Consumer Rights Wiki

Wemo

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Wemo is a subsidiary of Belkin founded in 2011. They are known for smart home devices such as plugs and light switches that use the Apple HomeKit and Thread protocols.

Wemo
Basic information
Founded 2011
Legal Structure Subsidiary
Industry Home automation
Also known as
Official website https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/

Consumer impact summary

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Freedom

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Screenshot of account closure screen.

Through the app, users can delete their account by pressing the "close account" button, which will warn that Wemos cannot be controlled through the app once account data is deleted. The devices can also work by only using the Apple Home app, which does not require a Wemo account to set up.

Privacy

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Since late 2023, the privacy policy of Belkin and Wemo have merged, sharing the same terms with each other. The data collected on users includes account information such as email and password, device information, first and third-party cookies, age, location, and IP address.[1] Belkin shares this info with marketing partners unless the user opts-out.[2] Users are allowed to make requests to access, withdraw consent, object, and delete most of the information Belkin has collected on them.[3] Belkin states they may need to hold onto information for "Defending Belkin against legal claims" or "Needing to respond to customer complaints and queries".[4]

Business model

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The business model of Wemo is to sell smart home devices without the user paying for a subscription service. Although this may seem like a pro-consumer move, the Wemo experience has been diminished due to the lack of income streams. According to the App Store, the app once had a 3-year window without updates, which lasted between 23 February 2021 and 28 May 2024 (the current version as of 24 February 2025).[5]

Market control

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Market control of Wemo has been decreasing over the years, as Wemo is only selling three devices,[6] down from nine the year prior.[7]

Incidents

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Security vulnerabilities (2013—2023)

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On 5 November 2013, Wemo updated its API to prevent future XML injection attacks.[8]

On 16 May 2023, multiple websites reported a Sternum study regarding a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Wemo Mini Smart Plug V2.[9] The study mentions the device could be exploited through a program called pyWemo[10] and potentially through cloud controls.[11] In their official response, Wemo stated "we believe that bad actors cannot exploit this vulnerability unless they have access to the user's local network",[12] and "We discontinued the Wemo Mini Smart Plug V2 (F7C063) in 2020"[13] despite not making this information publicly available prior. During this report, the Wemo app hadn't been updated in two years, with the most recent update being on February 23, 2021, as previously mentioned.[5]

Connection issues (2018—2026)

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Since 2018, there have been reports of Wemo devices losing connection to networks frequently.[14] This has been the case for dimmers,[15] plugs,[16] and switches.[17] Device rules created through the Wemo app have also been described as unreliable.[18] In some cases, the Wemo cloud becomes offline, with users being led to 404 pages.[19] Reports of Amazon Alexa and Google home integrations not working for periods of time are also common.[20] Users have reported the devices only working with Apple Homekit[21], which can be inconvenient for users without Apple accounts or compatible devices.

DNS activity (2024)

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Some users of Wemo have noticed their switches connect to multiple unrelated domains, such as to CNN and Fastly.[22] Other reports mention each Wemo device making 160,000+ DNS requests in a 24-hour timeframe.[23]

Discontinuation of cloud service (2026)

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List of affected products from the discontinuation of cloud services
section excerpt Wemo discontinuation of service.[edit]

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.[24] These devices remain for sale on Belkin's Amazon WeMo store[25] and advertising them as working with Google, Alexa, & more.[26][27]

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 software tethering practices that enable manufacturers to remotely disable purchased products.

Products

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Dimmers
  • Wemo Smart Dimmer[28]
  • Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer[29]
Doorbells
  • Wemo Smart Video Doorbell[30]
Light switches
  • Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread[31]
  • Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch[32]
  • Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way[33]
Plugs
  • Wemo Smart Plug with Thread[34]
  • Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug[35]
Scene controller
  • Wemo Scene Controller with Thread[36]

