If your Hatch won’t connect to Wi-Fi, use 2.4 GHz, enable Bluetooth during setup, then update Wi-Fi in the app while standing near the router.
Smart sleep gear should be set-and-forget. If “Hatch won’t connect to wifi” is the headache tonight, routines stall and the night drags. Here’s a plain, battle-tested path that works for Restore, Rest, Rest+, and 2nd-gen units. Start at the top and move down.
Hatch Not Connecting To Wi-Fi: Fast Fixes
Most misses trace to band choice, phone settings, or a router quirk. Run these checks first.
- Test the network on another device. Turn off mobile data so you don’t mask a bad link.
- Use a 2.4 GHz SSID. Many Hatch models join only 2.4 GHz. If bands share one name, split them or make a 2.4 GHz guest SSID.
- Stand by the router for setup. First pairing is fussy and hates weak signal.
- Turn on Bluetooth and allow location access during setup. The app finds the device over Bluetooth, then hands it to Wi-Fi.
- Check the password. Avoid trailing spaces and odd symbols. Pick WPA2 or mixed WPA2/WPA3, not WPA3-only.
- Reboot in this order: router, extenders, then the Hatch.
- Use the app’s Update Wi-Fi: Settings → your device → Update Wi-Fi, then pick the 2.4 GHz SSID.
- Pause VPN, private DNS, and ad-blocking profiles during setup.
- On mesh, turn off band steering or step away from a node so your phone lands on 2.4 GHz.
Quick Device-By-Device Clues
Match symptoms to fast actions across common models.
| Device/Model | Symptom | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Restore / Restore 2 / 3 | Stuck on “pairing” | Unplug, hold the double-arrow button 2 sec, plug in, then Update Wi-Fi. |
| Rest 2nd Gen | Connects, then drops | Use 2.4 GHz only, move closer, and reboot router and extenders. |
| Rest+ 1st Gen | Never finds network | Split bands; choose the 2.4 GHz SSID. |
| Rest+ 2nd Gen | Blinking Wi-Fi icon | Power cycle, run Update Wi-Fi, check WPA2 or mixed mode. |
| Rest (1st Gen) | Times out in app | Stand by the router, enable Bluetooth and location, retry. |
| Rest Go / Mini | App can’t see device | Charge fully, wake it, pair beside the router. |
Why 2.4 GHz Matters
Low-power gear picks 2.4 GHz for range through walls. Phones favor 5 GHz or 6 GHz, which breaks first-time pairing. If your router blends bands, add a 2.4 GHz guest SSID or split the names for setup. A short walk from the router can push your phone to 2.4 GHz. For a clear walk-through, see this 2.4 GHz setup guide.
Phone And App Setup Details
During setup, your phone talks to the unit over Bluetooth, then shares the Wi-Fi name and password. Keep Bluetooth on. Grant location access so the phone can scan networks. Stay on home Wi-Fi, not a hotspot. iOS private address and Android MAC randomization can stay on; they don’t block the device.
Use The App’s Update Wi-Fi Flow
Open the Hatch Sleep app, tap Settings, choose your device, then tap Update Wi-Fi. Pick the 2.4 GHz SSID and enter the password exactly. This path beats deleting the device or your account. For Restore, the Hatch Help Center lists button presses and screenshots here: Restore connection tips.
Step-By-Step From Scratch
Want a clean start? Use this path.
- Plug the unit in by the router. Let it boot fully.
- Reboot your router and any extenders. Wait a minute after lights settle.
- Create or confirm a 2.4 GHz SSID. If your router won’t split bands, make a 2.4 GHz guest SSID.
- On the phone, forget the 5 GHz SSID if names match. Rejoin the 2.4 GHz SSID.
- Open the app → Settings → your device → Update Wi-Fi. Follow the prompts.
- If pairing stalls, use the model reset below, then retry Update Wi-Fi.
- Once connected, move the unit back to the bedside and check signal bars there.
- Turn VPNs or private DNS back on if you paused them.
Router Settings That Trip Up Hatch
Some router features block first-time pairing or cause random drops. Match the setting to a simple action.
| Setting | What It Does | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Band steering / Smart connect | Pushes phones to 5 GHz/6 GHz | Split bands or add a 2.4 GHz guest SSID for setup. |
| WPA3-only | Blocks older radios | Use WPA2 or mixed WPA2/WPA3 during setup. |
| AP isolation | Blocks local device-to-device talk | Turn AP isolation off on the SSID for the Hatch. |
| DFS channels | Some clients can’t use them | Pick non-DFS 2.4 GHz channels 1, 6, or 11. |
| MAC filtering | Only approved MACs can join | Add the device MAC or turn filtering off. |
| Hidden SSID | Stops the app from seeing Wi-Fi | Unhide during setup, then hide again if you like. |
| Captive portal | Asks for a web login | Use a private or guest SSID without a portal. |
Model-Specific Resets That Help
Restore, Restore 2, Restore 3
Unplug the unit, hold the double-arrow button under the base for two seconds, plug back in, then run Update Wi-Fi. This clears a glitchy pairing state without wiping your data.
Rest 2nd-Gen And Rest+ 2nd-Gen
Power cycle the unit. If the Wi-Fi icon keeps blinking, stand by the router and run Update Wi-Fi. If it still stalls, try again after a router reboot.
Rest+ 1st-Gen And Rest (1st-Gen)
Split bands and join the 2.4 GHz SSID during setup. Older radios often fail on merged names.
Apartment, Dorm, Or Hotel Wi-Fi
Shared networks often use portals or device isolation. A Hatch can’t tap “I agree,” and setup needs local access from your phone. A travel router or spare home router solves this fast: plug it into the wall jack or room gateway, broadcast your own 2.4 GHz SSID, and set up the Hatch on that private network. Keep the SSID and password the same at home and the device will rejoin.
Keep The Connection Stable
Once you’re online, lock in a few habits that keep things smooth.
- Leave a 2.4 GHz SSID in place. Mesh can steer phones later without breaking the link.
- Give the unit a strong spot. Skip metal shelves, mirrors, and thick headboards.
- Reboot the router on a schedule if it gets flaky.
- When you change your Wi-Fi password or ISP gear, run Update Wi-Fi right away.
Mesh And Extenders Tips
Mesh brings coverage, but pairing goes faster with a few tweaks. Keep one SSID name across nodes. Place a node in the bedroom, but give it line of sight. During setup, join the main router’s 2.4 GHz band; if your phone keeps bouncing, unplug the nearest node for five minutes, finish pairing, then plug it back in. Avoid daisy-chaining extenders; link each node backhaul to the main router when you can. Ideally.
When To Try A Factory Reset
Use a full reset only after the steps above. It wipes local settings and routines. After a reset, set up next to the router on a clean 2.4 GHz SSID, then move the unit back to the bedside.
Fast Troubleshooting Flow You Can Save
Five-Minute Triage
1) Internet up? 2) Phone on 2.4 GHz with Bluetooth on? 3) Router and extenders rebooted? 4) Update Wi-Fi run from the app? 5) Short walk from the router if your phone clings to 5 GHz?
Ten-Minute Round
Split bands or make a 2.4 GHz guest SSID, check WPA2 or mixed mode, turn off AP isolation, and retry beside the router. If the app still hangs, use the model reset above and run Update Wi-Fi again. Now.