, so I did. Although its very easy to connect Alexa with Smart Plug, but it can be challenging if you don’t follow the exact steps. I’ll show you how to set up TP-Link smart plug with Alexa. Let’s begin.
Setting up the TP-Link smart Plug with Alexa is two-parter and we’ll proceed with each step separately to avoid confusion.
Must Read:Echo Dot 3 v Echo Dot 2: A detailed comparison
Let’s set up the smart plug first. I have theTP-Link HS100smart Plug and we need to install theKasaapp and link the smart plug with the app.
Installthe Kasa app on your smartphone, you can go to thePlay Storeand theApp Storeto download it for Android and iOS respectively.After Installing it you’d need tocreate an accountto be able toregister your deviceswith the TP-Link servers and it would be easier to link it with Alexa afterward.
Tap on the create account button and create your account by following the steps it shouldn’t take you more than five minutes.
After you’re done,log into the account and register your smart devices with the account. This helps in creating a network of devices and easy to access with one common channel. You can add multiple devices with your account and you’d see a range of TP-Link smart home devices which are available.
Toregisterthe TP-Link HS100 we’ll tap on theAdd devicebutton on the top right. Now, select the type of smart Adaptor/ device you’re trying to register. In our case, we’ll go withHS100. Tap the icon to proceed.
The app would now attempt to try and connect thesmart plugso it needs to be inpairing mode. Typically, it shows the instructions on the app and you can follow these instructions to connect TP-Link devices.
For the Smart Plug, you have topress the reset button for 5 secondsto activate the pairing mode. The green and amber light would flash. If you don’t see the amber and green light flashing alternatively, press the button again for five seconds.
Now the app should connect to the smart plug and proceed automatically and set up the device but for some reason, if it doesn’t do that, you may go to yourwifi settingsand connect to thesmart plug wifi hotspot. It is typically named “TP-Link smart Plug xxx”.
Now go back to the Kasa App and it should now register your device and it would ask for yourhome wifi credentials, you’re able to select your home wifi from the list andenter the correct password.
It is important because if you enter the password incorrectly, you would have to repeat the entire process again. Now after entering the correct password wait for a minute or two. It should finish the processing.
After your device is up and ready, can control it with the Kasa app. you’re able to schedule a timer, you can check the log and schedule the plug to power ON/OFF at a set time.
Now that TP-Link is set up we need to set up and pair the device with Alexa.
Setup Alexa on Echo
If you already have an Alexa up and running then you can skip tostep 6and then follow the steps. For people setting up Alexa for the first time Read on.
You have to install the Amazon Alexa app which can be downloaded from the Play Store and the App Store forAndroidandiOSrespectively.
After you install the app you need tolog in to the app with your Amazon account, typically your existing Amazon account works just fine with it.
After you’ve successfullylogged into your Amazon Alexa App, we need tolink your Alexato the account.
Tap on the devices icon on the bottom right and press theadd deviceicon(+).
Nowpower onyour echo device and put it inpairing modeby pressing the Action button(.) for around 6 seconds. You should now see anorange lightring.
Go back to the Alexa app and attempt to connect to the echo device or if it isn’t showing then you can just go to thesettingsand connect with the echowifi hotspotjust like we did with the smart plug. The wifi name will show up like this “Amazon-xxx“. Connect to it.
Now go back to the Alexa app and it should now finish the process by asking you to enter the home wifi. Enter thecorrect Wifi detailsand give it a minute to apply changes.After it’s done the Echo would prompt that it’s successfully activated.
Now both devices are exclusively set up and would work fine independently. To link your smart device with Alexa we need to enable the TP-Link Skill.
To install the skill, go to the Alexa app and tap the hamburger icon and select skills.Search for TP-Link and it would show you the results, select TP-Link Kasa Skill. Install it on your Alexa account.
It would require to link your TP-Link account link with Alexa for easy access. It would load up a page and ask for the TP-Link account credentials, Enter the details and press log in. After successful login, you can go back to the Alexa app.
Now that the TP-Link account is linked to the Alexa account it would seamlessly allow Alexa to control the devices. Go to the devices tab by tapping the bottom right corner button.Tapall devicesand look for thesmart plug, tap the icon and it woulddiscover the linked device from TP-Link account to the Alexa automatically.
It will now show up on the list of devices on Alexa account and you may natively control all the devices. You can also change the device name so it is more natural when you pass commands to Alexa. I named my smart plug “Table lamp” because it only powers the table lamp and feels more natural when I ask Alexa “Alexa, Power On the Table Lamp“.
Now I can just ask Alexa. “Hey Alexa, Turn on the table Lamp” and it obliges instantly. It is a really quick method and a great segue for integrating smart home appliances to your home.
How To set up TP-Link Smart Plug with Alexa?
I made this how-to article for people who have recently come across the smart home devices. It can be a little intimidating while setting up each device. I hope this article was a thorough guide on how to set up your smart devices. Once you set up one device it would be very easy for you to add more devices from then on. Tell us in the comments if you face any problem.
Also Read:30+ Best Alexa Skills for India
Works as an in-house Writer at TechWiser and focuses on the latest smart consumer electronics. Closely follows the latest trends in consumer IoT and how it affects our daily lives. you’re able to follow him on Twitter. Yes, he sometimes speaks in Third Person.
