Home Connect questions and answers

When did the first fully connected kitchen with Home Connect appliances come onto the market?

The first Bosch and Siemens Home Connect dishwashers and ovens have been available since December 2014. Washing machines, dryers, coffee machines and fridges came on the market at the end of 2015. Home Connect appliances from all product categories are thus available for the connected kitchen. Other appliances including vacuum cleaners will follow soon.

Will other brands of home appliances also come onto the market with the Home Connect function?

That is what we are aiming for! We are starting with fully compatible Bosch, Siemens and Gaggenau Home Connect appliances. However, we are already talking to partners and other brand manufacturers.

Can I retrofit my home appliances with Home Connect?

Upgrading or retrofitting existing appliances tends to be difficult for the following reasons: Compared to a solution designed from scratch, one that is built in at a later date will always be less satisfactory and comparatively expensive. Home appliances are also subject to special safety precautions, which have to be taken into account and tested if electronics parts are changed on site.

We also advise against using smart plugs or controllable adapters due to the risk of sudden outages.

Can other elements like lights or heating be connected to the system?

This isn’t envisaged so far, at the moment we're really focusing on home appliances. However, we're keeping an open mind, in that our devices and the entire Home Connect system can be integrated into other home automation systems. Find out more about our cooperation with partners .

Can appliances be accessed by several devices at the same time?

Yes, a home appliance can be accessed by different mobile devices.

Check whether your appliance is compatible with 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz: Certain Home Connect appliances currently only work with 2.4 GHz band. Check your user manual to determine which bands your appliance will work with. When you connect an appliance, please change the settings for your network accordingly.

Encrypted Wi-Fi network: Home Connect will not work with open networks. It requires security level WPA2.

Compatible network modes: IEEE 802.11 a, b, g and n. Please ensure that your router is set up accordingly.

No browser registrations: Home Connect does not work with Wi-Fi networks which require browser registration, e. g. where the user name and password must be entered via the web browser.

Turn off the "MAC Filter" on the router to prevent MAC addresses for your home appliances and communication-enabled appliances from being saved.

The use of proxies is not recommended.

Ports 443, 8080 and 123 must be open.

Enable multicast-routing option: This option must be enabled on the router in order to establish a connection to Home Connect appliances.

Ensure you meet the minimum requirements

• Ensure your appliance is connected to the right network (Note some appliances only work with 2.4 GHz and will not connect to 5 GHz router). If using a dual band router ensure the names for the two networks are different. Check your appliance user manual for information on what network it can connect to.

Check for these common errors:

• Ensure your mobile device is on the same Wi-Fi network that you are connecting your appliance to connected to.
• Ensure you follow the Home Connect installation guide that came with your appliance. Each appliance requires different steps

Ensure you don’t use cellular connection during the pairing process: While pairing turn on airplane mode and then turn on Wi-Fi.

• Some devices will search for a connection that has Internet; during the paring process your mobile device will connect with the appliance‘s Wi-Fi network to transfer credentials. Since the appliance does not have an internet connection the mobile device will switch to another network that does, interrupting the pairing process.

Check your Wi-Fi connection

• Check whether you can get online with another device in your home. Make sure you are not using cellular connection to test your Internet connection.
• Ensure there is a strong network connection where the appliance is installed

Restart your router

• Unplug your routers (and range extenders/Wi-Fi repeaters) ensuring all lights are off. Keep unplugged for 30 seconds and then plug your routers back in. Wait until the router completely restarts and check the connection with another mobile device.
  Check your router‘s user manual for more information.

Reinstall the app and restart your mobile device

• Uninstall and download the latest version of the Home Connect app. After doing so restart your mobile device and begin the pairing process again.

Factory reset your appliance

• In your use and care manual you will find instructions for resetting your appliance.

Home Connect app error codes:

Error 1133

• If a login error occurs, there is no compatible browser.
• Virus protection is activated. >>>
• • Check to login in your Home connect App
  • Approach 1: Set Chrome Browser as default browser and delete other browsers
  • Approach 2: Check if a "secure browser (or rather Opera) / virus scanner (e. g. GData Mobile Security)" is installed. Then uninstall it TOGETHER WITH Home Connect App, reinstall Home Connect and login again
  • Approach 3: Reset app settings"

Error 5014

• The credential exchange process failed due to a websocket failure during an ongoing connection. >>>
• • Retry pairing and consider the following tips (check after each step, if pairing works, if not, go on with next):
  • Wi-Fi should be password protected so protocol must be set to WPA/WPA2
  • Set open ports 443, 8080 and 123
  • Check if frequency is set to 2.4GHz
  • Reset router
  • Test via Hotspot (Important: Do not use special characters in the phone's name)"

Error 4620
Error 1077
Error 1080
Error 1081
Error 1082
Error 1083
Error 1084
Error 1085
Error 1086

• Issue: Wi-Fi Problem.
• Possible reason: Wi-Fi requirements were not met.
• Answer/ First aid solution: Find our Wi-Fi requirements to proof and adapt (2.4GHz, ports are blocked, MAC filter, etc.). Additionally you can test your connection via mobile hotspot. In that case, your smartphone should not be connected to your home network.
• Addendum: If the connection fails again, we will forward the issue including our call back times to a Remote service near you.

