The Kasa Smart Light Bulb is a smart lighting product developed by TP-Link. Kasa Smart is a brand that encompasses the company’s smart home accessories, which include smart cameras, smart plugs, and smart bulbs, just to name a few.
You might be experiencing your Kasa smart bulbs flickering and wondering how to fix the problem. But how do you go about doing so?
Kasa smart bulbs can flicker or flash for several reasons.
You’d probably need to inspect the hardware itself, as your Wi-Fi connection. You should also see if the bulbs are in pairing mode. Finally, you might need to do some trial and error to determine if it’s the fixture, the wiring, or a faulty or worn-out product that’s causing the light to malfunction.
Why is My Kasa Bulb Blinking/Flickering?
A Kasa smart bulb flickering can mean different things:
- It’s in pairing mode or has been reset
- The smart bulb is having difficulty getting a Wi-Fi signal
- It’s loose, attached to a smart switch, or there’s faulty wiring
- Your Kasa bulb is due for a replacement
Troubleshooting a flickering Kasa smart bulb may seem tedious, but it’s just a process of elimination. We’ll walk you through some steps you can take to fix the problem.
Is the Kasa Smart Bulb Plugged into a Smart Socket or Switch?
Smart switches are known to interfere with smart bulb operation, and the Kasa line is no exception. Your smart bulb may be receiving two different commands (one from the app, and another from the switch), thus causing a flickering effect as it changes brightness levels.
Since the Kasa bulb is already smart, there’s really no need to add a smart switch or socket. The same goes for a separate dimmer or a device that can change a smart bulb’s brightness. If the packaging or box that came with your Kasa bulb says that it’s dimmable, then you can forego any extra attachments and screw them directly to a light socket or lamp.
Also, make sure that the switch relay is set to ‘ON’ when the smart light is connected to an ordinary lamp or switch. You can then use the Kasa app to control the brightness or turn it on or off.
Does Your Smart Bulb Have Sufficient Wi-Fi Network Coverage?
A blinking Kasa smart bulb can also mean that it’s trying to get connected to your home Wi-Fi. In the event that your network is offline, or that the signal is intermittent or too low, then the bulb will flash a warning sign to let you know its status.
The good news is that the bulb usually corrects itself after a minute or two once it’s back online. If there has been a recent blackout, or if your router has restarted then you’ll just have to wait a few minutes.
To fix a low Wi-Fi signal, you can either bring the router closer or install an extender to cover all your smart home accessories and devices. Alternatively, you can upgrade your router to expand your Wi-Fi range.
Is Your Kasa Smart Bulb Pulsing in a Pattern?
It’s possible that your Kasa light is in ‘pairing mode’ and trying to establish itself after a power interruption. A friend or family member might have played with the light switch and accidentally activated pairing mode. Or, there might have been a blackout or a power surge that caused the flickering Kasa smart bulb issue.
To fix this, wait a minute or two and make sure it’s connected to the internet. Your smart bulb will go back to its original status, and you’ll see it in the app. If the problem persists, check the app and see if it’s connected or struggling to find a Wi-Fi signal.
None of These Have Worked – What Now?
At this point, you will need to inspect the Kasa smart bulb itself, as well as the socket to which the light is connected. Here are some steps you can follow.
Step 1. Check and See If the Bulb is Loose
Turn off the hardware switch so you won’t encounter an accident. If the bulb is connected to a lamp, unplug it from the wall outlet.
Give your Kasa bulb a gentle wiggle to see if it’s loose in its socket. If you want, you can also unscrew it and screw it back in. Make sure that it’s nice and locked in. Then, plug the lamp in or turn the hardware switch on and try again.
Step 2. Use Another Fixture or Lamp
We can eliminate the possibility of a faulty lamp or fixture by trying the Kasa bulb in another socket.
You can screw the Kasa bulb that’s flickering into another socket or lamp, then turn it on. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t attach a dimmer or smart switch, or else you might get the same results.
If your Kasa smart bulb stops blinking or flickering after the initial setup phase or pairing mode, then the culprit lies in the socket or lamp. You may need to connect the bulb to your Wi-Fi again through the app.
Step 3. Check for Loose Wiring and Faulty Connections
Take a quick look at the fixture or socket wiring and see if there are any wires that are frayed or damaged. The lamp plug should not be loose, while also being securely attached to a wall outlet, for example. Anything more serious warrants a call to a professional electrician.
You can also check for voltage fluctuations or an overloaded circuit, both of which exhibit telltale signs.
Voltage fluctuation is a likely culprit if your smart lights flicker or blink when you turn a nearby home appliance on or off. Historically speaking, if you frequently replace smart bulbs in a particular socket or part of the house then you’ll want to have it checked by a professional.
An overloaded circuit causes the same problem, especially if you turn a power-hungry appliance on or off.
Step 4. Reset Your Kasa Smart Bulb
You can do a soft reset, then a factory reset if your Kasa bulbs continue to flash incessantly. The difference between the two is that a soft reset won’t erase your current settings while a factory reset erases custom settings and restores the bulb to factory default.
To do a soft reset, locate the hardware switch on the lamp or the socket, then quickly turn it on and off 3 or 5 times, depending on the Kasa smart bulb model. For a factory reset, you should turn the switch on and off 5 or 10 times.
The 3 on/off soft reset procedure works for Kasa bulb models LB100, LB110, LB200, LB130, LB230, KL110 1.0, KL120, KL110B 1.0, KL130 1.0, KL130B 1.0 and LB100TKIT. If you want to reset to factory default, you should do a 5 on/off switch procedure.
The 5 on/off soft reset procedure works for Kasa bulb models KL50, KL50B, KL60, KL60B, KL110 2.0, KL110B 2.0, KL110 3.0, KL125 1.2, KL125 2.0, KL125 3.0, KL130 2.0, KL130B 2.0 and KL135 1.0. To do a factory reset, turn the hard switch on and off 10 times.
Step 5. Reinstall the Kasa Smart App
Before calling customer support or giving up on your light bulb, it is worth verifying if the app is at fault.
In this method, we simply delete and re-install the Kasa Smart app. You will likely have to devote some time to logging back in, entering passwords, and re-creating connections. But if the app was the cause of the bulb flickering, a fresh install might just solve your problems.
Step 6. Replace Your Kasa Bulb
Your Kasa smart bulb may have exhausted its lifespan and could be on the verge of a breakdown.
A typical 9.5W Kasa bulb will have a 25,000-hour lifespan. It could be shorter or longer, depending on the environment and how frequently you use the light.
Roughly speaking, a Kasa bulb should last approximately a thousand days or so, or about 3 years. But this is assuming that the bulb is always turned on.
It’s worth noting that voltage fluctuations and overloaded circuits can cause your bulb to die out before its time. It’s recommended you have an electrician do an inspection and fix the issue if you suspect this is the case.
If you have another Kasa Smart Bulb, you can put it in and see if it flickers or not. If the new one doesn’t, then you should definitely buy a smart bulb replacement.
Conclusion – Fix Kasa Smart Bulbs Flickering or Flashing
You can easily determine if your Kasa smart bulbs need to be replaced, or if there’s something wrong with the fixture or lamp using our guide. Simple solutions, such as removing the dimmer or the smart switch attached to your Kasa bulb are quick fixes to this annoying problem. If all else fails and your light is a few years old, then it’s probably time to get a new bulb installed.
