How to Fix TP-Link Deco App Not Showing Client Devices

• Update Deco firmware, check band steering settings in app to fix missing clients.
• Use original account created during setup to correctly sync devices list.
• Free app device slots by removing old clients, reset Deco if issues persist.

TP-Link Deco is a whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system that delivers seamless and reliable wireless coverage for your home. You can easily set up and manage your Deco network using the Deco app on your smartphone or tablet. However, some users may encounter an issue where the Deco app does not show any active connected devices, even though the Wi-Fi and network are working normally. This can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially if you want to check the status of your devices or apply parental controls or QoS settings.

In this article, we will explain why this issue may occur and how to fix it. We will also provide some tips and FAQs to help you optimize your Deco network and avoid similar problems in the future.

Why does the Deco app not show client devices?

There are several possible reasons why the Deco app may not show client devices on your network. Some of them are:

• The client devices have static IP addresses that are not compatible with the Deco network.
• The client devices are using private addresses that are not recognized by the Deco app.
• The Deco units are on Ethernet backhaul via a network switch, and the client devices connected to the same switch show up as offline on the Deco app.
• The Deco app is outdated or has a bug that prevents it from displaying the client devices correctly.
• The Deco network is experiencing interference or instability that affects the communication between the Deco units and the client devices.

How to fix the Deco app not showing client devices?

Depending on the cause of the issue, there are different solutions that you can try to fix the Deco app not showing client devices. Here are some of them:

Solution 1: Check if the client devices have static IP addresses

If you have configured static IP addresses for some of your client devices, they may not be compatible with the Deco network. The Deco network uses DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to assign IP addresses to the client devices automatically. If the static IP addresses are outside the DHCP range of the Deco network, they may cause conflicts or errors.

To fix this, you can either change the static IP addresses to dynamic ones, or adjust the DHCP range of the Deco network to match the static IP addresses. Here are the steps to do so:

Change static IP addresses to dynamic ones

1. On your Windows PC, go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
2. Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.
3. Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
4. Select Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically.
5. Click OK to save the changes.
6. On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced.
7. Click on TCP/IP tab.
8. Select Using DHCP from the Configure IPv4 drop-down menu.
9. Click OK to save the changes.
10. On your Android device, go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
11. Tap on your Wi-Fi network name and then tap on Advanced.
12. Tap on IP settings and select DHCP.
13. Tap Save to save the changes.
14. On your iOS device, go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
15. Tap on your Wi-Fi network name and then tap on Configure IP.
16. Select Automatic and then tap Save.

Adjust DHCP range of Deco network

1. Launch the Deco app and log in with your TP-Link ID.
2. Tap on More > Advanced > LAN IP.
3. Tap on DHCP Server Settings.
4. Adjust the Start IP Address and End IP Address according to your static IP addresses. Make sure there is no overlap or conflict between them.
5. Tap Save to save the changes.

Solution 2: Check if the client devices are using private addresses

Some client devices may use private addresses that are not recognized by the Deco app. Private addresses are usually assigned by another router or device that acts as a DHCP server on your network. They may start with 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x, or 192.168.x.x. If you have multiple routers or devices that act as DHCP servers on your network, they may cause conflicts or errors.

To fix this, you can either disable the DHCP server function on other routers or devices, or change their LAN IP addresses to avoid overlap with the Deco network. Here are the steps to do so:

Disable DHCP server function on other routers or devices

1. Log in to the web interface of your other router or device using a web browser. You may need to enter its LAN IP address in the address bar. Refer to its user manual for more details.
2. Find the DHCP server settings and disable it. Save and apply the changes.
3. Reboot your other router or device and the Deco network.

Change LAN IP addresses of other routers or devices

1. Log in to the web interface of your other router or device using a web browser. You may need to enter its LAN IP address in the address bar. Refer to its user manual for more details.
2. Find the LAN IP settings and change it to a different subnet from the Deco network. For example, if the Deco network uses 192.168.0.x, you can change the other router or device to 192.168.1.x. Save and apply the changes.
3. Reboot your other router or device and the Deco network.

Solution 3: Check if the Deco units are on Ethernet backhaul via a network switch

If you have connected your Deco units using Ethernet cables via a network switch, the client devices connected to the same switch may show up as offline on the Deco app. This is because the Deco app cannot detect the connection status of these devices through the switch.

To fix this, you can either connect your client devices directly to the Deco units, or assign static IP addresses to them within the DHCP range of the Deco network. Here are the steps to do so:

Connect client devices directly to Deco units

1. Disconnect your client devices from the network switch and connect them directly to any of the Deco units using Ethernet cables.
2. Reboot your client devices and check if they appear online on the Deco app.

Assign static IP addresses to client devices within DHCP range of Deco network

1. Launch the Deco app and log in with your TP-Link ID.
2. Tap on More > Advanced > LAN IP.
3. Tap on DHCP Server Settings and note down the Start IP Address and End IP Address of the Deco network.
4. Assign static IP addresses to your client devices within this range using the steps in Solution 1.
5. Reboot your client devices and check if they appear online on the Deco app.

Solution 4: Update or reinstall the Deco app

If none of the above solutions work, the problem may be caused by a bug or an outdated version of the Deco app. To fix this, you can try updating or reinstalling the Deco app on your smartphone or tablet. Here are the steps to do so:

Update the Deco app

1. Go to Google Play or App Store on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Search for TP-Link Deco and tap on Update if available.
3. Wait for the update to complete and launch the Deco app again.

Reinstall the Deco app

1. Go to Google Play or App Store on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Search for TP-Link Deco and tap on Uninstall.
3. Wait for the uninstallation to complete and then tap on Install.
4. Wait for the installation to complete and launch the Deco app again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: How do I check which devices are connected to which Deco unit?

Answer: You can check which devices are connected to which Deco unit using the following steps:

1. Launch the Deco app and log in with your TP-Link ID.
2. Tap on Network > Devices.
3. Tap on any device icon and then tap on Details.
4. You will see which Deco unit this device is connected to under Connection.

Queston: How do I rename my devices on the Deco app?

Answer: You can rename your devices on the Deco app using the following steps:

1. Launch the Deco app and log in with your TP-Link ID.
2. Tap on Network > Devices.
3. Tap on any device icon and then tap on Details.
4. Tap on Device Name and enter a new name for this device.
5. Tap Save to save the changes.

Question: How do I enable Mesh Technology for my devices on the Deco app?

Answer: You can enable Mesh Technology for your devices on the Deco app using the following steps:

1. Launch the Deco app and log in with your TP-Link ID.
2. Tap on Network > Devices.
3. Tap on any device icon and then tap on Details.
4. Tap on Mesh Technology and toggle it on.
5. Mesh Technology will help your device connect to the best available Deco unit automatically.

Summary

In this article, we have explained why the TP-Link Deco app may not show client devices on your network, and how to fix it using different solutions. We hope this article has helped you resolve this issue and enjoy your seamless and reliable Wi-Fi coverage with TP-Link Deco. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Please consult with a qualified technician before making any changes to your network settings or devices. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from following this article.