Wemo discontinuation of service: Difference between revisions

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}}{{OngoingEvent}}

[[Belkin]] [[Wemo]] smart home devices require cloud connectivity to work. On 10 July 2025, Belkin announced the shutdown of cloud services supporting most Wemo devices, effective 31 January 2026.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author= |title=Belkin Official Support - Wemo Support Ending – What You Need to Know |url=https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 |website=[[Belkin]] |date=10 Jul 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127181224/https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref> These devices remain for sale on Belkin's Amazon WeMo store<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - Smart Outlet for Apple HomeKit - Smart Home Products, Smart Home Lighting, Smart Home Gadgets - Homekit Smart Plug - Works W/ Apple iPhone, Easy NFC Set Up, White |url=https://www.amazon.com/Wemo-Smart-Plug-Thread-Products/dp/B09T4S3QKC |website=[[Amazon]] |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222233508/https://www.amazon.com/Wemo-Smart-Plug-Thread-Products/dp/B09T4S3QKC |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> and advertising them as working with [[Google]], Alexa, and more.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=Wemo |url=https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wemo/page/E33F6EA2-93FC-48CD-8BF6-EE10D5398795 ~~|website=[[Amazon]] |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026~~ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/~~wip~~/~~TBvNl~~ |archive-date=~~13 Jul 2025~~}}</ref>

[[Belkin]] [[Wemo]] smart home devices require cloud connectivity to work. On 10 July 2025, Belkin announced the shutdown of cloud services supporting most Wemo devices, effective 31 January 2026.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author= |title=Belkin Official Support - Wemo Support Ending – What You Need to Know |url=https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 |website=[[Belkin]] |date=10 Jul 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127181224/https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref> These devices remain for sale on Belkin's Amazon WeMo store<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - Smart Outlet for Apple HomeKit - Smart Home Products, Smart Home Lighting, Smart Home Gadgets - Homekit Smart Plug - Works W/ Apple iPhone, Easy NFC Set Up, White |url=https://www.amazon.com/Wemo-Smart-Plug-Thread-Products/dp/B09T4S3QKC |website=[[Amazon]] |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222233508/https://www.amazon.com/Wemo-Smart-Plug-Thread-Products/dp/B09T4S3QKC |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> and advertising them as working with [[Google]], Alexa, and more.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |date= |title=Wemo |url=https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wemo/page/E33F6EA2-93FC-48CD-8BF6-EE10D5398795 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260227172544/https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wemo/page/E33F6EA2-93FC-48CD-8BF6-EE10D5398795 |archive-date=27 Feb 2026 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref>

This shutdown will disable remote access and automation functionality for 27+ device models sold between August 2015 and November 2023, affecting thousands of customers who purchased these devices as permanent smart home solutions. The incident is one example of a broader trend of IoT device abandonment and {{Wplink|Tethering|software tethering}} practices that enable manufacturers to remotely disable purchased products.

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==2025 shutdown announcement==

[[File:~~Email from belkin about wemo~~ shutdown.jpg|alt=Email from Belkin about Wemo shutdown|thumb|right|Email notification sent to Wemo customers about the January 2026 shutdown]]

[[File:Belkin email Wemo shutdown.jpg|alt=Email from Belkin about Wemo shutdown|thumb|right|Email notification sent to Wemo customers about the January 2026 shutdown]]

On 10 July 2025, Belkin created a support page and began e-mailing customers informing them that most Wemo devices would stop working on 31 January 2026.<ref name=":2" /> The company described this as a ''"difficult decision"'' to shut down cloud services for Wemo products, stating they needed to ''"focus our resources on different parts of the Belkin business."''

