iOS 14.2 WiFi issues - Troubleshooting / Wi-Fi - Rachio Community
iOS 14.2 WiFi issues
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post by zachio on Nov 6, 2020
Hey everyone, I wanted to make a post to provide some information on potential WiFi issues with iOS 14.2.
Apple informed us today that iOS 14.2 has a known issue that prevents our WiFi communication from working inside the Rachio app. They’ve said a future version of iOS will fix the issue, but we don’t have a timeline on that.
Areas affected by this currently include WiFi update and adding a Rachio controller to your account.
WiFi update can be completed via the Settings app. Here’s how:
- Reset WiFi on your Rachio as seen here.
- Note this will be holding the DOWN ARROW + SELECT BUTTON on a Generation 2 controller or holding the WIFI button on a Generation 3 controller.
- Open your settings app on your phone (the gray icon with the gears)
- Go to Wi-Fi settings
- You should see a “SET UP NEW DEVICE…” and your Rachio listed there. Tapping your rachio’s name will start the connection process to set it up on WiFi.
There currently is no way to add a Rachio to your account with this issue. I am working on an app update that will fix this, but it won’t release until later tonight or tomorrow. Until then, you can use another device that isn’t running iOS 14.2 or wait for version 4.2.7 to release soon.
I will update this post when the update is released with a fix. Thanks!
post by alexrodriguez on Nov 6, 2020
.7 or do you mean 4.2. 1?
post by zachio on Nov 6, 2020
The current Rachio version in the App Store is version 4.2.6. The next version we release that will contain a workaround for this issue will be version 4.2. 7. Hope that helps to clarify.
post by saizzz on Nov 6, 2020
I was trying everything to get a new Rachio setup and was about to request an RMA but found this. Knowing how long Apple can take to approve apps, are you guys requesting an expedited approval since this is a result of their bug? Anyway, glad to hear you’ve got a fix in the works.
post by zachio on Nov 6, 2020
They’ve been pretty quick lately. Sometimes getting it through approval in under an hour. Right now we’re going through testing.
The workaround unfortunately isn’t a full on fix, since the issue is in the operating system. But it should fix getting stuck when trying to add a controller to your account. I still expect that tomorrow we’ll hear back from them and be able to push to the store.
post by saizzz on Nov 6, 2020
Wife’s phone is still on an older version of iOS so got it connected! Thank you.
post by zachio on Nov 6, 2020
Great to hear! Glad you were able to get it set up!
post by Stewart on Nov 6, 2020
Please do something simpler that IMO is far more useful. When you click Add Device in the web app, instead of the error message “You’ll need a smart phone and our mobile app to add a controller”, you should say “You can use our mobile app with your smartphone to add a controller. Or, enter the serial number and MAC address in the boxes below and click Submit.”
There is no good reason for a Rachio controller to require a smartphone. Allowing a device to be added via the website will help users with employer-supplied restricted devices, flip phones, smartphones other than Android or iOS, smartphones too old to run the app, etc. It also will provide an easy workaround when the next OS update causes trouble.
And, fixing this in the website completely avoids the App Store and Google Play police.
post by zachio on Nov 7, 2020
The update was just released to the store. It’ll take maybe an hour or so before it starts showing up, but should be available for download today.
post by andy57 on Nov 11, 2020
I followed the steps above, and successfully added my controller to my wifi network, but the app (4.2.7) still attempts to add the controller to my wifi network and fails (or at least go out to lunch and never comes back). Now what?
post by zachio on Nov 11, 2020
Hmm, what kind of Rachio controller do you have and what iOS version are you using? That may help me see if there is a code path that still attempts to add the controller to WiFi through app.
post by andy57 on Nov 11, 2020
I have a Rachio 3 controller. I’m running a pre-production version of iOS 14.3.
By going to “Settings” on my phone I was able to get the Rachio onto my 2.4GHz network, but the app still wanted to add it. Although the error did change to “unable to find your controller” or something like that.
post by zachio on Nov 12, 2020
The workaround only happens when running iOS 14.2.0 currently.
Apple hasn’t given us the version of iOS they are looking to resolve this in, so I didn’t expand the workaround outside of what is currently broken.
