Belkin Ending Support for Most Wemo Devices

[MacRumors]

Belkin today informed customers that it is ending technical support for older Wemo devices, with service set to end on January 31, 2026. When that date rolls around, some Wemo devices will no longer be accessible through the Wemo app.

Belkin says that any features that use cloud connectivity, such as remote access or voice assistant integrations, will stop working. Wemo products configured with HomeKit before January 31, 2026 will continue to function through HomeKit without needing Wemo cloud services or the Wemo app. Customers who have HomeKit can continue to use their devices as normal, but Amazon Alexa and Google Home users will not be able to continue to operate Wemo products.

Devices that will no longer be supported were released between August 2015 and November 2023, with a list available on Belkin's website.

There are only four Thread-based Wemo devices that won't be affected by Belkin's Wemo cloud service shutdown, including the Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way, the Wemo Stage Smart Scene Controller, the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread, and the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell Camera.

Belkin says that it is ending support because it needs to focus its resources on different parts of the Belkin business, and the company has issued an apology to customers for the inconvenience.

Customers who have a Wemo device that is still under warranty may be eligible for a partial refund. For customers who have devices that are no longer under warranty and that will be rendered non-functional on January 31, 2026, Belkin recommends disposing of them at an authorized e-waste recycling center.

Article Link: Belkin Ending Support for Most Wemo Devices

 

[FSMBP]

Besides unreliability, this is why it's so hard to go all in Smart Home stuff...

From LifeX lights that don't work 5% of the time (enough to be annoying) and manufacturers stopping support.

 

[DaveMcM76]

This doesn’t surprise me at all. I ditched Wemo for Philips Hue a few years ago after they failed to release the updated HomeKit compatible bridge in the UK and not long after removed pretty much all reference to Wemo even existing from their uk website.

 

[STOCK411]

And this is exhibit #500 about why making everything smart is stupid...


Does not matter if its a small mom and pop company or someone like Belkin or Spoitfy... They can cripple your smart "home" and then tell you to kick rocks when you complain..

 

[tzm41]

Exactly why open standards like Matter should be the default, so devices don’t just stop working when the manufacturer decides to end support.

 

[Wanted797]

They need to make it legally binding devices be left in a working state when no long supported.

(I don’t own any I just hate this buying isn’t owning everything).

 

[Baron Thompson]

Least they'll keep working under HomeKit / Apple, sucks to be android.

 

[Rychiar]

well that stage controller was hot garbage that barely functioned. I was so excited for those to come out and I'm so glad I sold them now.

 

[c84216]

Good. I see the doorbell is still supported, but I’ve never had such contempt for a purchase in all my life. It often dropped its connection to the WiFi and the only fix was a hard reset (by that I mean unscrew it from its base and take it off and reset it). When the security screw stripped, I quite literally had to rip it off the wall before I could install a new doorbell.

I swore off anything Belkin ever again.

 

[TheMountainLife]

Exactly why open standards like Matter should be the default, so devices don’t just stop working when the manufacturer decides to end support.

Agreed. Not quite the same scenario but Acura barely gave a month heads up that they are terminating subscription services for their 2022 and older models. So no remote start, alarm intrusion notifications, vehicle health, etc. A ton of models were already affected by the 3G transition awhile back. At this point don't offer me anything that can't operate standalone from my home connection. I will gladly run a dedicated hub from my home if it will make it immune from end of life support.

 

[Eric_WVGG]

Belkin should be obligated to buy the damned things back.

 

[psxp]

I got rid of my Wemo switches years ago. They were so unreliable .

 

[DCstewieG]

Open source to the rescue!

Fortunately, these devices support local network control (well I don't know if they all do but at least many do) so Home Assistant and HomeBridge will continue to work perfectly with them.

 

[bluespark]

I got rid of my Wemo switches years ago. They were so unreliable .

So unreliable. I went in big on Wemo early on because of the advertised functionality, and I've rarely regretted a purchase more. They worked less often than not, which meant that they made my life harder rather than easier. And Belkin never stood behind them, just as it isn't standing behind them (or its customers) now.

 

[flexwithmarius]

They need to make it legally binding devices be left in a working state when no long supported.

(I don’t own any I just hate this buying isn’t owning everything).

Normally I don’t agree with legislating business decisions but I agree in this case.

This isn’t even a trick to get you to buy new products, it’s just “we
don’t care about the product anymore, tough sh*t”.

This should be grounds for class action under the condition that the payout is retail value of each product irrespective of if the product was on sale.

 

[Shin-Ra]

Reminder people should push back a lot more against online requirements for things that obviously don’t require them.

In this case the HomeKit implementation in the pre-Matter devices proved without any doubt it was unnecessary.

 

[jayducharme]

This should be grounds for class action under the condition that the payout is retail value of each product irrespective of if the product was on sale.

If a law firm smells money to be made, there will be.

 

[Reason077]

Wemo includes products like Smart light switches and plugs that are physically wired in to your home.

Such products should have a design lifespan measured in decades. To tie them to a cloud server and render them unusable after a certain date, at the whim of Belkin’s management, is obnoxious and inexcusable.

Just another reason to stay far away from Belkin products (as if you needed one!)

 

[jlc1978]

They need to make it legally binding devices be left in a working state when no long supported.

(I don’t own any I just hate this buying isn’t owning everything).

Or at least require companies to pay return shipping and recycling costs so the don’t end up in the trash.

 

[dustin_]

well that stage controller was hot garbage that barely functioned. I was so excited for those to come out and I'm so glad I sold them now.

mine actually work pretty well now, but they were AWFUL for a long time. i’m glad to hear they’ll continue to work, but i’ll never buy another belkin product.

 

[azentropy]

I replaced my last Wemo device a couple months ago as I wanted to convert everything to HomeKit (and no didn't want to run a 3rd Party hub or app as I had done that before). Was going to package them up and give them away, guess I'll just trash/recycle now.

 

[axantas]

Wemo includes products like Smart light switches and plugs that are physically wired in to your home.

Such products should have a design lifespan measured in decades. To tie them to a cloud server and render them unusable after a certain date, at the whim of Belkin’s management, is obnoxious and inexcusable.

Just another reason to stay far away from Belkin products (as if you needed one!)

You did not read paragraph 396b on page 58 in the general terms and conditions. They may turn it a piece of trash anytime...

They are certainly not interested in a lifespan of decades. Count it in months....

 

[Cesar Battistini]

That is why we need a standard like matter.

Anything that is not matter, I will not even consider.

If everyone does this, manufacturers will get a clue.

 

[mike090910]

Stopped purchasing from Belkin years ago, just not that reliable of a company. This just supports that decision.

 

[applefanboysince93]

This doesn’t surprise me at all. I ditched Wemo for Philips Hue a few years ago after they failed to release the updated HomeKit compatible bridge in the UK and not long after removed pretty much all reference to Wemo even existing from their uk website.

The bridge was dog💩 and was discontinued fast because I’m certain they realized it was faulty…