Home Connect app error code:

Error 1133

• Issue: Login Failed due to Compatible Browser Missing
• Possible reason: If a login error occurs, there is no compatible browser. Virus protection is activated.
• Answer/ First aid solution: Check to login in your Home connect App
  Approach 1: Set Chrome Browser as default browser and delete other browsers
  Approach 2: Check if a "secure browser (or rather Opera) / virus scanner (e. g. GData Mobile Security)" is installed. Then uninstall it TOGETHER WITH Home Connect App , reinstall Home Connect and login again
  Approach 3: Reset app settings

Home Connect app error code:

Error 4613

• Issue: Connection to Home Connect Server fails.
• Possible reason: The connection to the Home Connect Server could not be established.
• Answer/ First aid solution: Uninstall, reload and reinstall the app, reset your home appliance (factory or network reset). Reconnect.
• Addendum: If the connection fails again, we will forward the issue including our call back times to a Remote service near you.

Home Connect app error codes:

Error C7101
Error E7101
Error 3404
Error 404

• Issue: Home appliance could not be connected.
• Possible reason: Home Connect data is missing.
• Answer/ First aid solution: Home Connect data has to be flashed by customer service.
• Addendum: Message to Home Connect inbox info.de@home-connect.com

Home Connect app error code:

Error 4623

• Issue: Home Connect Server is not available.
• Possible reason: Home Connect Server is not available during the pairing process.
• Answer/ First aid solution: You have to log out of the HomeConnect App and log in again. After that, the Home Connect Server should be reached.
• Addendum: If the connection fails again, we will forward the issue including our call back times to a Remote service near you.

Home Connect app error code:

Error 5014

• Issue: The credential exchange process failed due to a websocket failure during an ongoing connection.
• Answer/ First aid solution: Retry pairing and consider the following tips (check after each step, if pairing works, if not, go on with next):
  1. Wi-Fi should be password protected so protocol must be set to WPA/WPA2
  2. Set open ports 443, 8080 and 123
  3. Check if frequency is set to 2.4GHz
  4. Reset router
  5. Test via Hotspot (Important: Do not use special characters in the phone's name)

Registration not possible:

• Issue: Password is not accepted during the registration process.
• Possible reason: Password does not meet he requirements (please be aware of security requirements for passwords).
• Answer/ First aid solution: Your password must consist of at least 8 characters, including at least 1 number, 1 letter and 1 special character. The first three characters must be different!
  Valid special characters: $ & + , ; : = ? @ # ! ´ < > . ^ * ( ) % _ -

Registration not possible:

• Issue: Home Connect mails are not received.
• Possible reason: Restrictions of your mail program.
• Answer/ First aid solution: Please check if a forward to a shared inbox is activated or if the mails were delivered to your spam folder.

Home Connect appliances are available in nearly all electronic retail stores and selected kitchen furniture stores.

You can find more details on which types of home appliances work with Home Connect in the Connected Household section.

Are there minimum requirements for my Wi-Fi router?

The Home Connect system works with all standard Wi-Fi routers available on the market provided they are no more than five years old (estimated). For security reasons, Wi-Fi networks must be encrypted (WPA or WPA2 encryption). If your Wi-Fi network is not encrypted, you will not be able to register your appliance.

What about data protection and data security?

We use cutting-edge encryption technology and periodically ask independent experts to thoroughly test our system.

What characterises the special Home Connect security concept?

Our security concept consists of a range of measures: Data exchange is based on the Home Connect protocol. Only essential data is stored on the Home Connect server. Communication is also only possible over encrypted networks; secure certificates, a firewall on the server and password protection for the Home Connect app ensure additional security.

Can I also prevent my appliance from sending any data?

Yes. You are free to decide for or against using additional functions that the connected appliances can offer you. The appliances will only send and receive data if you expressly want them to do so and you can control them accordingly.

How can I delete my Home Connect account?

You can delete your Home Connect account anytime using the app. In order to do this, click on the settings button on the top right corner. In the personal settings section you, will find "Delete user account". You must then confirm the deletion by entering your password.

