Setting Up Zones for Smart Sprinkler Controllers

Last Update: Apr 13 2026 3:09pm • Est. Read Time: 3 MIN

Summary

After onboarding your controller in the Rachio app, the next step is setting up your zones to ensure the most accurate and efficient watering possible. The details you enter during Zone Setup, such as plant type, soil, sun exposure, and sprinkler type, allow Rachio to build smart schedules tailored to your landscape’s unique needs. This directly supports healthier plants and meaningful water savings. This article will guide you step by step through setting up your zones for success.

Contents

1. Video Guide
2. Step-by-Step Guide
3. Disable and Enable Zones

Video Guide

Rachio 3 - App Setup

Click for sound

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Zone Setup

• Select the "Zones" tab at the bottom, then continue by selecting "Set up Zones" at the bottom of your Zones screen:

• Tap "Next" on the screen below. The app will work its way through all of your Zones, starting with Zone 1.

Note

If you’re not using all of your zones, or you don’t want certain zones to water, you can disable any zone at any time. To do this, open the Zones tab, tap the zone you want to disable, and then tap the enable/disable toggle in the top-right corner. Once a zone is disabled, it will be hidden from the Zones tab and won’t be available when adding zones to a watering schedule. If the zone is included in any active schedules, it will no longer run. To start using a disabled zone again, simply enable it using the same toggle. You can re-enable a Zone at any time. Please refer to "Disable and Enable zones" within this guide.

• The app will initiate a 60-second countdown. You will be asked: "Is Zone 1 watering?"

  • Click "YES" if your sprinklers are running.
  • Click "NO" if the sprinklers are not turning on.

• After clicking on "YES" for any Zone, you will have the ability to configure that Zone.

Step 2: Configure your Zone

• Start by adding a name and a photo to your zone for easier identification.

• Select your Zone vegetation type.

  • Based on your location, Rachio selects a default vegetation type to help get you started. If this doesn't match what is planted in this zone, please select the option that best describes your vegetation.

• Select the kind of spray head or nozzle used in this zone. You can choose from the following categories:

  • Pop-Up Spray Heads
  • Pop-Up Rotary Nozzle
  • Drip line / Emitters

• Select your soil type.

  • Based on your location, Rachio selects a default soil type to help get you started. If this doesn't match what is in this zone, please select the option that best describes your soil.

• Select your zone's sun exposure. On the "How much sun does this zone get?" screen, you can choose from the following options:

  • Lots of Sun
  • Some Shade
  • Lots of Shade
  • Mostly Shade

• Select your zone's slope. On the "How much slope does this zone have?" screen, you can choose from the following options:

  • Flat
  • Slight
  • Moderate
  • Steep

Step 3: Repeat until all zones have been configured

If you want to review or update a zone’s attributes later, you can:

• Open the "Zones" tab to view each zone.
• Tap "Setup Zones" at the bottom of the Zones screen to go through the setup process again.

Note

Exiting/saving will override existing zone attributes.

To disable and Enable Zones

You can disable or re-enable a particular Zone at any time - this is particularly useful if you would like to shut off a Zone while troubleshooting an irrigation issue.

To disable a Zone:

• Go to the "Zones" tab and then select a specific Zone by tapping on the Zone card. This will take you to the Zone details. At the top of the screen, toggle off the "Enabled" option to "Disabled".

• A disabled zone will appear with an orange banner

Note

The orange banner will only be displayed for Android users. iOS users will see the zone grayed out when disabled.

To enable a Zone:

• Go to the "Zones" tab and select "Show Disabled" at the bottom of the Zones screen.

Note

If you're adding a zone to your irrigation system and wiring it to your Rachio controller, you can use a currently disabled zone and enable it in the app to start using it!

• Select a specific disabled Zone by tapping on the Zone card. At the top of the screen, toggle on the "Disabled" option.