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How Do I Use Sense With Smart Plugs?

Sense has expanded its support for smart plugs for homes with a Sense Home Energy monitor installed in an electrical panel. The feature is available in the Sense mobile app at Sense Labs.

  • NOTE: This update gives you early access to new integrations, but as all Sense Labs features are experimental, they may be less reliable than features in the main app. While we work to improve these integrations, you might encounter occasional issues or interruptions. If you need maximum reliability for your energy monitoring, we recommend you wait until these features move out of Labs.
Supported Smart Plugs

Sense has previously been compatible with the following (and if you access Sense through a smart meter, these remain available to you):

  • Kasa KP-115
  • Kasa HS-300
  • Kasa KP-125
  • Kasa EP25 (v1.6 - largely unavailable)
  • Note: The Kasa HS110 may also technically integrate with Sense, but it is not supported. It is end-of-life and no longer officially supported by Kasa. Functionality may be limited.

Sense is now also compatible with these Tapo and TP-Link smart plugs:

  • Kasa KP125
  • Kasa KP125M
  • Kasa EP25 (v2.6)
  • Tapo P115M
  • Tapo P110M
Using a Supported Smart Plug With Sense

How to Get Started 

  1. Make sure you are running the latest version of the Sense Home app
  2. If you have not yet enabled integrations for Tapo/TP-Link plugs in the Sense app:
    • Go to Settings > Connected Devices and enable integration for TP-Link Kasa or Tapo smart plugs
    • When prompted, enter your Tapo account credentials
    • Wait a few minutes while Sense discovers your new smart plugs
    • Manage and control your smart plugs directly from the Sense app
    • If you are using one or a mix of only the smart plugs below,  you do not need to complete the next steps. The plugs should be detected in Sense. 
      • Kasa KP-115
      • Kasa KP-125
      • Kasa HS-300
      • Kasa EP25 v1.6 
      • Kasa HS110
  3. Once this step is completed, click Dashboard > Labs > TP-Link Smart Plugs > TP-Link integration.
  4. Enter the credentials to your Tapo/TP-Link account > Save Change.
    • There will be no feedback to tell you whether it works
  5. Now go to Devices and check to see if your previously undetected devices using smart plugs now appear.
    • If not, please make sure your credentials are correct (try entering them again)
      • NOTE: It is also possible the plugs you have will not work even if they are the newly listed plugs. 
  6. Matter-enabled Tapo/TP-Link smart plugs—such as the Kasa KP125M (with energy monitoring), Tapo P115M, and Tapo P110M—require association with the TP-Link Tapo app to function. Plugs with model numbers ending in “M” (like Tapo P115M) are Matter-compatible and can operate in a decentralized way. This means you do not need a TP-Link account or login to use them.
  7. You can connect the plug directly to any Matter-compatible home hub. For example, with an iPhone and the Apple Home app, simply scan the QR code on the Matter plug to add it directly to the Home app, without needing to download or log in to the TP-Link app. However, if a TP-Link Matter plug is not linked to the Tapo/TP-Link app, it will not be recognized by the Sense App.
  8. Compare the devices in your Tapo app against those in the Sense app, and make sure they appear in the Sense app. If they are not in the Tap app, they will not be in the Sense app. However, there can be more devices in the Tapo app than appear in the Sense app (pending your connection of pertinent devices defined in the steps above). 

What Happens If I Disable the TP-Link Integration?

Disabling the TP-Link integration removes all connected TP-Link smart plugs from Sense. This action also deletes the associated smart plug entries and their historical energy data.

If you reconnect the TP-Link integration later, Sense will rediscover your smart plugs as new devices. Previous device entries and their historical data cannot be restored.

What to expect? 

When you disable the TP-Link integration:

  • All TP-Link smart plugs are removed from your Sense account
  • Historical energy data associated with those smart plug entries is deleted
  • If you reconnect the integration, the smart plugs are added as new devices
  • Previously recorded history and trends will not be linked to the newly discovered devices

This behavior is expected. Disabling the integration is currently the only way to permanently remove TP-Link smart plug entries from your account.

Before you disable the integration 

If you're troubleshooting a connection issue, you may not need to disable the integration. In many cases, reconnecting your TP-Link account or resolving your network connection is enough to restore communication without removing your existing smart plug history.

If you do choose to disable the integration, be aware that this action permanently removes the existing smart plug entries and their historical data.

Important Reminders
  • Sense Labs features are experimental previews and may break or be unavailable at times. While this feature is live, it is also possible this feature may not work perfectly.
  • For an overview of Sense Labs, see What Is the Sense Labs Feature?
  • For troubleshooting, check out the Smart Plug Troubleshooting Guide
  • Not all smart plugs support energy monitoring—those that don't may work as switches. All supported plugs must monitor energy—however, there can be some confusion around this.
    • For example, some early Tapo 125M do not support energy monitoring but will show up in the Devices list of the Sense app. The “switch” function on Sense appears responsive but does not actually trigger the switch or reflect the changes in the Tapo app.
    • The best way to check if your device monitors energy is to open the Tapo app > Home > Click on a device > Look for a category > Energy Usage

We welcome your feedback as you try out these new integrations.

 

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