Will there also be a LAN interface for home appliances?

No, a LAN connection is not planned because Home Connect uses Wi-Fi for data exchange. It would be very complex to set up a LAN cable for every appliance. We decided to use Wi-Fi technology because this is now available in almost every household.

Do I need any other equipment apart from my appliance with Home Connect functionality and the Wi-Fi router?

No. The home appliances communicate with your smartphone or tablet via the Wi-Fi router. No other equipment is necessary.

My home appliance has a weak Wi-Fi signal because it is a long way from my Wi-Fi router. Does this mean I cannot use Home Connect?

There are various options available here. It is possible to extend the range of your Wi-Fi router with a Wi-Fi extender. If the Wi-Fi extender is placed between the appliance and the router, wireless Internet reception should, for instance, extend to the basement without any problem. A second option is to use a powerline adapter to extend the Internet to your home appliance. You can then log into the Internet directly with your networked appliance and control it this way. Our Customer Service team would be happy to advise you in both cases and help you with any hardware you may need.

Can I connect my home appliances via WPS even if I am using an extender as a signal amplification?

Yes, to some extent extenders provide WPS pairing. Otherwise, it is possible to pair your home appliance manually (see manual pairing).

How do I know whether Wi-Fi reception will be available where I have my appliance set up?

There are apps such as Wi-Fi Analyser that you can use to check the reception where your appliance is located.

You can also use your smartphone or tablet to check the signal strength where your appliance is.

Which routers (Wi-Fi and LTE) provide an especially high quality connection for home appliances with Home Connect?

In principle, all routers are suitable for connecting Home Connect appliances with the app. Experience shows that, among other things, routers of the brands AVM (Fritz! Box), Deutsche Telekom (Speedport), as well as Apple (AirPort Express) provide a very good Internet connection.

What are the Wi-Fi requirements?

Home Connect normally works with the standard Wi-Fi settings on commercially available routers. In some cases, certain settings need to be changed manually. If necessary, please check the following settings on your router. You can find information on the configuration settings in the installation instructions for your router.

If necessary, e. g. in the event of manual setup, the following tips and settings should be noted:

• Encrypt your Wi-Fi network, preferably using security level WPA2 or at least WPA. Open networks are not suitable for use with Home Connect.

• Home Connect works with the following network modes: IEEE 802.11 b, g and n. Please ensure that your router is set up accordingly. Home appliances are only compatible with a 2.4 GHz band. When you connect an appliance, please change the settings for your network accordingly.

• Home Connect does not work with Wi-Fi networks which require browser registration, e. g. where the user name and password must be entered via the web browser.

• You should have a stable Wi-Fi network with a good signal and access to the Internet.

• Turn off the "MAC Filter" on the router to prevent MAC addresses for your home appliances and communication-enabled appliances from being saved.

• The use of proxies is not recommended.

• Ports 443, 8080 and 123 must be open.

• The multicast-routing option must be enabled on the router in order to establish a connection to Home Connect appliances.

Which operating systems is Home Connect available for?

The app is available for iOS and Android.

Will the current appliance partners themselves offer a control device (tablet PC)?

No, this isn’t something that is planned because it means you will not incur extra charges in the form of an additional control device. As tablets and smartphones of all makes are on the market, we have designed Home Connect so that our solution will work with all standard models.

What will this application/app cost, and where can you download the app?

The app is free of charge and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Can an app user modify and delete other users' profiles?

Yes. Users with extended user rights can see and manage the profiles of other app users. For all commonly used appliances, you can also manage the user rights of these users.

What do I need to do if I move my Home Connect appliances to another country?

According to the Home Connect Terms of Use, the country settings in your user account are to be changed accordingly when moving. Just select the appropriate country in the settings of the Home Connect app.

Please note that using the Home Connect app in another country may be subject to other terms of use and other data privacy policies. If your new country cannot be found in the list, any further use of the Home Connect app is not supported by us and is prohibited according to our Terms of Use. Furthermore, we do not support using the Home Connect app in conjunction with a home appliance for which usage in the relevant country is not allowed. Our Terms of Use do not, therefore, allow such usage. If you are not sure whether you are allowed to use the home appliance in the new country, please contact the manufacturer of your home appliance.

What do I need to do if I move my Home Connect appliances to a country on a different continent?

Please see the notes on "Moving my Home Connect appliances to another country". If you move to a different continent, your new country may not be included in the list of supported countries. In this case, please delete the Home Connect installed. Then download and install the Home Connect app for your new country from the App Store/Play Store. Reset your Home Connect appliances to their factory defaults, set up a new user account and register your home appliances in the app again.