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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteFor most Kasa smart plugs, hold the physical control/reset button for about 5 seconds to return the plug to setup mode while preserving its settings. Hold it for about 10 seconds instead to factory-reset the plug and erase its configuration. If the plug is offline, use the physical button; app-based removal requires the plug to be online.
Choose the right kind of reset
Use a soft reset if you are changing Wi-Fi networks or trying to reconnect a plug and want to keep its existing configuration. Use a factory reset if you want to erase its settings, transfer it to someone else, or start over. TP-Link describes the soft reset as preserving settings and the factory reset as clearing them in its Kasa reset instructions.
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- Soft reset: Returns the plug to setup mode without the destructive effect of a factory reset.
- Factory reset: Erases saved configuration, including Wi-Fi and device settings; you will need to set the plug up again.
- App removal: Can remove an online plug through the Kasa app. It is not a practical option when the plug is offline.
Before starting, keep the plug connected to a powered outlet, have your Wi-Fi credentials ready, and identify the model and hardware version from the product label. Button layout and LED behavior can vary; use the guide for your exact model if it differs from the general steps below.
Soft-reset a Kasa smart plug
- Leave the plug connected to a powered wall outlet and make sure it is switched on.
- Press and hold its physical control/reset button for about 5 seconds.
- Release the button when the status LED begins blinking in the setup pattern.
- Open the Kasa app and start the add-device or connection process. Select your plug and follow the Wi-Fi prompts.
TP-Link’s general instructions describe the setup pattern as blinking amber and green. The HS105 may blink amber and blue instead, so that different color does not by itself mean the reset failed. LED indications can vary by model, hardware revision, and region; check your model’s guide if the pattern is different.
#1 Best Overall
- Voice control: Kasa smart plugs that work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant. Enjoy the hands free convenience of controlling any home electronic appliances with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- Easy set up and use: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection required. Plug in, open the Kase app, follow the simple instructions and enjoy
- Scheduling: Use timer or countdown schedules set your smart plug to automatically turn on and off any home electronic appliances such as lamps, fan, humidifier, Christmas lights etc.
- Smart Outlet Control from Anywhere: Turn electronics on and off from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app, whether you are at home, in the office or on vacation.
- Trusted and Reliable: Kasa is trusted by over 6 Million users and being the Reader’s Choice of PCMag 2020. UL certified for safety use. 2-year warranty.
Factory-reset a Kasa smart plug
A factory reset is the appropriate choice when you are giving the plug away, want a clean setup, or a soft reset has not resolved the problem. It removes the plug’s configuration, so expect to set it up again.
- Keep the plug powered on.
- Press and hold the physical control/reset button for about 10 seconds.
- Release it when the LED flashes amber rapidly.
- Wait for the plug to restart, then open the Kasa app and add it as a new device.
- Enter the Wi-Fi details and recreate any settings you need, such as schedules, timers, Smart Actions, or integrations.
TP-Link’s KP115 user guide and KP125 (US) user guide also specify a roughly 10-second button hold for a factory reset. Follow the guide for your model and hardware version if its instructions differ.
Rank #2
- Voice control: Kasa smart plugs that work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant. Enjoy the hands free convenience of controlling any home electronic appliances with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- Easy set up and use: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection required. Plug in, open the case app, follow the simple instructions and enjoy. Kasa app reqiured
- Scheduling: Use timer or countdown schedules set your smart plug to automatically turn on and off any home electronic appliances such as lamps, fan, humidifier, Christmas lights etc.
- Smart Outlet Control from Anywhere: Turn electronics on and off from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app, whether you are at home, in the office or on vacation.
- Trusted and Reliable: Kasa is trusted by over 6 Million users and being the Reader’s Choice of PCMag 2020. UL certified for safety use. 2-year warranty.
Remove an online plug from the Kasa app
When the plug is online and communicating with the app, TP-Link’s current instructions offer two removal routes. App wording may change over time.
- From the Kasa app Home page, long-press the plug’s device card, tap the minus/remove control, and confirm; or
- Open the plug’s device page, tap the gear icon for Device Settings, choose Remove, and confirm.
This method depends on the plug being online. If it cannot communicate with the app, use the physical-button procedure instead. See TP-Link’s instructions for removing or resetting a Tapo or Kasa plug.
Rank #3
- 【Apple Homekit Support】This Apple HomeKit compatible smart plug fully integrates into your Apple ecosystem, just ask Siri to turn on/off the devices in your home. (Apple HomeKit remote control requires an additional networked Apple device at home such as an iPad, HomePod or Apple TV.)
