Shark Robot Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi? Here’s the Solution
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You may be wondering, “what should I do if my Shark robot won't connect to Wi-Fi, or loses connection with Wi-Fi or the app?” While your Shark robot may temporarily lose connectivity when it goes under furniture, moves far from your router, or enters a zone that blocks Wi-Fi, sometimes it will have trouble connecting to Wi-Fi.
Assuming you have done the correct steps connecting your Shark robot to Wi-Fi, your Shark robot should automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi on its own if it loses connectivity. If your Shark robot loses connectivity and does not reconnect, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure your phone is connected to your home Wi-Fi network before connecting your robot.
- Typical home Wi-Fi networks support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Make sure you are connected to a 2.4 GHz network when you enter your username and password.
- Make sure the robot’s power switch is turned to the (I) ON position. There should be an audio prompt when the robot's power is turned on.
- Do not use a VPN or a proxy server. Make sure Wi-Fi isolation is turned off on the router.
Quick troubleshooting for a Shark robot and Wi-Fi
Before continuing with the steps, please have your Wi-Fi network’s name and password ready. If you are having trouble connecting your Shark robot to Wi-Fi, follow these three steps for a fresh start to connect:
Step 1: Reboot the Wi-Fi router
Reboot your Wi-Fi router by unplugging the power cord from the back of the router. Wait 60 seconds and then plug it back in. Make sure your Wi-Fi is working correctly by connecting a phone, tablet, or computer to it.
If you are sure that your Wi-Fi is working correctly, move on to step 2.
Step 2: Restart your Shark robot
Perform a simple restart or reboot by pressing the switch on the side of the robot to the (O) position to turn off the power. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the power back on and wait for the audio prompt.
Please keep in mind that a Shark robot reboot is different from a factory reset.
Step 3: Reboot your phone
Once you have restarted your Shark robot, reboot your phone. Turn off your phone, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on and connect it to your Wi-Fi. By doing all three steps, you will have a fresh start to connecting.
When connecting your Shark robot to your Wi-Fi in the SharkClean app, if you have multiple Wi-Fi networks available in your home, connect to the 2.4GHz network, not to a 5GHz network.
If you only have one Wi-Fi network available in your home, this step will happen automatically.
Understanding Shark robot Wi-Fi indicator lights
A Shark robot has several indicator lights that identify various Wi-Fi connectivity issues you may have. Here’s a quick guide explaining what the indicators mean:
- ! (RED) + Wi-Fi indicator (RED Flashing). A red exclamation point will light up and the Wi-Fi indicator light will flash if your password is entered incorrectly. The Shark robot will say “incorrect wireless network password”. Ensure you have the correct Wi-Fi password when starting your connection setup.
- ! (Flashing red) + Wi-Fi (RED). If both the exclamation mark light and the Wi-Fi indicator light are solid red, with nothing flashing, that means your wireless network could not be found. Connect another device to confirm your network is working and try connecting again. If the issue persists, follow the three quick troubleshooting steps we just reviewed before trying again.
- ! + Wi-Fi (Flashing RED alternately). If the exclamation mark light and the Wi-Fi indicator light are both red and are both flashing alternately, you have entered the wrong username or password for your Shark account. Try entering your Shark account username and password again.
- ! + Wi-Fi (Flashing RED at the same time). If the exclamation mark light and the Wi-Fi indicator light are both red and are both flashing at the same time, then the Shark robot is not connected to the network. The Shark robot will also say “cannot connect to wireless network”. To resolve this, follow the three quick troubleshooting steps we just reviewed before trying again.
Advanced troubleshooting for a Shark robot and Wi-Fi
If you have done the steps above, but you are still having trouble connecting your Shark robot to a Wi-Fi network, it’s time to take a few steps further to troubleshoot the issue. Here are 4 things to fix:
1. Switch to a 2.4Ghz network
Modern routers typically use two frequency bands, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Shark robots can only connect to 2.4GHz networks. They do not work with 5GHz networks.
To check if your router is dual-band, look up the model on the manufacturer’s website. Check the SSID name. If 2 networks are being broadcast from the router, it is most likely a dual-band router.
Be sure to select a 2.4GHz network for all Shark robots. If there are duplicate SSIDs, confirm that the MAC address associated with the SSID corresponds to the Wi-Fi Access Point. The instructions for finding the MAC address will be in the Administration section of the Wi-Fi Access Point user manual.
An issue known as band steering occurs when both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks have the same SSID. This can cause connectivity issues when setting up connected devices. We recommend giving the networks separate names to prevent band steering problems.
2. Move the router closer to your Shark robot and your phone
If your Shark robot frequently loses its W-Fi connection, it may mean that the Wi-Fi signal is not strong enough in the area where the Shark robot drops its connection.
Router placement makes a big impact on a Shark robot’s connectivity. Try placing your home’s router in a more central area, so the coverage is more uniform throughout the house.
Even with centrally placed routers, there could be some dead zones around large metal objects, like refrigerators or stoves. You can often identify those by using your smartphone to search for available networks in areas where the robot disconnects.
Check the signal strength of available networks in those areas compared to other areas in your house. If you find a dead zone, try moving the router to a better location. Sometimes even a small movement of the router can improve or remove the dead zone dramatically.
3. Change firewall settings and MAC filtering
Firewall settings may block certain ports. Check your home connection technology such as router settings. To ensure your Shark robot has a smooth connection, the following ports should be open or whitelisted:
- 80 (http) and
- 443 (https)
- 53, 55055 and 55056
Please check the user manual for your router to verify the instructions on configuring firewalls.
MAC filtering can also block some devices from accessing your Wi-Fi network, and could keep your Shark robot from connecting. If your network is set up to only allow certain devices to connect, make sure you add the Shark robot’s MAC address to the list. This can be typically found on the back of the robot.
4. Check for interference
Many consumer devices use a 2.4GHz frequency, and they can interfere with the Wi-Fi signal from your Shark robot. Turn off those devices if you encounter connection issues.
Here are some products that may use this frequency:
- Baby monitors
- Remote control toys
- Wireless video and audio equipment
- Microwave ovens
- Wireless keyboard and computer mice
- A neighbor’s Wi-Fi Access Point can also be a source of interference
A Wi-Fi analyzer app can identify interference. If Wi-Fi interference is identified, change the Wi-Fi channel. To change the channel of a Wi-Fi Access Point, please refer to the Wi-Fi Access Point user manual.
Final Words
And there you have it, the complete and thorough troubleshooting guide for a Shark robot having trouble connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Please follow the quick troubleshooting tips at the top first. If the problem still persists, continue to the advanced troubleshooting tips.
If you still have problems, please do not hesitate to contact Shark Customer Service. They would be more than happy to diagnose your connectivity problems and find the right solution for you.
Heads up: If you are tired of dealing with your robot vacuum's internet connection problems, then maybe all you need is a simple robot vacuum that works with just a push of a button. Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of robot vacuums that don't have Wi-Fi but work just as well, if not better. Check out the top 4 here.
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