I expect a 14.2.1 release may fix this and some other issues with iOS 14.2, but that’s just a guess. It’s possible too that future betas of iOS 14.3 resolve the issue as well. But since iOS 14.3 isn’t final, we don’t support it from the workaround perspective.
post by andy57 on Nov 12, 2020
Okay. That’s fair enough. I think I’ve got a phone that has 14.2 on it.
Meanwhile, if I can give some preliminary feedback: there’s no recovery from the failure to connect with wifi that I can see. The screen has no cancel option, so the only way out that I could think of was to force quit the app and start over, which is irritating once it’s happened half a dozen times.
Also, it was only through trial and error that I discovered that the app only detects the barcode on the unit if it is held in landscape orientation. When held in portrait orientation it will not detect the barcode. I did not see any affordance in the app that indicated the orientation was important.
Looking forward to getting this thing running, but it has been a frustrating experience so far.
post by zachio on Nov 12, 2020
Yeah the issue on Apples end is that their process errors and then doesn’t tell our app (or other 3rd party apps that use this wireless configuration) that an error has occurred. Due to that, it never times out either. That’s why we rushed to get a workaround in and not a fix, since the fix was confirmed to be needed on Apples API side.
So I agree, it’s not a good experience, but hopefully one that gets resolved soon. If more iOS releases come out and don’t fix the issue, the app will be updated to provide the work around for those versions as well.
post by andy57 on Nov 12, 2020
Why not time out? Give the user a way out of your app or at least some feedback and an option to exit the process gracefully. Even though the problem may be that iOS isn’t informing you of an error, to the user (me) the problem seems to be your application and that’s not a good look for Rachio.
post by andy57 on Nov 12, 2020
Okay, I found a phone with iOS 13.something and got the Rachio 3 up and running. Once over that hurdle, it all worked rather well.
post by EncinitasGary on Nov 14, 2020
This still seems like an issue. When is the fix going to happen? Trying workarounds d but it is giving me an error when I follow your instructions. Meanwhile my plants and grass are dying.
post by zachio on Nov 14, 2020
What exactly is the issue you’re seeing? Like what steps are you performing and what issue are you seeing? That will help me understand what you’re seeing.
With the update of the app, the work around instructions are given in app and tie in to the flow for adding a controller to an account or when updating WiFi.
post by EncinitasGary on Nov 19, 2020
Agreed. Having same issue with iOS 14.2. It’s still not working.
post by EncinitasGary on Nov 19, 2020
Where are we with the fix to this? I still cannot gain access to Rachio Gen 3. This is horrible service in my opinion.
post by Stewart on Nov 19, 2020
Is this the same controller that was replaced almost a year ago? If so, do you know how you lost access (nearby lightning strike, new router or access point, etc.)? How have you tried to regain access (list all devices you used including iOS version)? What errors did these show?
When you log in to app.rach.io, is the controller in your account? If not, do you know what may have caused that (even a factory reset of a controller without Wi-Fi couldn’t affect the back end)? If it is in your account, what is shown for the state e.g. offline?
Is the controller presently connected to your Wi-Fi? What do the light codes show? What have they shown when you attempted reconnection?
Do you have access to any phones, tablets or laptops that you have not yet tried (wife’s or kid’s phone, old phone without a SIM card, etc.)?
post by zachio on Nov 19, 2020
The workaround has been out for about a week. I was asking above for some additional details that I could use to provide further details. If you can get me that info, I may be able to help.
post by MABS on Nov 22, 2020
System hasn’t been responding. Reset the wifi to my controller. My controller says it is connected, but system still will not work. Is there a new app?? Happened after ios update.
Also the video in the reset mobile instructions is so small i can’t see it and the volume doesn’t play.
post by Stewart on Nov 22, 2020
When you log into app.rach.io from your computer, do you see the controller? Does it show as online? Can you run a zone manually? Do your schedules show as upcoming? Can you run a schedule manually?
post by Journeymnn on Dec 1, 2020
I have the same issue. Can’t connect to HomeKit so stupidly tried to reset wifi and now won’t connect to wifi.
- I see the controller on app.rach.io but offline and can’t run anything manually
- trying steps to add via the instructions in app for iOS 14 via the setup new device rachio network results in failure with no indication why
- tried troubleshooting which repeated #2 with addition of airplane mode on phone (iPhone 11 pro running 14.2) which did nothing
Need this fixed urgently as I have new grass seed I now can’t water easily.
post by Stewart on Dec 1, 2020
Were you able to get the controller into the ‘awaiting Wi-Fi’ state?