- 【Energy Monitoring & 15A Max Load】Use the smart Wi-Fi home plug to monitor your connected device's energy usage in real-time and view its historical power consumption within the Kasa Smart app. 1800W, 15A max load supported.
- 【Super Easy Setup】Enjoy an extremely easy and quick setup process with this Amazon Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) & Google Seamless Setup (GSS) supported smart plug. You can also setup in a few steps with the Kasa App.
- 【Compact & Flame Retardant Design】Avoid blocking additional outlets with its compact design, and plug in your WiFi smart plug with confidence thanks to its UL certified flame retardant design and 2-year limited warranty.
- 【App & Voice Control】Control your WiFi smart plug from anywhere, anytime via the free Kasa App or just give voice commands to Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Samsung SmartThings. Your favorite smart assistant enables you to have a truly hands-free experience. Operating Humidity: 5%~90% RH, Non-condensing
Set up the plug after resetting
After a soft reset, use the Kasa app’s setup flow to connect the plug again. After a factory reset, add it as a new device and enter its Wi-Fi details. Keep your phone near the plug and follow the prompts for the specific model.
- Check that the phone is on the intended Wi-Fi network and that you have the correct password.
- Choose the plug’s name and room, then restore any schedules, timers, scenes, or Smart Actions you want.
- If a factory reset removed device associations, reconnect voice assistants or other smart-home integrations you use, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, or SmartThings.
If setup still fails, possible causes include a weak signal, an unsupported router band or security setting for that model, app permissions, or the plug being registered to another account. A reset does not necessarily resolve router, account, firmware, or hardware problems.
Rank #4
- Voice control: Kasa smart plugs that work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant. Enjoy the hands free convenience of controlling any home electronic appliances with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Compatible with Android 5.0 or higher and iOS 10.0 or higher
- Smart Outlet Control from anywhere: Turn electronics on and off your smart home devices from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app, whether you are at home, in the office or on vacation
- Scheduling: Use timer or countdown schedules to set your wifi smart plug to automatically turn on and off any home electronic appliances such as lamps, fan, humidifier, Christmas lights etc. The Kasa app is free and compatible with iOS 10.0 or later.
- Easy set up and use: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection required. Plug in, open the Kasa app, follow the simple instructions and enjoy
- Trusted and reliable: Designed and developed in Silicon Valley, Kasa is trusted by over 5 Million users and being the reader’s choice for PCMag 2020. UL certified for safety use.
Button and LED differences by model
Most Kasa plugs use a physical control/reset button. On the HS300 and KP303 power strips, the control button also serves as the reset button. TP-Link’s general timing is about 5 seconds for setup mode and about 10 seconds for a factory reset, but check the applicable manual if your model behaves differently.
| Model or group | Button or LED note | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Most Kasa plugs | Use the physical control/reset button; general setup-mode indication is amber and green blinking. | Confirm the button and LED pattern in the model-specific guide. |
| HS105 | The setup LED may blink amber and blue instead of amber and green. | Do not treat the color difference alone as proof the reset failed. |
| HS300 and KP303 power strips | The control button doubles as the reset button. | Use the hold time for the reset you intend to perform. |
| KP115 and KP125 | Their cited model guides specify a roughly 10-second physical-button hold for factory reset. | Use the guide for the exact hardware version and region. |
Models and hardware versions available vary by region. TP-Link provides model-specific manuals and support materials on its HS100, HS103, KP105, and KP115 pages. Check the page matching the label on your device.
Best Value
- Surge protection: ETL-certified surge protection shields sensitive electronics and appliances from sudden power surges.
If the reset does not work
The LED does not enter a setup or reset pattern
- Test the wall outlet with another appliance and confirm the plug is receiving power.
- Unplug the Kasa device, wait briefly, reconnect it, and repeat the hold using the correct button and approximate timing.
- Check the model label and its manual for a separate reset button or a different LED indication.
- If the plug remains unresponsive, consult TP-Link support; a reset cannot repair a hardware fault.
The button toggles the connected appliance
A short press normally controls power. Use one continuous hold for the full reset interval—about 5 seconds for setup mode or about 10 seconds for factory reset—rather than tapping repeatedly.
The plug is offline in the app
Use the physical button to enter setup mode or factory-reset it. App removal requires the device to be online, so it cannot serve as the dependable route for an offline plug.
You have a Tapo plug
Do not assume a Kasa button sequence applies to Tapo hardware. Check the instructions for the exact product in TP-Link’s reset guidance and the applicable regional support materials.
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