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{{Incomplete}}
{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Needs more references.|Issue 2=Phasing out offline functionality needs be improved and better cited.}}
{{IncidentCargo
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Airthings
|Company=Airthings
|StartDate=2024-05-13
|StartDate=2024-05-21
|EndDate=2024-05-13
|EndDate=
|Status=Pending Resolution
|Status=Unresolved
|ProductLine=Wave Gen 1
|ProductLine=Airthings Gen 1
|Product=Wave Gen 1
|Product=
|ArticleType=Product
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Privacy, Digital restrictions, Service Termination
|Type=Forced Migration
|Description=Airthings products collect user environment data and their new app uploads everything when the previous app allowed offline use despite dark patterns
|Description=
}}On May 21, 2024, Airthings ASA sent an e-mail to all users stating their old app, now renamed to "Wave Gen 1", but previously "Airthings" will be retired, and asks users to use their new Airthings app instead, ensuring it will contain more features.
}}
 
[https://www.airthings.com/ Airthings] ASA sells air monitors and purifiers, which customers can pair with a mobile app in order to access the air measurements and various additional services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Nov 2025 |title=Helps you understand the air you breathe |url=https://www.airthings.com/app |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209115418/https://www.airthings.com/app |archive-date=9 Dec 2025|access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Airthings}}</ref> On May 21, 2024, they sent an e-mail{{Citation needed}} to all users stating their old app will be retired, and asking users to use their new Airthings app instead.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2025 |title=FAQ: Retirement of the Wave Gen 1 app on October 1, 2025 |url=https://help.airthings.com/en/articles/11680546-faq-retirement-of-the-wave-gen-1-app-on-october-1-2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128155020/https://help.airthings.com/en/articles/11680546-faq-retirement-of-the-wave-gen-1-app-on-october-1-2025 |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Airthings}}</ref> The old app, also named Airthings, was rebranded as Wave Gen 1. The new app does not allow users to use their devices in offline mode like the previous version, and measurements are automatically sent to Airthings' servers without warning.{{Citation needed}} The old app has now been retired.<ref name=":0" />
Unfortunately, their new app does not allow users to use their devices in offline mode like the previous version, and all data is automatically sent to Airthings servers without warning.
 
Their previous app was last updated on May 29, 2024, to reflect the name change.


==Background==
==Background==
Airthings sells devices that and monitor users' rooms' air quality and collects data about it. The Gen 1 devices have Bluetooth BLE capability that allow users to view a graph of all the devices' sensors (like CO2, humidity, and Radon) and assign a room name like "kid's bedroom", "living room", "bathroom", etc. to distinguish between various devices.
Airthings devices can monitor the rooms' air quality. The Gen 1 devices have Bluetooth BLE capability that allow users to view a graph of all the devices' sensors (like CO2, humidity, and Radon) and assign a room name such as: "kid's bedroom", "living room", "bathroom", etc. to distinguish between various devices.{{Citation needed}}


Users first had to log in to set up their account, but once they logged in for the first time, they were able to view their device's collected data in real time even if they had no internet connection, thanks to the devices using Bluetooth BLE.
Users first had to log in to set up their account, but once they logged in for the first time, they were able to view their device's collected data in real time when they had no internet connection, due to the devices using Bluetooth BLE.{{Citation needed}}


==[Incident]==
==Phasing out offline functionality==
The old Airthings app had the ability to view user data even if the phone was offline. The app connects to all devices and displays their status and data. A dark pattern "sync" button would both collect data from the devices using BLE ''and'' send data to the cloud. By going offline, this could be prevented. Users would often use an offline secondary phone as the household monitor.
The old Airthings app had the ability to view user data even if the phone was offline. The app connects to all devices and displays their status and data. A [[dark pattern]] "sync" button would both collect data from the devices using BLE ''and'' send data to the cloud. By going offline, this could be prevented. Users would often use an offline secondary phone as the household monitor.{{Citation needed}}


On May 21, 2024, Airthings ASA alerted old app users by e-mail that their current app will not be publicly available in the future and that they should move to the new app that does not allow collecting device data without being online as it uploads it at the same time to their servers before displaying it.
On May 21, 2024, Airthings ASA alerted old app users by e-mail that their current app will not be publicly available in the future and that they should move to the new app that does not allow collecting device data without being online as it uploads it at the same time to their servers before displaying it.{{Citation needed}}