References

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  1. ↑ "WeMO PRIVACY POLICY". Wemo. Archived from the original on 7 Jan 2023. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  2. ↑ "Marketing". Belkin. Jan 2024. Archived from the original on 23 Jan 2026. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  3. ↑ "Your Rights in relation to your Personal Information". Belkin. Jan 2024. Archived from the original on 23 Jan 2026. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  4. ↑ "Retention of Personal Information". Belkin. Jan 2024. Archived from the original on 23 Jan 2026. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Wemo on the App Store". Apple. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 Mar 2025. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  6. ↑ "Wemo Smart Home". Belkin. Archived from the original on 25 Feb 2024. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  7. ↑ "Wemo Smart Home". Belkin. Archived from the original on 1 Feb 2023. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  8. ↑ "Wemo® and Security". Belkin. Archived from the original on 26 Sep 2023. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  9. ↑ Serper, Amit; Yakar, Reuven (16 May 2023). "'FriendlyName' Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Wemo Smart Plug V2". Sternum. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  10. ↑ Lakshmanan, Ravie (17 May 2023). "Serious Unpatched Vulnerability Uncovered in Popular Belkin Wemo Smart Plugs". The Hacker News. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  11. ↑ Davis, Wes (16 May 2023). "PSA: time to recycle your old Wemo smart plugs (if you haven't already)". The Verge. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  12. ↑ WEMOcares (17 May 2023). "WEMOcares on X". X. Archived from the original on 24 Mar 2026. Retrieved 19 Mar 2025.
  13. ↑ WEMOcares (17 May 2023). "WEMOcares on X". X. Archived from the original on 24 Mar 2026. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  14. ↑ luisfpinto (21 Jun 2018). "The most common problems and issues with Wemo devices". Reddit. Archived from the original on 10 Jun 2023. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  15. ↑ boggsrays (28 Dec 2022). "The End of WeMo?". Reddit. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  16. ↑ Specul8 (14 Nov 2023). "WeMo in 2023. Is it dead? Probably". Reddit. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 19 Feb 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ rickatk (13 Jan 2023). "Thoughts on WEMO going into 2024?". Reddit. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  18. ↑ -JEFF007- (17 Dec 2023). "Thoughts on WEMO going into 2024?". Reddit. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ "Belkin Wemo is the worst! The App is full of bugs, the cloud is "drifted away" every other day, and even their link to the "more info" is dead!". Reddit. 12 Dec 2022. Archived from the original on 13 Dec 2022. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  20. ↑ JonSnowWho (17 Jun 2025). "Google is trying..." Reddit. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
  21. ↑ XYZZY_1002 (26 Nov 2024). "Wemo Plugs and some Switches/Dimmers suddenly no longer detected". Reddit. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ sd_042 (19 Feb 2024). "Fun fact: Wemo switches act as a DNS server". Reddit. Archived from the original on 7 Mar 2024. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ D3-Doom (8 Mar 2024). "Fun fact: Wemo switches act as a DNS server". Reddit. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ "Belkin Official Support - Wemo Support Ending – What You Need to Know". Belkin Official Support. 2025-07-10. Archived from the original on 11 Jul 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  25. ↑ "Amazon.com: Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - Smart Outlet for Apple HomeKit - Smart Home Products, Smart Home Lighting, Smart Home Gadgets - Homekit Smart Plug - Tech Gifts - Works W/ Apple iPhone, Easy NFC Set Up : Tools & Home Improvement". Amazon.com: Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - Smart Outlet for Apple HomeKit - Smart Home Products, Smart Home Lighting, Smart Home Gadgets - Homekit Smart Plug - Tech Gifts - Works W/ Apple iPhone, Easy NFC Set Up : Tools & Home Improvement. Archived from the original on 20 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  26. ↑ "Amazon.com: Wemo". Amazon.com: Wemo. Archived from the original on 2026-02-27. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  27. ↑ Preston, Dominic (2025-07-11). "Belkin is ending support for nearly all its Wemo smart home devices". The Verge. Archived from the original on 11 Jul 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  28. ↑ "Wemo Smart Dimmer (WDS070)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 30 Nov 2022.
  29. ↑ "Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer 2-Pack (WDS060-BD2)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 29 Nov 2022.
  30. ↑ "Wemo Smart Video Doorbell (WDC010)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 19 Feb 2025.
  31. ↑ "Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread (WLS0503)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 21 Jan 2025. Retrieved 17 Mar 2025.
  32. ↑ "Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch (WLS040-CA)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 30 Nov 2022.
  33. ↑ "Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way 2-Pack (WLS0403-BDL)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 29 Nov 2022.
  34. ↑ "Wemo Smart Plug with Thread (WSP100)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 2 Oct 2023.
  35. ↑ "Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug (WSP090)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 1 Dec 2022.
  36. ↑ "Wemo Scene Controller with Thread (WSC010)". Belkin. Archived from the original on 4 Mar 2025. Retrieved 19 Feb 2026.
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