Shelly product offering now also includess wireless devices using Bluetooth communication as well.
These devices, naturally, do not connect to Wi-Fi, but instead to a Bluetooth gateway or a Shelly smart device that includes a Bluetooth receiver. Through this connection, they can reach the cloud service (or other local devices in local use cases).
The receiver can be:
a Shelly USB Bluetooth Gateway, which only requires a USB power supply (e.g., a 5V DC USB phone charger) or a USB-A wall outlet. This is practical if there's no Shelly relay nearby and you're using just a BLU motion sensor or a BLU door/window sensor on its own;
or it can bea Shelly Gen2 (Shelly Plus), Gen3, or Gen4 smart device equipped with a Bluetooth receiver (and built-in Bluetooth gateway functionality), such as:
a Shelly Plus relay,
a Shelly Pro relay,
or any Shelly Gen3 or Gen4 relay.
In this latter case, no separate Bluetooth gateway is needed, as the Shelly BLU device connects directly to the Bluetooth gateway function of the Shelly relay and uses its Wi-Fi connection to access other Shelly devices or the Shelly Cloud.
Enabling the Bluetooth Gateway
If you want to use a Shelly smart device as a Bluetooth gateway, you must enable this function, as it is disabled by default.
Open the Shelly Smart Control app.
Select the Plus or Pro device you want to use as a gateway.
Enter the device settings and enable both Bluetooth and Bluetooth Gateway options.
Pairing Process for BLU Devices
Shelly BLU devices (such as Shelly BLU H&T, BLU Motion, BLU Button1) can only be configured through the Shelly Smart Control mobile app. These devices are not manageable via the web interface.
Pairing steps:
Enable Bluetooth on your phone and ensure the app has Bluetooth access.
Open the app and tap the “+” icon on the home screen to add a new device.
Select “Add via Bluetooth.”
Briefly press the device’s button to make it appear in the list.
Select the device and follow the instructions to complete the pairing.
Name the device and assign an image.
Select a Shelly Plus or Pro device to function as the Bluetooth gateway. If you don’t have one, you can also use the Shelly BLU Gateway device.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Is the BLU Device Close Enough to the Gateway?
If pairing is unsuccessful, consider that Bluetooth communication has a range of about 10 meters indoors and up to 30 meters in open outdoor environments.
If pairing fails, move the device closer to the gateway during the pairing process or select a closer Bluetooth gateway.
Is the Shelly BLU Device’s Firmware Possibly Outdated?
A failed Bluetooth pairing may also be caused by outdated factory-installed firmware on the Shelly BLU device. If pairing fails, it’s recommended to update the firmware before trying again.
Shelly BLU devices require a special procedure for firmware updates since they are Bluetooth-based and do not use Wi-Fi. For the update, the Shelly BLE Debug app is needed, which is available for both Android and iOS.
Steps to Update Shelly BLU Firmware
1. Preparation
Enable Bluetooth: Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your phone.
Install the App: Download and install the Shelly BLE Debug app for Android or iOS.
Use a fresh battery: Ensure the device has a new, fully charged battery during the update.
2. Pairing the Device
Activate pairing mode: Hold the device’s button for at least 10 seconds until the LED starts flashing rapidly (if it has a LED).
Select the device: Open the Shelly BLE Debug app and choose the appearing Shelly BLU device.
3. Firmware Update
Check for update: Look for the firmware update option in the app and check if a new version is available.
Start update: If a new firmware version is available, begin the update.
Keep the app open: Do not close the app during the update, and keep the device awake (e.g., press its button occasionally), as sleep mode could interrupt the process.
4. Verify Successful Update
Check firmware version: After the update, verify the firmware version in the app.
Test device operation: Ensure the device is functioning correctly after the update.
⚠️ Troubleshooting
Update stuck: If the update freezes, remove the battery, wait 10–20 seconds, then reinsert it. After that, hold the button for at least 30 seconds to reset the device.
Device not detected: If the app can't find the device, remove it from the Bluetooth settings, then try again.
Update interruption: If the update is interrupted, the device might enter bootloader mode. In this case, repeat the update process following the steps above.
Firmware updates for Shelly BLU devices are thus carried out via the Shelly BLE Debug app, which enables OTA (Over-The-Air) updates through a Bluetooth connection. It is important that Bluetooth on your phone remains enabled during the process, the device stays awake, and the app remains open throughout the update to ensure success.