===Airthings' response===
===Airthings' response===
From their "FAQ: Retirement of the Wave Gen 1 app on October 1, 2025"<blockquote>
====Can I continue to use the old app?====
No, the old app will stop working (monitors will not sync) and it will not be possible to log in.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
====How do I switch to the new app?====
Simply download the Airthings app from your app store. Then log in with your existing credentials, and you’re good to go. All of your homes, devices and data history will be there. Make sure you use the correct email address to log in!<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>


When asked about offline features, support agents seemed ignorant or feigned ignorance that the Wave Gen 1 app allowed offline use of their device.
===Workarounds===
==Lawsuit==
Owners of Airthings Wave Gen 1 products can pair with open-source software called Home Assistant to still get their measurements while keeping all the internet traffic on the local network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Nov 2025 |title=Airthings |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/airthings/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118043845/https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/airthings/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2026|access-date=24 Nov 2025 |website=Home Assistant}}</ref>
 
 
==Consumer response==


https://www.reddit.com/r/airthings/comments/1ca1qxu/airthings_will_no_longer_sync_to_wave_plus_wo/
==See also==


https://www.reddit.com/r/airthings/comments/1i7bf5x/when_did_login_become_a_requirement/
*[[Forced app download]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Articles in need of citations]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Latest revision as of 21:02, 22 February 2026

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  1. Needs more references.
  2. Phasing out offline functionality needs be improved and better cited.

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Airthings ASA sells air monitors and purifiers, which customers can pair with a mobile app in order to access the air measurements and various additional services.[1] On May 21, 2024, they sent an e-mail[citation needed] to all users stating their old app will be retired, and asking users to use their new Airthings app instead.[2] The old app, also named Airthings, was rebranded as Wave Gen 1. The new app does not allow users to use their devices in offline mode like the previous version, and measurements are automatically sent to Airthings' servers without warning.[citation needed] The old app has now been retired.[2]

Background

[edit | edit source]

Airthings devices can monitor the rooms' air quality. The Gen 1 devices have Bluetooth BLE capability that allow users to view a graph of all the devices' sensors (like CO2, humidity, and Radon) and assign a room name such as: "kid's bedroom", "living room", "bathroom", etc. to distinguish between various devices.[citation needed]

Users first had to log in to set up their account, but once they logged in for the first time, they were able to view their device's collected data in real time when they had no internet connection, due to the devices using Bluetooth BLE.[citation needed]

Phasing out offline functionality

[edit | edit source]

The old Airthings app had the ability to view user data even if the phone was offline. The app connects to all devices and displays their status and data. A dark pattern "sync" button would both collect data from the devices using BLE and send data to the cloud. By going offline, this could be prevented. Users would often use an offline secondary phone as the household monitor.[citation needed]

On May 21, 2024, Airthings ASA alerted old app users by e-mail that their current app will not be publicly available in the future and that they should move to the new app that does not allow collecting device data without being online as it uploads it at the same time to their servers before displaying it.[citation needed]

Airthings' response

[edit | edit source]

From their "FAQ: Retirement of the Wave Gen 1 app on October 1, 2025"

Can I continue to use the old app?

[edit | edit source]

No, the old app will stop working (monitors will not sync) and it will not be possible to log in.

How do I switch to the new app?

[edit | edit source]

Simply download the Airthings app from your app store. Then log in with your existing credentials, and you’re good to go. All of your homes, devices and data history will be there. Make sure you use the correct email address to log in![2]

Workarounds

[edit | edit source]

Owners of Airthings Wave Gen 1 products can pair with open-source software called Home Assistant to still get their measurements while keeping all the internet traffic on the local network.[3]

See also

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. "Helps you understand the air you breathe". Airthings. 24 Nov 2025. Archived from the original on 9 Dec 2025. Retrieved 24 Nov 2025.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "FAQ: Retirement of the Wave Gen 1 app on October 1, 2025". Airthings. October 1, 2025. Archived from the original on 28 Jan 2026. Retrieved 24 Nov 2025.
  3. "Airthings". Home Assistant. 24 Nov 2025. Archived from the original on 18 Jan 2026. Retrieved 24 Nov 2025.