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File:~~Stillsellingdimmer~~.jpg|Belkin light switch still for sale despite announced functionality loss<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=~~Amazon.com:~~ WeMo Smart Light Switch 2ND Gen |url=https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Smart-Light-Switch-2ND/dp/B07RT8H9WH |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250904072417/https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Smart-Light-Switch-2ND/dp/B07RT8H9WH |archive-date=4 Sep 2025|access-date=2025~~-07-13~~ |website=Amazon~~.com~~}}</ref>

File:Belkin still selling Wemo dimmer.jpg|Belkin light switch still for sale despite announced functionality loss.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=WeMo Smart Light Switch 2ND Gen |url=https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Smart-Light-Switch-2ND/dp/B07RT8H9WH |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250904072417/https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Smart-Light-Switch-2ND/dp/B07RT8H9WH |archive-date=4 Sep 2025|access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref>

File:~~Amazonwemostoreworks~~.jpg|Belkin's Amazon store advertising platform compatibility despite planned termination<ref name=":0" />

File:Amazon store Belkin Wemo works.jpg|Belkin's Amazon store advertising platform compatibility despite planned termination.<ref name=":0" />

</gallery>

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|author=ho_merjpimpson |title=It’s officially ending. I just got this email. Glad I started switching to Zigbee last week. |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1lwilvc/its_officially_ending_i_just_got_this_email_glad/n2et52a/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=10 Jul 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222233628/https://old.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1lwilvc/its_officially_ending_i_just_got_this_email_glad/n2et52a/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>''</blockquote>

Users called for firmware updates enabling local control and drew parallels to digital game preservation campaigns~~, with one noting: "Just like cloud based games &~~ the [[Stop Killing Games]] campaign, there probably needs to be something similar for IoT."<ref>{{Cite web |author=argonzo |title=It’s officially ending. I just got this email. Glad I started switching to Zigbee last week. |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1lwilvc/its_officially_ending_i_just_got_this_email_glad/n2en9py/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date= |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref>

Users called for firmware updates enabling local control and drew parallels to digital game preservation campaigns such as the [[Stop Killing Games]] campaign.

==Technical workarounds==

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[[Category:Belkin]]

[[Category:Wemo]]

[[Category:Internet of Things]]

[[Category:Planned obsolescence]]

[[Category:Smart home devices]]

