Smart plugs, smart bulbs and Alexa or Google: how to set them up and get them working together

If we sent you this link, start with the section for the thing you’re setting up: the plug, the bulb or the speaker. A smart home sounds complicated, but it’s three simple parts talking over your WiFi, and it goes smoothly when each one is set up in the right order. If you’d rather someone set it up beside you and showed you how it works, that’s what home tech support for the devices on your WiFi is for.

What does each part of a smart home do?

A smart home has three parts: the device (a plug or a bulb), the maker’s app on your phone that sets it up, and, if you want to use your voice, a smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo (Alexa) or a Google Nest speaker. All three talk to each other through your modem’s WiFi, so when one of them can’t reach the WiFi, the whole thing stops.

Pick a request or a routine

"Alexa, turn on the lamp" "Goodnight" "Away for the day" "It says the device isn't responding"

5GHz 2.4GHz only

"Alexa, turn on the lamp"

The speaker hears its name and the lamp's name, and passes the request through the modem's WiFi to the smart plug. The plug switches the lamp on.

"Goodnight"

A routine: one phrase, several actions. The lamp's plug turns off, then the ceiling bulb.

"Away for the day"

Set once in the app, this routine starts at a time of day. At 6pm the lamp comes on by itself.

"It says the device isn't responding"

The speaker is fine, but it can't reach the plug. Most smart plugs only work on 2.4GHz, and this one is being looked for on the wrong band. Put your phone on the 2.4GHz network and set the plug up again.

The parts of a smart home, and what each one does

The part	What it does	What it needs
A smart plug	Goes into an ordinary power point. Whatever you plug into it, a lamp or a fan, can be switched on and off from your phone or by voice	Your home WiFi, usually the 2.4GHz band
A smart bulb	Screws into a light fitting you already have, and turns on, off or dims from your phone or by voice	Your home WiFi, and the wall switch left on
The maker's app	Sets the plug or bulb up, joins it to the WiFi, and links it to Alexa or Google	Your phone, near the device, on the home WiFi
A smart speaker	Listens for "Alexa" or "Hey Google" and passes your request on to the plug or bulb	The Alexa app or the Google Home app, and your home WiFi

You don’t need the speaker at all to start. A smart plug on its own, set up in its app, lets you turn the lamp in the corner on and off from your phone without getting up. The speaker is what lets you do it by asking.

How do you set up a smart plug?

Plug it into a power point, open the maker’s app, add the plug, and give it your home WiFi name and password. Keep your phone right next to the plug the whole time. Every maker’s app is slightly different, but the steps follow the same order. These are TP-Link’s own steps for its Tapo plugs, as an example:

1. 1

   Get the app and an account

   Download the maker's app from the App Store or Google Play and sign in, or create an account. For Tapo plugs that's the Tapo app and a TP-Link ID.

2. 2

   Add the plug

   Tap the plus icon in the app, choose Add Device, then the kind of device (a plug) and your model.

3. 3

   Plug it in and wait for the light

   Plug it into a power point and wait until its light blinks the way the app describes. For a Tapo plug that's orange and green, or orange and blue for models set up by Bluetooth.

4. 4

   Join it to your WiFi

   Choose your home WiFi in the list and type its password carefully. Some plugs set up over Bluetooth, so turn Bluetooth on if the app asks.

5. 5

   Name it and put it in a room

   Give it a short name you'll say out loud, such as Lamp or Fan, and choose the room it's in.

6. 6

   Update it

   Let the app check for a firmware update, and turn on automatic updates if it offers them.

If the plug won’t join, it’s very likely the WiFi band. Most smart plugs only work on 2.4GHz, and the setup fails when your phone is on 5GHz under the same network name. TP-Link says its Tapo plugs work with any router that supports 2.4GHz, and Amazon’s own help says most smart home WiFi devices only work on 2.4GHz. Why smart plugs won’t join, and how to get your phone on 2.4GHz explains the fix, with the setting’s name on the common modems.

These two plugs are 2.4GHz and set up with the steps above; the second also works with Matter, explained further down, and shows how much power the appliance uses.

We earn a small commission if you buy through our Amazon links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Gear mentioned here, on Amazon Australia

Product	What it is for	Link
Tapo P100	2.4GHz smart plug	View on Amazon for the Tapo P100 (opens in a new tab)
Tapo P110M	2.4GHz, Matter, power use	View on Amazon for the Tapo P110M (opens in a new tab)

Can I put a heater on a smart plug?