Assuming yes, what devices not running iOS 14 have you tried? What Wi-Fi devices not running iOS 14 do you have access to (old phone without SIM card, spouse’s or kid’s phone, Android or iOS tablet, Windows / Mac / Linux laptop, etc.)?
post by zachio on Dec 1, 2020
If you’re just trying to update WiFi, don’t attempt to add a new controller. You can actually update your Rachio’s WiFi without even opening the app.
If the second light is blinking (meaning your Rachio is waiting to join the network) follow these steps. If the second light (or quadrant if gen 3) isn’t blinking, reset the wifi again on your controller to get to that state (you can see here how to do that).
- Go into the iOS settings app
- Go to WiFi settings
- Under your network name and other networks around you, you should see your Rachio appear under accessories. Tap your Rachio
- Follow the instructions that iOS provides to select which network to connect the Rachio to
post by Journeymnn on Dec 1, 2020
Zachio, I tried all that before I posted as I mentioned in my second point. I can connect to the Rachio network to set up new accessory, but it doesn’t complete and says that the process failed without further detail. Not very helpful of iOS.
Stewart, unfortunately I don’t have any iOS 13 devices. I didn’t realize I could do this on a laptop, so I can try that.
post by Journeymnn on Dec 1, 2020
Stewart, that worked THANK YOU. I was able to use a MacBook Pro (running Big Sur) to complete the setup. Clearly an incompatibility issue with iOS 14.2, but for others in the same boat, try a laptop if you have one.
post by duydaman on Dec 1, 2020
I have a gen 3 that I am setting up for a client. I held down the reset Wifi button on the rachio, went into settings on my phone > wifi > selected the Rachio in “set up new device”. It goes to the "Setting up the accessory to join “wifi network name” for a while and ends up with… “ Accessory set up - An unexpected error occurred. Try again.” I’ve tried over a dozen times and have ended up at the same error screen.
post by zachio on Dec 1, 2020
Do the lights on the controller advance past the second light? Sometimes iOS gives us a false error even though the Rachio connects. If not, it could be related to this. Depending on when your device was manufactured, it may have an old firmware that doesn’t contain a fix for new iOS devices and some of the messages they send when connecting. That post outlines some workarounds you may be able to try.
post by jmordoj on Dec 9, 2020
I’m on the same boat but I have no access to a older device
This is frustrating beyond words.
post by jmordoj on Dec 10, 2020
Ok, a friend lent me an older iPad, and tried to get this device online but couldn’t make it work.
It is still alternating between 10 white pulses and red pulse in the first quadrants of lights.
Is there a way to force a special boot or to feed it a firmware somehow?
post by Songwoman on Dec 10, 2020
I could not connect using my Apple 11 phone but I could connect using a friend’s Apple 7 phone.
post by zachio on Dec 11, 2020
If you’re getting white blinking with one red, try unplugging the controller and pressing the down arrow on the directional pad for a few seconds to clear the charge. That light code indicates a boot up error. Unplugging should clear any memory (see light codes here).
The new iOS issue that the workaround was created for seems to be fixed in iOS 14.3 (probably will release to the public on Monday, December 14).
post by taylorbob1 on Mar 22, 2021
I have an iPhone 8 with the IOS 14.2
My brand new Rachio 3 would not set-up wifi.
The Rachio rep spent 45 min with me and we decided that since my new Rachio 3 had a manufacture date of Dec 2019 (ya, go figure), that it needed to be swapped-out for one with the new firmware loaded onto it.
post by Songwoman on Mar 22, 2021
I have an iPhone 11 and after getting a new router was not able to use the Rachio system.
A computer savvy friend helping me was able to set it up on his older phone.
post by Stewart on Mar 22, 2021
If you have not yet disconnected and packed up the unit, be aware that you can use a Windows, Mac or Linux PC to connect Rachio to your Wi-Fi.
Other possibilities include using an old phone (even if it doesn’t have a SIM card) or a tablet to establish the initial connection.
Or, you may have a kid, parent or friend with a compatible phone that can be used for initial setup. Once connected, Rachio will update itself and will then work fine with iOS 14.2 or newer.
A “forklift upgrade” should be a last resort.