[[Category:Ongoing events]]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 }}{{OngoingEvent}}
-[[Belkin]] [[Wemo]] smart home devices require cloud connectivity to work. On 10 July 2025, Belkin announced the shutdown of cloud services supporting most Wemo devices, effective 31 January 2026.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author= |title=Belkin Official Support - Wemo Support Ending – What You Need to Know |url=https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 |website=[[Belkin]] |date=10 Jul 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127181224/https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref> These devices remain for sale on Belkin's Amazon WeMo store<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - Smart Outlet for Apple HomeKit - Smart Home Products, Smart Home Lighting, Smart Home Gadgets - Homekit Smart Plug - Works W/ Apple iPhone, Easy NFC Set Up, White |url=https://www.amazon.com/Wemo-Smart-Plug-Thread-Products/dp/B09T4S3QKC |website=[[Amazon]] |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222233508/https://www.amazon.com/Wemo-Smart-Plug-Thread-Products/dp/B09T4S3QKC |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> and advertising them as working with [[Google]], Alexa, and more.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=Wemo |url=https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wemo/page/E33F6EA2-93FC-48CD-8BF6-EE10D5398795 |website=[[Amazon]] |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wip/TBvNl |archive-date=13 Jul 2025}}</ref>
+[[Belkin]] [[Wemo]] smart home devices require cloud connectivity to work. On 10 July 2025, Belkin announced the shutdown of cloud services supporting most Wemo devices, effective 31 January 2026.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author= |title=Belkin Official Support - Wemo Support Ending – What You Need to Know |url=https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 |website=[[Belkin]] |date=10 Jul 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127181224/https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=335419 |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref> These devices remain for sale on Belkin's Amazon WeMo store<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - Smart Outlet for Apple HomeKit - Smart Home Products, Smart Home Lighting, Smart Home Gadgets - Homekit Smart Plug - Works W/ Apple iPhone, Easy NFC Set Up, White |url=https://www.amazon.com/Wemo-Smart-Plug-Thread-Products/dp/B09T4S3QKC |website=[[Amazon]] |date= |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222233508/https://www.amazon.com/Wemo-Smart-Plug-Thread-Products/dp/B09T4S3QKC |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> and advertising them as working with [[Google]], Alexa, and more.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |date= |title=Wemo |url=https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wemo/page/E33F6EA2-93FC-48CD-8BF6-EE10D5398795 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260227172544/https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wemo/page/E33F6EA2-93FC-48CD-8BF6-EE10D5398795 |archive-date=27 Feb 2026 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref>
 This shutdown will disable remote access and automation functionality for 27+ device models sold between August 2015 and November 2023, affecting thousands of customers who purchased these devices as permanent smart home solutions. The incident is one example of a broader trend of IoT device abandonment and {{Wplink|Tethering|software tethering}} practices that enable manufacturers to remotely disable purchased products.
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ==2025 shutdown announcement==
-[[File:Email from belkin about wemo shutdown.jpg|alt=Email from Belkin about Wemo shutdown|thumb|right|Email notification sent to Wemo customers about the January 2026 shutdown]]
+[[File:Belkin email Wemo shutdown.jpg|alt=Email from Belkin about Wemo shutdown|thumb|right|Email notification sent to Wemo customers about the January 2026 shutdown]]
 On 10 July 2025, Belkin created a support page and began e-mailing customers informing them that most Wemo devices would stop working on 31 January 2026.<ref name=":2" /> The company described this as a ''"difficult decision"'' to shut down cloud services for Wemo products, stating they needed to ''"focus our resources on different parts of the Belkin business."''
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 <gallery mode="slideshow">
-File:Stillsellingdimmer.jpg|Belkin light switch still for sale despite announced functionality loss<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Amazon.com: WeMo Smart Light Switch 2ND Gen |url=https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Smart-Light-Switch-2ND/dp/B07RT8H9WH |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250904072417/https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Smart-Light-Switch-2ND/dp/B07RT8H9WH |archive-date=4 Sep 2025|access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Amazon.com}}</ref>
+File:Belkin still selling Wemo dimmer.jpg|Belkin light switch still for sale despite announced functionality loss.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=WeMo Smart Light Switch 2ND Gen |url=https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Smart-Light-Switch-2ND/dp/B07RT8H9WH |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250904072417/https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Smart-Light-Switch-2ND/dp/B07RT8H9WH |archive-date=4 Sep 2025|access-date=13 Jul 2025 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref>
-File:Amazonwemostoreworks.jpg|Belkin's Amazon store advertising platform compatibility despite planned termination<ref name=":0" />
+File:Amazon store Belkin Wemo works.jpg|Belkin's Amazon store advertising platform compatibility despite planned termination.<ref name=":0" />
 </gallery>
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 |author=ho_merjpimpson |title=It’s officially ending. I just got this email. Glad I started switching to Zigbee last week. |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1lwilvc/its_officially_ending_i_just_got_this_email_glad/n2et52a/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=10 Jul 2025 |access-date=17 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222233628/https://old.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1lwilvc/its_officially_ending_i_just_got_this_email_glad/n2et52a/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>''</blockquote>
-Users called for firmware updates enabling local control and drew parallels to digital game preservation campaigns, with one noting: "Just like cloud based games & the [[Stop Killing Games]] campaign, there probably needs to be something similar for IoT."<ref>{{Cite web |author=argonzo |title=It’s officially ending. I just got this email. Glad I started switching to Zigbee last week. |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1lwilvc/its_officially_ending_i_just_got_this_email_glad/n2en9py/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date= |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date=}}<!-- Comment was removed and there are no existing back-ups of it. Also moved this reference to here, as it seems there was an erroneous switcheroo with the citation for the first r/WeMo quote. -Sojourna --></ref>
+Users called for firmware updates enabling local control and drew parallels to digital game preservation campaigns such as the [[Stop Killing Games]] campaign.
 ==Technical workarounds==
@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 [[Category:Belkin]]
+[[Category:Wemo]]
 [[Category:Internet of Things]]
 [[Category:Planned obsolescence]]
 [[Category:Smart home devices]]
 [[Category:Ongoing events]]