Only if the heater draws well under the plug’s limit, and even then with care. TP-Link lists space heaters, kettles, toasters, irons and hair dryers among the high-power appliances to be cautious with. Its advice is to keep the load under 80% of the plug’s rated maximum, and to stop using a plug straight away if it’s too hot to touch or smells burnt. Check the heater’s watts on its label against the plug’s maximum on its box or the maker’s page; if the heater is over 80% of it, don’t use that plug. TP-Link’s advice if a smart plug feels warm (opens in a new tab) has the rest.

Don’t rely on a routine to turn a heater off. Google says plainly that its automations are for convenience, not safety, because they depend on the internet, the WiFi and the makers’ services. A lamp is the easy first job for a smart plug.

How do you set up a smart bulb?

Screw it into a light fitting, turn the wall switch on, and add it in the maker’s app the same way as a plug. The one thing to remember afterwards is to leave the wall switch on: a smart bulb needs power to hear your phone or your speaker. Google’s own help, for a light that doesn’t respond, starts with checking the socket has power and the wall switch is on.

Using TP-Link’s Tapo bulbs as the example again: tap the plus button in the Tapo app, choose Add Device, then Lights and your model. Screw the bulb in, switch it on and wait for it to blink three times, then keep your phone close while the app finds it (by Bluetooth on some models, or by joining the bulb’s own WiFi on others). Choose your home WiFi, type the password, name the bulb, and let it update.

Gear mentioned here, on Amazon Australia

Product	What it is for	Link
Tapo L530E	Colour WiFi bulb, no hub needed	View on Amazon for the Tapo L530E (opens in a new tab)

Do I need an electrician for smart lights?

Not for a smart bulb, but yes for a smart switch or a new light fitting. The NSW Government’s electrical safety page for homes (opens in a new tab) says DIY electrical work is dangerous and illegal. Unless you’re a qualified electrician, it says not to install, replace or move lights and switches, or do any electrical maintenance other than changing a light globe.

So a smart bulb in an existing fitting is a globe change. A smart plug goes into a power point you already have, the same as a lamp would. A smart switch or a smart light fitting that replaces what’s on the wall or the ceiling is wired in, and that’s a job for a licensed electrician. The same page says to check an electrician’s licence number on the public register before agreeing to any work.

How do you set up Alexa?

Plug the Echo in, then add it in the Alexa app on your phone. Amazon’s steps for an Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Pop are:

1. 1

   Plug in the Echo.

2. 2

   Open the Alexa app (get it from your phone's app store first if you don't have it) and select Devices.

3. 3

   Select the plus icon, then Add Device.

4. 4

   Select Amazon Echo, then Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Pop and more, and follow the instructions on the screen.

Gear mentioned here, on Amazon Australia

Product	What it is for	Link
Echo Dot	Smart speaker with Alexa	View on Amazon for the Echo Dot (opens in a new tab)

Connecting the plug and the bulb to Alexa

Set the plug or bulb up in its own app first, then link it to Alexa. In the Alexa app, open Devices, select the plus icon, then Add Device, choose the kind of device and the brand, and follow the steps. Look for the “Works with Alexa” badge on the box before you buy; Amazon says devices with it are certified to work with Alexa. Amazon’s page on connecting smart home devices to Alexa has the full steps.

Many makers’ apps can do the linking from their side too. In the Tapo app, for example, it’s under Me, then Third-Party Services, then Amazon Alexa. If the Alexa app says “No new devices found”, check the Devices page anyway: Amazon says some devices connect themselves.

How do you set up Google Home or a Google Nest speaker?

Plug the speaker into a wall socket, then add it in the Google Home app on a phone that’s on the same WiFi, with Bluetooth on. Google says you need the latest Google Home app and a Google Account. Then:

1. 1

   Open the Google Home app, tap Add at the top right, then Device.

2. 2

   Scan the QR code on the speaker. If you can't, tap Use setup code and type the code in.

3. 3

   Wait for the app to connect. It shows a screen that says Connected.

4. 4

   Follow the steps in the app to finish setting it up.

To add a plug or bulb from another maker, set it up in that maker’s app first. Then in the Google Home app, tap the plus icon at the top right, then Device, then Add a different way. Search for the brand, choose the device’s app and tap Link app. Google’s page on connecting other makers’ smart devices in Google Home (opens in a new tab) walks through it.

What is Matter?

Matter is a newer standard that lets a plug or bulb join Alexa or Google Home directly, without the maker’s app in between. If the box says Matter, Google says you can set it up in the Google Home app itself. Amazon says a Matter WiFi device has to be on the same 2.4GHz WiFi network as the speaker controlling it.

How do you name devices so the speaker understands you?

Use a short, different name for each device, with no room name and no numbers in it. Google suggests names like “Reading light” and “TV light” rather than “Left sofa light” and “Right sofa light”, and “Desk light” rather than “Bedroom desk light”. Put each device in a room in the app as well; Google says that makes them easier to control.

If you rename a device in its maker’s app after linking it, the speaker may not know the new name yet. TP-Link says to rediscover the device in Alexa after renaming it, and Google’s help suggests saying “Hey Google, sync all devices”.

How do routines work?

A routine is one request that does several things at once, or something that happens by itself at a set time. Say “Goodnight” and the lamp and the bulb turn off; or the lamp comes on at 6pm every evening, whether you’re home or not.

In the Alexa app, select More, then Routines, then the plus icon. Select Add an event to choose what starts it (a phrase you say, a time of day or an alarm going off), then Add an action to choose what it does, such as turning a plug or a light on or off. You can add several actions, then select Save.

In the Google Home app, Google calls them automations. Tap Add at the top right, then Automation, give it a name, add a starter, any conditions and the actions, and tap Save. A starter can be a voice command beginning “Hey Google”, or a schedule.

Why does it say the device isn’t responding?

It means the speaker can’t reach the device: the plug or bulb has lost power, dropped off the WiFi, or is still looking for an old modem. Work down this list:

• Check the power. Is the wall switch on for a bulb? Is the plug’s light on? Amazon’s first step for a plug that’s stopped responding is to unplug it and plug it back in.
• Try it in the maker’s app. If the app can control it and Alexa can’t, Amazon says to reactivate the maker’s skill in the Alexa app. If the app can’t either, the device is off the WiFi.
• Check the speaker is online. Amazon suggests asking “Alexa, are you online?”. If the speaker is off the WiFi too, the trouble is the WiFi or the internet, not the plug. Restarting the modem and NBN box the right way is the next step.
• Check the distance. Amazon’s help for an Echo with WiFi trouble suggests keeping it within 10 metres of the modem and away from microwaves and baby monitors. TP-Link gives the same advice for its plugs: move them closer to the router, away from walls and appliances that block the signal.
• Check the modem’s settings. If its devices keep going offline, TP-Link suggests turning off modem settings called Smart Connect, Wi-Fi Optimizing or Channel Optimization.
• Reset and set it up again. Amazon’s last step: remove the device in the Alexa app, reset it with the maker’s steps, and add it again.

After a new modem or a new WiFi password

Every plug and bulb is still trying to join the old WiFi name and password. TP-Link says one way around it is to give the new modem the same WiFi name and password as the old one, and the devices reconnect by themselves. Otherwise, reset each device and set it up again on the new network. If you’ve never changed those settings, how to log into your modem and change the WiFi name and password shows where they are.

If the WiFi simply doesn’t reach the room the device is in, a mesh system with a unit near it usually fixes that. The best mesh WiFi for Australian homes sorts the choices by the kind of house.

Gear mentioned here, on Amazon Australia

Product	What it is for	Link
TP-Link Deco X55, 3-pack	WiFi 6 mesh for most homes	View on Amazon for the TP-Link Deco X55, 3-pack (opens in a new tab)

A printer that says offline can be the same story: here are the printer checks.

Keeping smart devices safe

Use a strong password, keep the devices updated, and buy from a maker that provides security updates. That’s the government’s cyber security advice for smart devices at cyber.gov.au, which warns that weak default passwords are the easiest way into a device. Since 4 March 2026, the Department of Home Affairs says most smart devices made for homes must have a unique password or one you set, a way to report security problems, and a stated period of security updates.

Turning on automatic firmware updates in the maker’s app covers most of it. If you sell or give a device away, the same cyber.gov.au advice is to factory reset it first.

When to call us, and when you don’t need to

A plug, a bulb and a speaker set up with the steps above are yours to do, and so are the names and the routines. A device that won’t work while everything else on the WiFi is fine is a question for its maker’s support, and a modem from your provider that keeps dropping out is your provider’s to look at.

Call us when you’d rather not do it alone, or when it’s the WiFi underneath. Home tech support works through the devices on your WiFi in one visit and shows you how each one works before we go. If the devices keep dropping off at one end of the house, a WiFi technician fixes the coverage so they stay connected. If nothing in the house can get online, an internet technician who tests the line, the NBN box and the modem is the right visit. Smart switches and light fittings are a licensed electrician’s job.

Not sure which you need? Send us a message saying what you have and what it’s doing, or ring us on 02 9188 1577.